"No, I won't do it," Hyman defiantly said. "After all, she's the reason my master is suffering..."

The director's eyebrows shot up in disbelief.

He was so close to slapping Hyman but restrained himself.

"Haven't I made myself clear?" The director tried to keep the voice down.

"I heard you just fine," Hyman retorted. "My master did something wrong, sure, but his career is ruined because of her, and..."

"Shut up!"

The director, having heard enough, said, "Fine, keep up your defiance.

But soon, harsh reality will open your eyes!"

Hyman scoffed, “What's she gonna do? She needs proof to touch me.”

The director gave Hyman a look of disbelief.

“She can pin this on you, you know. You think she's got no proof?" the director asked.

Hyman found no words to counter.

He fell silent, lost in thought.

After a pause, he declared, "I have no regrets. I'll face whatever she throws at me. She's young, barely in her twenties, and already about to replace you. Bet her husband's been pulling strings, huh?

She got here on a man's support. Who would respect that? There are others here more skilled and experienced than her. Why her?"

The director's anger subsided, replaced by understanding.

He knew Hyman wasn't inherently bad.

The man kept to himself, hardly mingling with colleagues, always on the fringes.

Now, his outburst seemed so out of character.

“Come on, tell me. Where'd you get these ideas? Why'd you act out?" the director pressed.