The Queen They Buried

Chapter 57

The prelims had finally anived.

The exam hall was packed with over a hundred students. Some nervous types were already trembling before the best papers were even handed out

Over the past couple of days, Aubree had done some targeted practice on competition questions, focusing especiall

they were challenging, she still handled them with effortless ease.

As soon as the test papers were handed out, Aubree quickly scanned through them and already had a plan in mind. Without a moment’s hesitat started sohing problems at lightning speed, to others, these numbers might be hard to crack, but to her, they were like long lost friends, intimately

familiar.

Less than halfway through the exons, she had already finished the text, handed in her paper, and left the room.

Before leaving the exam hall, Aufmee made a quick stop at the restroom. The sound of running water from the faucet blurred out the convertions in the hallway

That voice sounded a bit familiar,

She didn’t pay it much mind and was about to leave after washing her hands when the voices outside suddenly became class

“Dr. Wilson, this matter is rather delicate to handle,” a hoarse voice of the middle–aged man came.

Aubree thought, ‘Dr. Wilson?

‘Could that be Darton”

Her hand, which had been resting on the doorknob, quickly withdrew, Acting purely on reflex, Aubree pulled out her phone and hit record

That familiar voice continued, it was indeed Darton

He said, “Isn’t this just a small favor for you, Mr. Mccoy? For the art competition, only the finals require contestants to paint on

on site, the earlier rounds just

need submitted works. If you make a few minor adjustments, who’s ever going to know who actually made it to the finals

This art competition was hosted by the Rithol City Art Association, and Alec Mccoy, whom Daxton mentioned, was the key person in charge.

After all, this was a

Wilson, you know our vice president is the chief judge this time, he’s

Mccoy. How about an apartment at Royal Gardens, right by the landmark tower downtown! You can choose any floor plan you like. And if transportation is inconvenient, just pick any car you want, I’ll cover the cost”

to the finals would

effortless nonchalance, as if he were talking about cabbages at the market rather

swayed by Daxton’s offer, minimal risk, and multiplied

art. Her skills weren’t exactly top tier. She might scrape by for an award, but making it to the finals was no problem. Besides, the list of finalists had just been drafted and hadn’t even been announced yet. As long as she didn’t completely. embarrass herself

you put it that way, Dr Wilson, I suppose I

he said

Aubree waited another moment, holding her breath, and only

1/3

7

Chapter 57

step out of

in her

thought, Honestly, this scene

so many things would change, and this wouldn’t happen again. But here it is, resurfacing in a different

her previous life, after Carmen joined Rithol Art School’s intensive training program, Autinee always covered for her during tests and assignments, so nothing else ever happened. Back then, the art competition schedule wasn’t as tight as it was

someone in was as easy as snapping their fingers for the

her as well Looking back, it was almost laughable

that Carmen wanted the gold medal but, lacking the skill, used her to

they replaced Carmen’s submission with Aubree’s work, Since she had the scores to back herup, when Aubree ghostpainted for her in the finals, no one suspected a

in her previous life, and now this evidence had fallen right into her hands, Aubree would be wasting

rummaged through her memory for a contact, the vice president the two

lived and breathed art,

results. But lacking concrete evidence, he could only postpone her award for as long as

recalled how, in her previous life, the spirited, white haired Stan had come to Rithol High School clutching the painting she had phostpainted for Carmen. When he asked if she was the true artist, his eyes shone with such

sure to point out that he could check

least bit worried that Stan would just brush this off He was a true master who treated art with absolute dedication. In her previous he, he’d managed to track her down with only the faintest clue. Now that there was

walked past a sleek black Maybach, its tinted window slid down silently, revealing Daton’s face watching

“What’s Aubree doing here? Don’t tell me this trash actually came

standard exam gear. He scoffed inward “Seriously? Did the actually come

embarrassing disgrace. She doesn’t even

leaving a few days before the finalisty list would

recruited a new batch of staff and signed a promising rock at the draht