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Novel Catalog
Chapter 77: Surveillance Video
Ainsley’s eyes narrowed sharply as she locked onto Kaitlin. “Who did you hear it from?” she demanded, her voice cold.
Kaitlin hesitated, avoiding Ainsley’s intense gaze. She stubbornly replied, “I’m not saying who told me. In any case, this is about the competition. Don’t try to deny it. Get the organization department to confirm who’s lying! You and Serina are too close for this to be a coincidence. You must have helped her cheat!”
The crowd buzzed with indignation. If Kaitlin’s accusations were true, it would ruin the integrity of the competition. The reputation of the Department of Psychology, long renowned for its excellence in the annual Psychology Quiz Show, would be tarnished.
Ainsley, unfazed, raised her hand to get everyone’s attention. “Everyone, please listen. Kaitlin is correct in one thing. Yes, the first set of questions you’re seeing is the original test paper for today’s competition,” she announced.
Kaitlin’s smile spread wide—Ainsley had just admitted it! This was the confirmation she had been waiting for. Surely, this would prove her point.
“But,” Ainsley continued, her tone growing steely, “I didn’t give the test paper to Serina. After I printed it, I locked it away in the safe. Only I have the key.”
Kaitlin’s smirk faltered. “Ainsley, what’s your point? You’re the only one with the key. Doesn’t that just make it more obvious that you gave the test paper to Serina?” she mocked.
Ainsley ignored her. Instead, she took the crumpled test paper from the table. “I only discovered the safe had been tampered with half an hour before the competition. So, I had the organization department print new test papers. The original questions were stolen, and I know who did it.”
Kaitlin scoffed. “Stop changing the topic. You’re guilty of helping Serina cheat. As for the rest, you can explain yourself later to the school’s leaders.”
But Ainsley wasn’t done. “Kaitlin, if I had stolen the test questions, why would I have broken the safe? I could have simply sent the test paper to Serina via her phone.”
With that, Ainsley motioned toward the projection room. The large screen in the hall flickered on. “Let’s find out together who stole the test paper yesterday. I installed a small surveillance camera in the office a while ago, in case something like this happened.”
The crowd went silent as the screen displayed a grainy, night-vision recording. The image was a bit green, but it was still clear.
Within seconds, the office door opened, and two figures entered. One of them was Kaitlin.
“Turn it off! Turn it off!” Kaitlin shrieked, realizing she had just been caught on camera.
The video paused, freezing on Kaitlin’s shocked expression. Ainsley’s voice was icy. “Kaitlin, is that you? You stole the test paper. And now you’re here, trying to frame others.”
Raymond’s face turned pale with anger. This public humiliation was a disaster for the university. News of this would be a stain on the institution’s reputation.
Serina’s mind raced. She remembered how Kaitlin had frantically looked for answers during the first round. It all made sense now. “So that’s why you kept asking others for help during the first round,” Serina realized aloud. “You couldn’t figure it out yourself because you didn’t have the answers.”
Kaitlin’s face turned even paler. She stammered, “I—I didn’t—” But it was too late.
“I was the one who stole the test papers,” a new voice rang out, cold and firm.
Serina turned, startled. “Manuel!” she gasped.
Manuel stepped forward, his eyes burning with cold fury. He walked toward Ainsley and handed her a USB drive. “I have another video. Show it to everyone.”
Kaitlin’s legs wobbled. The surveillance video from the office had already been enough to destroy her, but now there was more? Could it be that this video would show her putting the test paper in Serina’s bag?
Before she could react, a staff member took the USB from Manuel and plugged it into the projector. The screen flickered once more, and the new video played.
It showed a girl walking toward a cabinet, then stuffing a test paper into a pink bag. The pink bag was unmistakably Serina’s.
“No… no way,” Kaitlin whispered, her voice shaking as she collapsed to the floor in disbelief.
The video continued, capturing a conversation. “Are you sure this is okay?” asked a female voice, clearly anxious.
“What are you worried about?” another voice replied confidently. “I’m from the Baldry family. If anything happens, Cason will cover for me. Besides, no one knows I took the test paper. Ainsley’s close to that girl from the Gage family. I’m sure she’ll tell her everything.”
Kaitlin’s voice—her own words—echoed through the hall.
The room erupted in chaos. Gasps, murmurs, and shocked exclamations filled the air. Ainsley stood with a smirk on her face, her gaze locked on Kaitlin.
“You’ve had so many chances to come clean, but instead, you’ve continued to dig yourself deeper,” Ainsley said coldly. “You stole the test papers for the Psychology Quiz Show, slandered me and Serina, and tried to frame us. This won’t be swept under the rug.”
Ainsley glanced at Raymond. “Mr. Ford, I suggest we call the police to handle this matter. After all, this concerns the reputation of the entire university.”
