Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Just tweak the data a bit to keep it consistent, no need to waste time verifying.' Even though Carlson had anticipated it, hearing it firsthand was still a shock.

"This is, academic, fraud!" He stressed every word.

Edna's face turned sour: "Carlson, you're a sensible guy. I trust you know what should and shouldn't be said. As your mentor, I'm just offering you a way to solve the problem. What to do with it, is up to you." Carlson looked up, locking eyes with Edna with an intensity she hadn't seen before.

"Professor, this isn't right."

It just wasn't right...

After Carlson left, Edna watched his departing back and snickered.

It's okay if he doesn't get it now. People grow.

Eventually, he'll understand that truth doesn't matter. What matters is how many papers you've published, how much academic output you've produced.

People say research is pure, but Edna scoffed at that.

Wherever there are people, there's a struggle - for resources, funding, status, titles... Aren't all these tied to output?

Only those who reach the summit have the right to talk about "purity". But first, you've got to reach the summit.

Edna took out her phone, "Call Hertha Sherwood over."

her time to

school's been in session for almost a month now. How are you adjusting? How are the senior students treating you? No one's giving you a hard time, right?" Hertha was somewhat flattered: "No, no, everyone's been

I called you here because there's something related to the lab I

barely containing her excitement: "Does that mean I can start getting involved in

recruited by me, of course, there's a spot for you in the research team. It's just that we've run into a bit of a snag... It might require

tell me, and I'll

latest model of the CPRT analyzer with their own funds. Our

worry, your

unnoticed. I'll keep

of your contribution. When

high-priority projects or conference

come up, you'll be the first I

a direct PhD track, as long as your grades

them the moon. Whether they'll get

value on education, it was almost a fixation. If she could earn her PhD, she believed

a second thought,

A little sweet talk at

securing a new CPRT analyzer for Edna's lab, the reality

budget

up costing

family agreed to cover only half, and Hertha had to sell more than a dozen of her beloved designer bags to make up the rest. Those bags were