The silence in the room was deafening. Every pair of eyes was fixed on me, waiting for my response to Griffin's simple yet earth-shattering question. I could almost hear the collective intake of breath, like the world had paused on its axis.
"You're doing exceptionally well, Griffin," I said calmly, my voice cutting through the silence. "Though I believe we agreed you wouldn't reveal my identity unless absolutely necessary."
The explosion of gasps and murmurs was instantaneous. Chairs scraped against the floor as people stood up in shock.
"This is a joke," Imogen stammered, her face draining of color. "She's lying!"
Griffin simply reached into his briefcase and produced a sealed envelope. "For those requiring proof, here's an official copy of the patent for the molecular stabilization formula, registered under Dr. Emma Bella's legal name—Juliana Johnson."
He handed it to the university dean, whose hands trembled slightly as he examined the document.
