Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 162: Cheating

Just as Nina Thorne returned to her seat, the seminar officially began.

Seeing she had been gone for a while, Albert Locke asked with concern, "What took you so long? Did something happen?"

Nina Thorne knew he was a warm and caring person.

She gave a slight shake of her head. "It’s nothing."

The organizer on stage began to speak.

The seminar focused on technical discussions and development updates for new-energy smart driving systems.

It was only natural that Albert Locke, an international senior engineer, was invited to the stage.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience as he walked onto the stage.

As he spoke with eloquent ease, faces in the audience lit up with understanding, their admiration for him growing.

Albert Locke announced that his next step was to spearhead a systematic R&D enhancement at the Thorne Group.

Their goal would be to tackle several major issues currently facing new-energy vehicles.

This announcement caused a stir in the audience.

The technological development of new-energy vehicles had, by this point, hit a plateau.

Even the recently launched enhanced version from the Kane Group had been stunning enough.

’An even more enhanced version? What would that even look like?’

The applause didn’t stop as Albert Locke finished his speech and stepped down from the stage.

Nina Thorne smiled at the returning Albert Locke, applauding as she said, "Well said."

Next, the host invited April Graham to the stage.

April Graham stood on stage, her posture proud and confident, basking in the limelight.

She held forth on her own views and insights.

On the surface, her points seemed to differ from Albert Locke’s, but the core concepts were largely the same.

In practice, however, Albert Locke’s approach was clearly more feasible.

Hers was overly idealistic.

But not wanting to disrespect the Graham Family, no one voiced any objections.

When April Graham finished, the audience once again broke into steady applause.

But April Graham didn’t rush to leave the stage. Her gaze sought out Justin Kane in the audience, only to find his eyes were glued to Nina Thorne.

Instantly, fury ignited within her. She turned her gaze deliberately on Nina Thorne. "I hear Miss Thorne inherited her father’s talents and has dabbled in R&D herself. I wonder if there’s any truth to that."

Nina Thorne frowned, having been singled out.

April Graham was clearly targeting her. "In that case, why don’t we invite Miss Thorne up to say a few words?"

The people in the audience were no fools.

They could all see her intent: to humiliate Nina Thorne.

In Sylport, the Thornes stood on equal footing with the other three great families.

Though their influence had waned, people were still reluctant to offend them.

All eyes, hungry for drama, turned to Nina Thorne.

Then, someone in the crowd heckled:

"Miss Thorne, go on up and say a few words. Who knows, with a scriptwriter’s wild imagination, you might actually come up with something."

"How can writing scripts compare to being an engineer? This is skilled work, not something you can just solve by tapping on a keyboard."

"Hey, you never know. Maybe tapping on a keyboard *can* solve it."

A cold glint flashed in Justin Kane’s eyes. "All of you, shut up."

Seeing him defend Nina Thorne, the crowd instantly fell silent, too scared to make a peep.

The crowd may have been afraid of him, but April Graham wasn’t.

Seeing him protect Nina Thorne only made her more relentless.

"What, is Miss Thorne scared? Or was that display of skill back in Vistara just Engineer Locke helping you cheat?"

’In April Graham’s mind, even if Nina Thorne *could* develop a system at nine years old, that talent had surely been buried and forgotten over the years.’

’Without hard work, talent is wasted. Gold can turn to scrap iron.’

The crowd grew excited, eager to see a showdown between the two women.

Seeing this, the host on stage inquired:

"Miss Thorne, would you like to come up and say a few words?"

Engineer Stowe, sitting to Nina Thorne’s right, offered to go up and say a few words for her.

But she declined.

’April Graham was deliberately trying to cause trouble; she wouldn’t back down so easily.’

Just as Nina Thorne was about to speak...

But April Graham goaded her, "If you’re scared, Miss Thorne, then don’t bother coming up. There’s no shame in being ignorant about technology, after all."

"But since you’re about to take over the Thorne Group, it’ll be hard to command respect if you don’t understand this, won’t it?"

"What a pity. The great Thorne Group will be reduced to an empty shell."

Her words sparked a flurry of discussion from the audience.

"That’s right, I heard Master Thorne has been hospitalized and is still in a coma."

"And that incident at the construction site yesterday... Miss Thorne may have saved the day, but I doubt she can really fix the underlying problem."

"Thinking she can carry the entire group at her age? She must be dreaming!"

"I can’t believe Engineer Locke would throw his career away by going to the Thorne Group. Such a waste..."

The crowd shook their heads and sighed, having already written Nina Thorne off as incapable.

Especially when it came to the technology behind system R&D.

Justin Kane’s expression turned vicious, his sharp gaze shooting daggers. "Were you a mute in your past life? Is that why you love talking so much in this one?"

The person who had just spoken was once again frightened into silence.

Hearing him step in to help, Nina Thorne felt a pang in her heart.

’And where have *you* been?’

Albert Locke asked in a low voice, "Do you want to go up? If not, I’ll handle it."

Nina Thorne smiled. "If I don’t go up, won’t I be giving her exactly what she wants?"

Albert Locke said dismissively, "She’s a nobody. Not worth your time. I can handle this."

But Nina Thorne rather enjoyed going up against April Graham.

Perhaps it was because of the resentment simmering inside her.

With a faint smile, she rose and slowly walked onto the stage.

April Graham narrowed her eyes.

’She didn’t think Nina would be so clueless as to actually come up.’ She sneered, "I can’t believe you actually have the guts to come up here. You really don’t know your own limits."

Nina Thorne looked at her and retorted coolly, "If someone I’ve already beaten has the nerve to come on stage, why shouldn’t I?"

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for everyone in the audience to hear.

A wave of shock went through the crowd.

What?

April Graham... defeated by *her*?

No way!

After all, April Graham was one of the top engineers in the country, second only to Albert Locke.

Very few people could surpass her.

At Nina Thorne’s words, Jason Graham couldn’t suppress the smile playing on his lips.

’That’s her, all right. She sure knows how to push people’s buttons.’

’If she’d had this kind of backbone in the past, she wouldn’t have been misunderstood and bullied for five years.’

Justin Kane’s expression softened. He was pleased, but at the same time, an indescribable feeling crept into his heart.

’Nina Thorne was just as he’d hoped she’d become—more confident and composed than ever.’

’And yet... it also felt like she was drifting further and further away from him...’

April Graham gritted her teeth in anger. "You cheated last time! You never would have beaten me if they hadn’t helped you!"

Nina Thorne coolly met her gaze. "There are plenty of witnesses here. We can compete again, and the result will be obvious."

Remembering the humiliation of their last encounter, April Graham hesitated.

Nina Thorne saw her hesitation and pressed her advantage. "If you’re too scared, then get off the stage. Don’t waste my time."

April Graham snorted. "Fine, a competition it is. After you’re done sharing your ’insights,’ we’ll see how much real skill you actually possess."

"Fine by me," Nina Thorne agreed.

Seeing her agree so readily, April Graham was stunned for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and walked off the stage.

Nina Thorne stood on the stage, gazing at the crowd below.

She didn’t need to prepare any theoretical materials at all.

It was all stored in her mind; she could recall it whenever she pleased.

In the past, she was the useless heiress everyone looked down on, good for nothing but writing her little scripts.

Making Cole Kane, and indeed everyone, think she was incapable.

But today, she would show them all. She wasn’t just capable—she was leagues ahead of them.

Nina Thorne took a deep breath and began to speak freely about her R&D theories.

Her points were sharp and clear, her analysis uniquely insightful. Everyone present stared in disbelief, their faces masks of pure shock.

’Nina Thorne... actually knows R&D?’

’How... How is that possible?’