When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles) novel Chapter 106

Chapter 106

After landing a postdoc position, Naomi was supposed to focus on research, but she couldn’t settle on a direction. Even after going through stacks of academic papers, she still hadn’t found a good topic to pursue.

Her peers were already deep into their research projects, while she was the only one still undecided. This was wasting valuable time in her academic career. That was why Naomi decided to seek advice from Cedric.

Cedric was strict and rarely smiled. Most students considered him a tough advisor

approach.

Naomi definitely agreed with that assessment. Not wanting to face Cedric alone, Naomi had no choice but to drag Charles and Jason along, hoping their presence would make asking for advice less intimidating.

As Naomi explained her situation, Cedric said with an indifferent expression, “People who study medicine need to be fully committed to their studies and research. You’re always off performing somewhere, taking week–long leaves.

“After class, you never set foot in the library. If everyone came running to me with their problems like you do, then anyone could get a PhD. What’s the point of all these rules if they’re just for show?”

“I’m sorry, Professor Judd,” Naomi mumbled, her head bowed in embarrassment.

Cedric pushed up his glasses, his voice cutting. “You’re not apologizing to me–you’re letting yourself down. You wasted time getting into grad school, and now you’re wasting more time on your doctorate.

“If you don’t want to study medicine, then just quit. The country’s resources aren’t for you to use as a stepping stone. Wasting medical resources is disgraceful.”

Every word from Cedric was full of contempt for Naomi. Cedric had mentored plenty of top students, but none of them disappeared for days like Naomi did.

At night, many students were holed up in the lab, redoing experiments over and over just to get one piece of data.

Naomi’s head hung low, her face burning with embarrassment, her fingers digging into her knees in frustration. Cedric’s words were just as humiliating as a slap in the face.

She figured that with Charles and Jason there, Cedric would at least go easy on her. But to her surprise, Cedric tore into her right in front of them.

Cedric wasn’t wrong, but the way he said it was harsh and downright humiliating. And to make it worse, he said it right in front of Charles.

Charles stood quietly, listening as Cedric tore into Naomi, his face cold, clearly displeased. But he said nothing.

jason couldn’t hold back. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, “Hey, you old geezer, watch your mouth! Even if Naomi doesn’t go into medicine, she can still make a living. Who are you to judge her?”

Naomi quickly tried to calm him down. “Jason, don’t be like that. It’s really my own fault.”

But before she could finish, Jason jumped in. “Naomi, I just can’t stand seeing he give you a hard time.”

Cedric shot Jason a dismissive look. “If she can make a living, then maybe she should just give up on medicine now. Getting into a PhD program isn’t impressive–graduating is what really matters.”

As he finished, Cedric turned his gaze to Naomi. Her eyes were slightly red–she’d probably been crying. She looked fragile, not at all like someone cut out for medicine.

Seeing her like that just irritated Cedric further. He didn’t hold back as he said, “Choosing a research topic is the first hurdle for any PhD student. If you can’t even get past that, don’t even think about your dissertation. And let me be clear–medicine isn’t just about staying focused.

“You have to be able to handle being alone, dealing with silence. If you always need a crowd around you, then you’re not cut out for this. Honestly, you might as well quit and go get married.”

Naomi’s tears started flowing even harder. She kept her head down, too ashamed to look at either Cedric or Charles.

Seeing her stay silent, Cedric called her by her full name, his tone sharp. “Naomi Yates, do you think I’m right?”

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Chapter 106

Naomi barely nodded, too ashamed to speak.

Cedric smirked and turned to Charles, who had been silent the whole time. “Mr. Logan, what about you? Do you think I’m right?”

Charles lounged back in his chair, looking completely at ease. When Cedric glanced his way, Charles met his eyes without flinching. The two of them silently stared at each other, their eyes filled with unspoken tension.

Charles didn’t bother answering Cedric. He just turned to Jason and said, “Jason, looks like Professor Judd doesn’t want to join us for dinner. See him out.”

Jason hesitated for a second, then said, “Charles.”

Charles’s face turned cold as he repeated, “See him out.”

Naomi had just been humiliated by Cedric, and Jason, even though Naomi might have been in the wrong, would always stand up for her. But Charles didn’t react, instead just telling Jason to show

thedric the door.

Jason could only get up.

Just as he stood, Cedric also got up.

THE

E

Cedric shot Jason a cold glare. “No need for you to see me out, Mr. Gould. But before I leave, let me remind you–my student Hector

student.” Reed just saved Mrs. Logan’s life. You can judge me, but in the medical world, I have the right to mentor any

With that, Cedric grabbed his briefcase and walked out.

Once Cedric left, Jason, still furious, looked at Charles and said, “Charles, is Cedric even aware who’s funding him? Without your support, where would those fancy labs of his even come from? And he dares to talk down to Naomi and even me?”

Jason was so pissed, he was this close to chasing after Cedric just to set him straight.

Naomi sat off to the side, quietly crying to herself, feeling hurt and humiliated.

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