After her rebirth by Cici

Chapter 51

Clara's eyes lit up, and she tugged on Elodie's sleeve, "Mom, I wanna study abroad too."

Just as she said that, the host on stage called out the first-prize winner.

It was Juniper.

Juniper kept her cool, cracking a joke on the fly to lighten the mood. Plus, her speech game was on point.

The crowd went wild with applause. Juniper stood up, grinning, and the middle-aged guy next to her, who looked a lot like her, was beaming with pride. Clara felt a wave of disappointment, but a flicker of doubt crossed her mind.

Where was Katniss? Was she still with Maximilian?

She had seen Maximilian before. Wasn't he supposed to be all cold and distant? Why was he always helping Katniss?

It had to be him who got Ruby expelled today.

Clara bit her lip. If someone as powerful as him was on her side, she would've snagged that first prize for sure.

The host kept announcing winners, but even after the third prize, Clara's name was still missing.

Elodie's face turned dark.

Putting aside everything else, just for this speech gig, Simon ended up in the police station, and Lucas shelled out a whole thirty grand.

The Manners family had given up so much, and Clara didn't even get a third prize. It was a total waste!

Clara snapped back to reality, her eyes welling up, "How could this happen! Mom, does this mean I won't get to study abroad?"

Clara usually aced her studies, so how did she

wait here. I'm gonna talk to your leaders.

suddenly change her mind about giving Clara the slot? It was just to mess with Clara! "Mom, forget it. It's my fault for not studying hard enough. If we go to the leaders and they say it's on me,

to comfort her, forgetting about going

If you wanna study abroad, I'll

a moment, then headed towards the judges' table instead. Not

pushed Maximilian out of the school

didn't even get a third prize this

did something shady before the competition, causing her to underperform. Earlier in the office, knowing there was no surveillance or concrete evidence,

given to Ruby by Clara, they had no evidence

by Clara too many times before, Katniss knew catching her

distance from Clara and

of her

eyes sparkling, "Maximilian,

wanna bug Wesley and the others, so

down right away, and even more surprising, Maximilian

up, she might've had to put up with the bullying and figure out how

fuming from what he saw in the office earlier, said, "Katniss, how can your school's leaders let this slide, letting someone bully you! They only do this 'cause you got no one to back you up. Are your mom and brother even your real family? Good thing we got here in time. Next time something like this goes down, don't just take it. If they won't stand up for you, I

she had sand in her eyes today; why else did she

but she managed a slight smile, "Thanks, Felix. Sorry for the

"No hassle at all."

in before Felix could

just

Katniss was taken aback.

place, she felt like Maximilian had been

busy or not home, and sometimes she