Chapter 51 Chapter 51
“Professor I…I’m sorry I skipped my last class of the day, Ma’am. I’m willing to make up the work that I missed.” Iris continued, “Ah, I don’t think my biological family were going to let me out of their sight after they found me. Apparently, the Lawson competition that I had entered but have now withdrawn from was their way to search for me. They did background checks on all entrants, so no matter how things may have started this off, they would have found me anyway.”
Professor Winters leaned back in her chair, her expression softening slightly. Twenty years in academia had taught her to recognise genuine distress beneath a composed exterior, and the young woman before her was clearly struggling to maintain her equilibrium despite extraordinary circumstances.
"Your absence is the least of my concerns right now, Iris," she said, her tone gentler than her usual classroom manner. "I'm more concerned about how this revelation will affect your work and your place in the program."
Relief flickered across Iris's face, though her shoulders remained tense. "I'm still the same designer I was two days ago," she said. "My abilities haven't changed just because my last name might."
Professor Winters nodded approvingly. This was precisely the attitude she had hoped to hear. "Exactly right. But not everyone will see it that way." She tapped her fingers thoughtfully against her desk. "There will be those who question whether your recent competition win was influenced by your connection to the Lawsons, regardless of the fact that neither you nor they were aware of it at the time."
"I've thought about that," Iris admitted. "It's... troubling."
"Which is why I intend to make my position clear to the entire department," Professor Winters stated firmly. "Your work has always stood on its own merits, and it will continue to do so. I've championed your talent since your first design submission, long before anyone suspected your connection to the Lawsons."
Across campus, in his business ethics classroom, Tony Kennedy sat through the most excruciating pre-class minutes of his academic career. Fellow students circled his desk with poorly disguised curiosity, some bold enough to directly ask about his relationship with "the Maxwell girl" and her connection to the Lawsons.
"Is it true she's the kidnapped Lawson baby?" one particularly persistent classmate pressed. "My father sits on the university board, and he heard something big was breaking this morning."
Tony maintained a polite but firm silence, checking his watch repeatedly. At precisely 8:00 AM, phones throughout the classroom began to chime with news alerts. The Lawson statement had been released.
In her office, Professor Winters's computer pinged with the notification. She turned the screen so both she and Iris could read the carefully crafted announcement:
The Lawson family is overjoyed to confirm that Iris Rose Maxwell, currently a design student at Westlake University, has been identified through DNA testing as Roxanne Elizabeth Lawson, who was kidnapped from the family home twenty years ago. The Lawson family asks for privacy as they reconnect with their daughter, who was raised by Leo and Carol Maxwell after being left at a fire station as an infant. The Maxwells, who had no knowledge of Iris's origins, have the Lawson family's profound gratitude for giving their daughter a loving home. Plans are underway for an exhibition showcasing the artistic connection between Iris and her birth mother, renowned sculptor Dianne Lawson.
The family also ask that all questions be sent to their PR department for comment, including all requests for comment from the Maxwell family.
The Lawson family also acknowledges that their daughter has begun a relationship with Antony Kennedy, who recognised her extraordinary design talent and inadvertently assisted in reuniting Iris with her birth family.
Across the Westlake University campus, phones chimed in unison as the statement went live. A wave of whispers and exclamations spread through hallways and classrooms as students and faculty absorbed the extraordinary news.
In Professor Winters' office, Iris felt a curious sense of relief mingled with apprehension. The truth was out now, no more hiding, no more uncertainty about how to explain her sudden connection to one of the country's wealthiest families. Yet with that relief came the knowledge that her private life had just become public property, subject to speculation and scrutiny from people who knew nothing about her beyond this headline.
"Well," Professor Winters said, breaking the momentary silence, "it appears the day has officially begun." She straightened in her chair, her expression shifting from personal concern to professional determination. "My offer stands. You are welcome to take a leave of absence if you need time to adjust to these changes. However, if you choose to continue with your studies, I will ensure that the design department treats you exactly as they did before, as a talented student whose work speaks for itself."
"Thank you, Professor," Iris replied, genuinely touched by the older woman's support. "I'd prefer to continue my studies. I've worked too hard to step away now."
Professor Winters nodded approvingly. "I expected nothing less. Now, shall we face the wolves together? Your design theory class begins in twenty minutes, and I suspect attendance will be unusually high today."
Back in Tony’s business class.
“Dude, you found the Lawson heiress? That’s…that’s huge.” Simon stated.
Tony shot Simon an irritated glance. "This isn't about finding an heiress. It's about Iris, a talented designer who just discovered her entire life history was different from what she thought."
The professor entered the classroom then, bringing the excited chatter to a reluctant halt. Tony checked his phone under his desk, relieved to see a message from Iris: In design theory with Professor Winters. She's being incredibly supportive. See you at lunch?
He quickly typed back: Absolutely. I'll meet you at the usual spot. Hanging in there?
Her reply came seconds later: Surprisingly, yes. Professor Winters is running interference like a pro.
Across campus, Iris sat beside Professor Winters as students filed into the design theory classroom. The usual casual entrance had transformed into a spectacle, with students who normally skipped this 8:30 AM session suddenly appearing with remarkable punctuality. Even more telling were the unfamiliar faces, business and liberal arts majors who had clearly never set foot in the design building before today.
Professor Winters observed the growing crowd with narrowed eyes, her spine straightening as she prepared to defend her student from unwanted scrutiny. When the classroom had filled beyond capacity, with students even standing against the walls, she rose from her seat.
"Good morning," she said, her voice carrying the authority of decades in academia. "I see we have some visitors today. How fascinating that design theory has suddenly become so popular."
A nervous titter ran through the room as the interlopers recognised they'd been called out. Professor Winters continued, her gaze sweeping over the assembled students.
"As you've likely all heard by now, our department has the honour of counting among its students a young woman of remarkable talent who has recently discovered her connection to the Lawson family. This changes nothing about her abilities, her work ethic, or her standing in this program."