Chapter 16 - THE COMPETITION THAT TESTED THEIR CHARACTER|
The accusation spread through the school before we had a chance to understand it.
Lucas had submitted a research proposal that resembled the twins' work on an advanced mathematical model for predicting structural failure. The title was different, but several paragraphs, diagrams, and equations appeared almost identical.
Ethan was furious.
“He copied our project.”
Noah looked through the documents.
“Maybe he got the idea from the presentation.”
“We never gave him the full model.”
I asked them to slow down.
“Before you accuse anyone, let's find out what happened.”
They contacted their mentor, Professor Allen, who had supervised their project for eight months. He confirmed that the original files were stored on the school's protected research server.
The access history showed that the project had been opened using an account belonging to a student assistant.
That assistant had been helping the competition committee organize submissions.
The account had also accessed Lucas's draft.
Michael called after hearing about the accusation.
“I can contact the school board.”
Ethan immediately refused.
“No.”
“I know people who can help.”
“We don't need favors.”
“I only want to make sure you aren't treated unfairly.”
Noah answered.
“Then let the evidence speak.”
Michael went quiet.
“Understood.”
The boys met with the academic integrity panel. Lucas attended with his parents.
He looked miserable.
“I didn't steal their work,” he said.
Ethan stared at him.
“Then why is it in your submission?”
Lucas explained that Rebecca had encouraged him to apply for the competition. She had sent him a research draft and told him it was a project he could develop. She said it had been prepared by a consultant and was not connected to the twins.
He had recognized some of the diagrams from their conversations but had assumed they were examples.
“I should have asked,” Lucas admitted. “I know that.”
Noah looked at him.
“Did you know it was our project?”
Lucas shook his head.
“Not the full thing.”
The panel asked for the original files, timestamps, and communication records.
The twins provided everything.
The school discovered that the student assistant had downloaded their draft and forwarded it to an external email address. That address belonged to a consulting company Rebecca had used.
Lucas had not created the copied material, but he had submitted it without verifying its source.
The committee suspended his entry pending further review.
He apologized to the twins afterward.
“I didn't want to compete against you like this.”
Ethan's anger softened.
“You still have to take responsibility.”
“I know.”
Noah nodded.
“Then do that.”
The investigation cleared the twins of any wrongdoing and confirmed their original work. Their invitation to the national championship was restored.
But the discovery had a deeper effect.
Rebecca had apparently continued trying to control the family even after the hospital investigation began. She had used Lucas's ambitions to create another conflict between the boys.
When Michael learned the details, he was devastated.
“I should have protected him from this.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You can't protect someone from every consequence. You can teach them to tell the truth.”
Michael nodded.
“I'll remember that.”
At home, the twins returned to their research.
They worked late into the night, refining the model and preparing their presentation. I brought them sandwiches and coffee, though they insisted they were not tired.
At two in the morning, Noah finally leaned back.
“We're going to win.”
Ethan smiled.
“We're going to do our best.”
Noah looked at him.
“You sound like Mom.”
“That's because Mom is usually right.”
I laughed.
For a moment, the room felt like it had before the DNA results, before the hospital records, before Michael appeared again.
But the next morning, a letter arrived from the state committee.
The national championship had been moved forward by three weeks.
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And the twins would have to compete against the student whose project had been submitted using their stolen research.
His name was Lucas Whitfield.
