Chapter 318 Academic Coercion\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maria turned, smiling at Sabrina. \u201cYou\u2019re back already?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Sabrina walked closer, a slight frown appeared on her face. \u201cWhat was going on with Vanessa last night? She seemed off this morning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maria set down the whisk she was holding, wiped her hands on a dish towel, and leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. \u201cOh, that child cried half the night. Drove me up the wall, honestly. I just lost my patience and gave her a proper scolding. Raised my voice quite a bit, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Sabrina\u2019s frown smoothed away, replaced by a conspiratorial look. She lowered her own voice. \u201cNext time she acts up like that, don\u2019t bother with just yelling. Go ahead and give her a good smack. I\u2019ve been sick of the sight of her for ages, just haven\u2019t found the right moment to put her in her place. Do it for me, Mom. Let out some of that frustration for your daughter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maria had expected a reprimand for being too harsh. Her daughter\u2019s response made her smile widen. She leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. \u201cTo tell you the truth\u2026 I did give her a few good pinches when she wouldn\u2019t quiet down.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina let out a soft, approving laugh and gave Maria a playful nudge. \u201cYou\u2019re clever, Mom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maria patted Sabrina\u2019s hand affectionately. \u201cIt\u2019s you I feel for. Having to grin and bear it when you clearly can\u2019t stand the little brat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina\u2019s smile was bright and calculating. \u201cA few fake smiles are a small price to pay for the position and security I get. It\u2019s a fair trade.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maria nodded in agreement. \u201cYou\u2019re right about that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, mother and daughter dropped their masks, speaking freely. But their candid moment was shattered by a new voice from the kitchen doorway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina was about to suggest Maria pinch Vanessa more often when Vincent\u2019s voice cut through the air. \u201cWhat are you two conspiring about in here? You look terribly secretive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent was leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, a look of lazy amusement in his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the sound of his voice, Sabrina\u2019s cheeks flushed with momentary guilt. She recovered swiftly, forcing a calm expression. \u201cVincent, perfect timing. Mom and I were just discussing Vanessa. She has a school field trip this weekend. We were trying to decide who should chaperone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The kindergarten had scheduled a fall outing, though early winter had already set in. Since it was school\u2013organized, Vincent didn\u2019t question it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:08 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 318 Academic Coercion\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s thought, he said, \u201cIf you\u2019re free this weekend, you can go, Sabrina. If not, I\u2019ll have her mother take her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina paused only briefly before answering. \u201cI\u2019ll go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly if you\u2019re not too tired,\u201d Vincent said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina walked over to him, stopping right in front of him. \u201cIt\u2019s no trouble. Vanessa will be happier if I\u2019m there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent relented. \u201cI suppose that\u2019s true.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina smiled. \u201cLet me just run upstairs and change.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright. I\u2019ll wait for you here. Then we\u2019ll go see Mr. Newman.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina nodded and headed upstairs, returning shortly, dressed smartly. Vincent drove, and they headed to the university campus together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Later that morning, Vincent intercepted Thomas just as he was leaving his lecture hall. \u201cMr. Newman,\u201d Vincent said, his tone polite but firm. \u201cDo you have a moment for a conversation?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing Sabrina beside Vincent, Thomas immediately understood the purpose of the visit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina\u2019s doctoral research had hit a major snag; her methodology was flawed, and her initial conclusions were wrong. The news had spread through the department, and Thomas, a respected figure in the field, was well aware of it. He had long since concluded that Sabrina lacked the aptitude for a Ph.D.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sensing this wouldn\u2019t be a pleasant discussion, Thomas\u2018 demeanor turned cool. \u201cWhat is this about, Mr. Stewart?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hallway was busy with passing students and faculty. Not wanting to cause a scene, Vincent suggested, \u201cPerhaps somewhere more private would be better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas, wary of Vincent\u2019s intentions but curious, agreed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They went to a quiet restaurant nearby, and Vincent secured a private dining room. After they had ordered, Thomas didn\u2019t waste time. \u201cMr. Stewart, let\u2019s not play games. State your business.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent subconsciously reached for his silver cigarette case. He hesitated, glancing at Sabrina, then slid it back into his pocket. Leaning back in his chair, he looked directly at Thomas, his expression turning steely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s be blunt, Mr. Newman,\u201d Vincent began, his voice calm but carrying undeniable weight. \u201cI need\u00a0<\/p>\n
you to ensure Sabrina graduates with her Ph.D., and does so smoothly. If that doesn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Chapter 318 Academic Coercion\u00a0<\/p>\n
A64\u00a0<\/p>\n
happen, the annual seven\u2013figure funding from Stewart Group to the university\u2019s medical research foundation will be\u2026 reevaluated. It may very well be withdrawn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The threat was laid out plainly, without pretense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas stared at him for a beat, then let out a short, incredulous laugh. \u201cVincent, you must be joking. Are you seriously trying to strong\u2013arm me\u2013to strong\u2013arm this university\u2014with a funding threat? Do you think you\u2019re above the rules? Above the state boards that oversee this institution?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was true that Vincent\u2019s contributions had been significant in keeping several high\u2013profile research projects afloat. But the university\u2019s survival didn\u2019t hinge on him alone; it had government backing and other donors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sheer audacity of Vincent using financial leverage to force a doctoral degree for an unqualified candidate struck Thomas as not just unethical, but dangerously arrogant. He had never imagined Vincent would go this far.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 318 Chapter 318 Academic Coercion\u00a0 Maria turned, smiling at Sabrina. \u201cYou\u2019re back […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-impossible-condition-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27682\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}