Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 77

Chapter 9

Silas Duncan was no longer the celebrated nuclear expert everyone once admired. The institute wasted no time—they immediately halted all his research projects and demanded a detailed explanation of his recent actions.

His luxurious villa was confiscated, and his bank accounts were frozen without delay. In the midst of this chaos, I never imagined Silas would be able to track me down here in Indonesia.

But as it turns out, when someone truly wants to find you, they will find a way.

At that very moment, I was meticulously reviewing the final data alongside my colleagues in the lab. Suddenly, my professor called out my name, and I turned around, startled. Standing before me was a man I barely recognized—his face was pale, drawn, and etched with exhaustion and desperation.

His suit, once pristine, was now covered in dirt and sweat stains, the fabric’s color barely visible beneath the grime. The smell of stale sweat clung to him heavily.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward and grabbed my hands with a grip so tight it almost hurt.

“Charlotte, please—save me! Use your connections, plead my case! I promise I’ll repay the money, I’ll accept any demotion, just don’t let me go to prison!” His voice trembled, filled with raw panic and fear, echoing across the quiet, open courtyard.

My colleagues exchanged surprised glances, whispering among themselves.

“Isn’t that Dr. Duncan? I heard he cheated on his assistant and divorced Dr. Martin.”

“Yeah, didn’t you see the headlines? His girlfriend betrayed him. Turns out he was illegally selling national patents. The NSA is all over him.”

“Good riddance. He had a wonderful woman like Dr. Martin and didn’t appreciate her. Serves him right to be exposed.”

Silas’s hands shook as he held mine, desperation shining in his eyes. “Charlotte, I know I was wrong. From now on, I swear I’ll listen to you. I’ll never make the same mistake again.”

I gently pulled my hands free, my voice steady and calm. “Silas Duncan, we’re divorced. Don’t come looking for me anymore. I can’t help you with your problems.”

For a brief moment, anger flashed across his face.

“Charlotte Martin, you’d just stand by and watch me fall? You have no loyalty whatsoever. Yes, I wronged you, but I was deceived too! The person I’ve always cared about the most is you!”

I couldn’t help but scoff. “But you’re the one who asked for the divorce. Are you going to pretend your feelings for Rebecca were fake? You even went to her hometown in France. What was that all about? Were you just bored?”

Before he could reach out again, a group of police officers arrived swiftly, handcuffing him and leading him away.

A week later, the court’s ruling was posted online for all to see. Silas Duncan was sentenced to thirty years behind bars for the illegal sale of national patents.

Rebecca was caught at the airport and brought to trial as well. She received a twelve-year sentence for orchestrating a state researcher’s criminal actions, planning a plane hijacking, and inciting public panic.

The very day Silas and Rebecca were transferred to prison, our geothermal drill missile project was officially declared a complete success.

To counterbalance the scandal’s negative fallout, every major national media outlet highlighted the tremendous contributions our team had made to the country. We were honored with the 2025 Best Scientific Research Award.

I was also named Researcher of the Year and Outstanding Young Scientist, a recognition that felt both humbling and empowering.

Time passed swiftly. Before I realized it, I was in my forties, happily married with a loving husband and a wonderful child.

Silas Duncan and Rebecca Brown had faded into nothing more than distant memories. My heart was now filled solely with my research and the bright future ahead.