Chapter 12

Everyone simultaneously looked at Juliana and Hanley

Feeling the collective gaze, Juliana straightened up and flashed a smile at Hanley, asking, “What if Cordelial starts hounding you?”

Hanley lifted his chin with an air of finality. “Our engagement is set. It’s not changing for anyone.”

With that, Juliana relaxed,

She and Hanley had grown up together, their relationship always teetering on the edge of something more. Now, with their engagement on the horizon, she trusted that Hanley harbored no feelings for Cordelia.

Their conversation was neither hushed nor loud, but just enough for the onlookers to overhear.

A few snide voices began to mock Cordelia, “Being the top of the class doesn’t mean you can win Hanley’s heart, huh?”

“If I were her, I’d stay well away. How shameless can you get, always hovering around Hanley…”

Cordelia cooled her gaze but before she could speak up, Merry interjected, “Some folks really have nothing better to do than to poke their noses into others‘ business!”

Merry had a sing–song quality, even when she was hurling insults.

The teasers promptly shut their mouths.

Merry then glanced at Juliana and Hanley with a snort, “And some people really have the gall!”

The classroom fell silent. When it came to quick wit, no one could outdo Merry.

Seeing that Merry had defused the situation, Cordelia nodded to show her thanks and made her way to her seat, but Merry turned and headed for the door.

The class president called out, “Merry, class is about to start, where are you off to?”

Merry looked back, blowing a bubble with her gum, “Arcade.”

Cordelia blinked in surprise.

Merry didn’t return for the rest of the day.

time for the afternoon study period.

up as well, heading to her physics.

the door, Juliana caught a glimpse of Cordelia rising a beat slower and heading in their direction. She couldn’t resist asking. “What if she talks

seemingly conflicted, “That’s true…

Η

they were at the stairwell. As they hesitated on whether to acknowledge her, Cordelia walked past them without a glance, not

in their tracks, enveloped in an awkward

find only a

and set the class to work on them before approaching Cordelia with a test in hand, “Try this out, I want

I

and got to

seat, unable to keep from monitoring her

test Latham handed to Cordelia was standard competition level, Hanley, a seasoned math competitor, had gotten them

the two–hour test in one, causing a twinge

the test on the spot, announcing the result,

relief. A

didn’t guarantee success in competitions,

the last test. He

stared at her test, marked with three red wrong signs and asked, puzzled,

a low voice to not disturb the others, “You got the answers right, but in a formal competition, everyone will mark

her head.

“Calculus is a college subject. Where did you

replied, “Self–study.”

tests logical reasoning, which means you need to solve these problems with high school

your

is beyond the syllabus, not using the designated

filled with confusion. This was

some notes for

caught this early. There’s still time. I’ll compile so you

you have any questions, you can also

glanced at the test

calculus, they indeed seemed challenging, but she found them intriguing!

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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