Chapter 686 Who Is He?
The absence of any further action from Catherine finally made Paddy find his voice. He looked at Catherine with a gaze filled with anger. The feeling of being overwhelmed by her presence made him feel extremely frustrated. He didn’t even understand why he felt subconsciously fearful of this girl.
“Catherine, you leaked the data. What right do you have to stay in the lab?” he accused. “Can’t believe you’re shameless enough to come back. You’re planning to steal more data from the lab, aren’t you?”
Catherine turned her head to look at Ciaran, lightly pointing in Paddy’s direction. “Who is he?” she asked.
Paddy was surprised that Catherine didn’t even recognize him. Although not top-notch, he was quite a prominent figure among the students at Styre University. “How could she not know me?” he asked inwardly. “This must be a deliberate attempt to humiliate me!”
Feeling embarrassed and angry, Paddy introduced himself before Ciaran had a chance to speak. “I’m Paddy McLaughlin from the biology department, five years ahead of you. Even if you don’t see me as your teacher, I’m still senior to you.”
He had outstanding academic performance and stayed at Styre University after obtaining his doctoral degree. He was the same year as Ciaran and five years senior to Catherine.
However, Catherine remained indifferent, not bothering to respond to Paddy.
Seeing this, Paddy felt like a clown, filled with indignant anger. “Catherine Swann, don’t be so arrogant. If you confess and make amends for your leak, we might consider showing you some leniency. Otherwise…”
“Hmph!” Catherine coldly snorted, her mocking gaze sweeping over Paddy. ” What makes you think you have the right to show me leniency?”
“You…” Paddy was so angry with her that he just burst out cursing, “You shameless traitor, I’ll…”
Before Paddy could finish his sentence, a swift gust of wind passed by his ear. Then, he was suddenly thrown over someone’s shoulder and slammed to the ground.
“AH!”
A scream rang out, and the crowd finally came to their senses. They hadn’t even seen how Catherine made her move before she knocked Paddy to the ground.
Catherine’s foot arrogantly pressed down on Paddy’s chest, her cold eyes looking down at him with disdain. “If you don’t know how to speak properly, then shut up,” she said in a commanding and powerful tone, sending shivers down Paddy’s spine.
Despite her seemingly petite figure, her step on his chest not only immobilized him but also deprived him of the chance to catch his breath. Ciaran and the others were dumbfounded, never expecting Catherine, who was usually quiet, to be so ruthless when provoked.
Under Catherine’s intimidating presence, no one dared to speak. Suddenly, rapid footsteps approached, and everyone turned around to see Marshall, accompanied by several school superintendents, walking sternly toward them. The crowd willingly stepped aside to make way.
Marshall immediately asked Catherine, “Catherine, are you alright?”
Catherine nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Good,” Marshall said, then turned to his students. “Are you guys okay?”
“We’re fine, Professor Hartley,” Ciaran answered for the group. He then gestured to Marshall to look at Catherine’s foot, under which Paddy was still pinned down. With so many school superintendents present, her behavior appeared unseemly.
However, Marshall seemed oblivious to Ciaran’s hint and didn’t even glance at Paddy. The students from the biology department, seeing the arrival of the president of the university, Ultan Farrell, began complaining.
“Mr. Farrell, Catherine is bullying Paddy.”
“She’s too arrogant, Mr. Farrell.”
“Exactly. How could she be so brazen in front of you, Mr. Farrell? She’s utterly disrespectful.”
“Yeah, that’s right…”
Despite the students’ complaints, Catherine’s foot remained firmly planted on Paddy’s chest, her face showing no signs of emotion. Every time Paddy struggled, she increased the pressure, ensuring he had no chance to speak.
Ultan, facing the students’ complaints, seemed at a loss. He had witnessed how Catherine easily walked away from the procuratorate the day before. It was evident to him that not only he, as the president, but the entire Styre University couldn’t afford to offend her.
Ultan wanted to speak, but he silently closed his mouth after Catherine glanced at him. Unable to handle the situation, he had to turn to Marshall, the pleading look in his eyes seeming to say, “Your student, your responsibility. 11
“Hmph!” Marshall snorted, clearly not wanting to get involved. Ultan suddenly pulled at his sleeve, almost tearing his clothes. The surrounding students all saw it, but none dared to speak.
After a brief exchange of glances between Marshall and Ultan, Marshall finally relented, considering Ultan’s usual care for him.
“Catherine, let’s discuss it in a nicer way, but first release him. It’s not proper for a young lady to act this way, “Marshall said.
Catherine, upon hearing this, released her foot. Paddy seemed to come back to life the moment she let go, sitting up and suddenly coughing violently.
Paddy’s classmates from the biology department rushed forward to help him up. As soon as Paddy steadied himself, he immediately voiced out a complaint. “Mr. Farrell, Catherine openly violated school regulations by assaulting me. You can’t just let her off this time, can you?”
Ultan glanced at Marshall, indicating that he should handle it himself. After all, Catherine was his student.
Marshall stepped forward and approached Paddy. His cold gaze made Paddy feel uneasy, causing him to instinctively take a step back and respectfully address him, “Professor Hartley…”
“Biology department, so you are Finbar’s student, right?” The professor in the biology department was Finbar Kavanagh, and Paddy was his student.
Seeing Paddy nod, Marshall immediately scolded him. “Finbar’s teaching is average, and his students are no better. How dare you cause trouble in my lab? Do you think my students need your guidance?”
Paddy never expected Marshall to say such things in public, making him feel like his heart was bleeding.
However, Marshall was the most renowned professor in the entire school, and Paddy couldn’t do anything against him. “Professor Hartley, there seems to be a misunderstanding!” ” Misunderstanding?” Marshall pointed at the students behind Paddy. “Then why did you bring them to my lab? Are you here to steal the data?”
Paddy’s face turned ashen. He immediately explained, “No, how could we do that?”
Marshall interjected, “So you must be here to cause trouble!” His tone was firm, leaving no room for explanation.
