Chapter 21
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After dropping Phoebe at her piano teacher’s, the car inched toward Lamont Charm School.
(15
The carriage fell silent. It was the first time Karen and Rosalie had been alone in such a space, an awkward tension slowly stretching between them.
Karen still couldn’t shake off the embarrassment from that morning in Jagger’s office at Hodgeson High.
After a long silence, she blurted out, “Why didn’t you tell me you excelled academically?”
“You never asked.”
Karen’s face flushed, struck mute by Rosalie’s retort.
She wondered. ‘Is she blaming me for not caring enough? But I never wanted to have the wrong baby after my delivery!
The sudden realization that the daughter she’d doted on for seventeen years wasn’t biological had hit Karen harder than anyone.
If Karen’s parents hadn’t insisted on bringing her own child back, she would’ve just pretended it never happened.
Karen believed Rosalie’s arrival had left a total mess to her happy family. She thought, ‘Now, Rosalie is even blaming me, her biological mother.
Karen had given Rosalie the best she could, believing she’d treated both girls fairly.
But words like greedy, unlikable, and distant swirled in her mind, feeding her rising resentment toward Rosalie.
“I didn’t ask, but why didn’t you volunteer the information then? You’re seventeen. You don’t need a push for every step.
Karen thought, ‘That’s the point.
Rosalie turned to stare at Karen, her clear voice steady, “Even if I told you, would you have believed me?”
Karen’s throat tightened, her face flushing scarlet. A wave of embarrassment more intense than that morning surged up, burning her cheeks.
She knew the truth: had Rosalie claimed good grades, her first reaction wouldn’t have been belief.
No one understood better than she did. She had gone to fetch Rosalie from that village.
She had seen the squalid environment and the backward lifestyle. How could anyone decent emerge from such a place?
Rosalie’s lips curved into a faint smile as she turned to the car window.
Her icy demeanor had silenced the question in Karen’s mind: how had Rosalie gained such knowledge?
In the awkward silence, Karen quickly straightened out her thinking. The Spencer family hadn’t mistreated Rosalie, who had everything Phoebe did.
They’d even furnished Rosalie’s room with a computer and TV. With the Spencer–Coles genetic legacy and Phoebe’s tutoring, Rosalie could’ve prepped for Hodgeson’s placement test.
The silence lingered until Rosalie stepped out of the car. Karen only said, “I’ll pick you up after the class,” before driving away.
At the same time, Adrian received a call from his friend Hayden.
The moment the phone connected, a question blurted out, “I remember your students are all seventeen or eighteen, right? What do kids that age like these days?”
Adrian paused, confused. He asked, “Hay, since when do you care about my students?”
“I don’t.”
Adrian’s mind clicked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
“Oh, you mean hobbies? My students love… solving practice problems. Seriously, we just started 12th Grade today, and the whole class begged me to assign more worksheets. It’s touching, really. Diligent students are always hungry for self–improvement. Remember how we used to be?”
A long silence followed before Hayden’s cool voice returned, “Any recommended problem sets or learning materials?”
Adrian gaped in disbelief. Hayden, the intellectual prodigy, had bought his nonsense.
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3:06 PM
Chapter 21
He thought. “Fine. Guess I have to keep this up.”
Even if exposed, Adrian was ready to swear his students liked problem–solving. As for what teens actually liked these days? He hadn’t a clue.
With a plan hatched, he listed his personal favorite learning materials.
“Some are hard to find, but I’ll send you websites later, guaranteed to have everything. You’re welcome.”
Adrian barely stifled a laugh, keeping his tone serious.
“Sure.”
15
After the prank, Adrian cut to the chase, “Sounds like you found that girl? What’s so special about her? I just scouted a prodigy who’ll make finals for sure. Would I have the honor of meeting her when I come to Coranburg?”
“I’m in Webston.”
Adrian froze, stunned. “Wait, you’re in Webston? So the girl is here too?”
“Yep. Gotta go.”
“Wait, hold on.”
Hayden ignored his protests and hung up. Her eyes narrowed as he stared out the car window.
“Stop the car.”
Kareem blinked in surprise but obeyed, following his gaze.
Across the street, Rosalie stood in a blue–and–white school uniform, the fabric hugging her straight legs. She held a phone to her ear, eyes downcast as she listened quietly.
Car headlights occasionally swept over her, casting fleeting glimmers like falling stars.
“Damn, Hay, what a find,” Kareem breathed, stunned.
Webston’s streets hummed with night activity, yet Rosalie lingered at the alley’s mouth, nearly swallowed by shadow.
Kareem thought, ‘First he mentioned her on the phone, and now we came across her. This is fate.‘
Hayden reclined in his seat, lazy yet alert, knuckles tapping the window. His gaze remained locked on Rosalie.
“Should we go say hi?” Kareem suggested.
Hayden hummed noncommittally, not moving.
Kareem gawked at Rosalie. Suddenly, he commented, “She goes to Hodgeson High? Even their silly uniforms look good on her. That aura… Not just in Webston, even Coranburg’s noble ladies can’t match her.”
Hayden’s brows twitched at last. “Hodgeson High?”
“Yep. Webston’s most prestigious private school. Decent acceptance rates, but it’s… cliquey. Full of status–seekers.” Kareem filled him in. “Weird that the Spencer family sent her there.”
It would be fine if she had family backing. Without the Spencer family’s protection, she’d be a lamb to the slaughter.
Hayden stayed silent, his cold eyes unreadable.
As Kareem racked his brain for more campus gossip about Rosalie, he suddenly tensed. “Hey, look, she seems to be in trouble.”
A figure burst from the alley, crashing into Rosalie.
Moments later, a gang of thugs surrounded them, blocking the sidewalk.
Passersby stole quick glances before averting their eyes, then hurried around the commotion.
“Hay, your chance to play knight in shining armor! Come on. She’ll fall for you instantly.” Kareem slapped Hayden’s shoulder, urging him to move.
But before they could open the door, the unexpected happened.
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