CEO's Tears Over Pregnancy Test Discovery

"Come, sit down. I hear you're one of Wilfred's students? I know him well. His students are practically my own," Professor Cruz said with a warm smile the moment Karina sat down, catching her off guard. "You know Dr. Wilfred?" she blurted out, then immediately realized how silly the question sounded. Of course, they knew each other. How else could Wilfred have arranged for her to attend the lecture? Professor Cruz chuckled, unbothered by her slip. Instead, he found her straightforwardness rather refreshing.

As he looked at her, he let out a sigh, seemingly lost in thought. "Good, good... I had thought that kid might..." He trailed off, speaking more to himself than to Karina.

Karina didn't catch his last comment.

"I hear from Wilfred that you're here to discuss your paper?" Professor Cruz asked, steering the conversation back. "Did you bring it with you?"

"Yes, I did," Karina said quickly, pulling out her paper with care and handing it over.

Professor Cruz slipped on a pair of reading glasses and began reviewing it meticulously, making thoughtful "hmm" sounds as he read.

Unable to bear the silence, she said shyly, "It's my first paper, so it's probably full of

Not at all. I think it's very

disbelief. She hadn't expected such high praise from someone of his stature. It

"But... the Association said my paper wasn't

rejection email from the Tree of Life Association had been filled with criticisms her topic didn't align with their values, her arguments were off-track, and so on. The

his glasses with a scoff. "That's just how they are. Don't take their nonsense too seriously. For a first attempt, this is excellent." Hearing those words,

you think it can be

you what do you want to achieve

under his sharp gaze. It was as if he were peering

as it had been when