Chapter 60

Cordelia was never one to sweat the small stuff, especially when it came to exams. Her real passion was learning, not the accolades that came with it. So when the results day for the Intest test rolled around, she got ready for school as if it were any other day.

Downstairs, Laurinda and Juliana could no longer openly sneer at her as they used to. At this mome Laurinda was lecturing, “Juliana, you’ve got to stay humble. Always trying to outdo myveryone leaves no ro for others and that’s how you make enemies. Look at Cordelin, Some were so bent on taking her down a peg and delayed her for a half hour on an eighty–minute test. Such a shame.”

Juliana chuckled, glancing at Cordelia as she descended the stairs and finished her last bite of toast, “Granny, enough about that. Cordelia aced the Galaxy Math Whiz Competition and took national first place. If bombs the National League, people might question her math competition scores.”

Lorna stepped out of the kitchen with breakfast ready for Cordelia and advised with a concerned frown, “Lia, this test isn’t the end–all–be–all. Everyone knows you had a incident. Don’t let their words get to you.”

Cordelia glanced up indifferently. “What words?”

Lorna was speechless. She found Cordelia’s strength almost inhuman, as if there was never a need for her help. It filled Lorna with pride but also a deep ache.

At eighteen, while other girls were playing coy and running to their parents at the slightest hardship, Lia had long since learned to rely on herself, erecting a wall between her and the world.

Lorna simply smiled and dropped the subject.

Ever since the tension between Cordelia and Juliana had surfaced, Lorna had arranged for a separate car for them. Now, neither had to wait for the other.

Her daughter wouldn’t have to suffer any unwarranted grievances.

After Cordelia left, Laurinda scoffed, “All this fuss about math and physics competitions… You really spoil her. Aren’t you afraid she’ll get greedy? Look, she can’t even get first place now.”

Juliana pressed her lips together, but said nothing.

Lorna spoke up. “The National League is just a stepping stone, not the actual Olympiad. A top prize is enough to get into the winter camp, which can lead to scholarship opportunities and college credits. That’s all that

matters.”

Laurinda snorted.

Lorna turned to Juliana, taking the offensive, “Juliana, you might want to focus less on others and more on your upcoming physics competition this weekend. Don’t take it lightly or you might miss out on that top prize and the associated perks

her face at the

more assertive, which silenced

in front of Midnight Scent to

a half,

a blueberry muffin, Cordelia remembered something and texted her tutor, Mr. All–Round, “National

was almost instant

faintly blinked and saw Everard’s deft fingers pick up his black phone. His languid movements were calm as

Her phone buzzed.

at Everard again. He polished off a pancake in three bites. Despite the simplicity of the

lips casually, his gaze indifferent but with an

a beat, and she forced her eyes back to her phone while sipping her

forward to hearing

Having lost half an hour of exam time, she wasn’t entirely sure she could snag first place, but somehow, it felt like he believed in her more than she

chose not

looked up abruptly. “Did

with a puzzled look, shook her head,

at a

It was his boss who asked him to pay attention to the league post that Calvert just saw

didn’t know about it. Was he going

do something terribly wrong when he was

his thoughts, he felt the cool sight belonging to the boss. Calvert forced a

at the

shipping this couple hard! Keen

likes in a niche community, the post was buzzing. A photo showed a smirking boy leaning towards Cordelia,

saw Everard tighten his grip on

inwardly winced, hoping his phone would

set the phone down with his

tone was as casual as someone chatting over a beer, but it sent a chill down Calvert’s spine. Then the boss let out

at a

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