The students collectively sucked in a breath.
Sure, they got into fights sometimes–but no one actually wanted to get expelled. Even if you hated a teacher, you still had to put up with them if you wanted to stay in school.
Now, all eyes were on Joanna. Everyone was waiting to see her fall flat on her face. Some boys even felt a pang of sympathy, wanting to protect the fragile–looking girl–but in the end, no one dared step in.
Ariel couldn’t hide her smug grin. She looked over at Joanna, voice dripping with mock concern.
“Better start running, or you’ll be packing your bags and heading back to that mountain village of yours. Let them all see what a failure you really are.”
To Ariel, getting Joanna expelled would be perfect. Then Howell and Gavin would finally see the truth: she was the real daughter worth cherishing–top grades, well–behaved, everything they could be proud of.
And Joanna? Just a nobody so useless even Aurelia Academy didn’t want her.
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what Joanna would choose.
If she stayed proud, she’d get expelled.
If she backed down, she’d have to run laps–humiliated and exhausted.
And then–Joanna glanced at Shannon and gave a cold, crooked smile.
“Idiot.”
Like none of this meant anything to her.
The moment she spoke, Shannon’s face turned red with rage.
“Oh really? You dare talk back? Go run, now–or get out of my school!”
She jabbed a finger at Joanna, but before she could say another word, a chubby, middle–aged man came rushing over, panting, his face flushed and shiny with sweat.
He stopped in front of Joanna, eyes wide with excitement.
“Ah! You must be Joanna! What are you doing at Aurelia Academy? Come transfer to Harvenridge Institute—we’ll give you a full scholarship!”
Then he turned eagerly to Shannon, practically glowing.
“You said you were going to expel her, right? Great! Do it! Then we’ll gladly take her at our school.”
The students stared, dumbfounded.
They thought, ‘Who is this guy? And what does he mean–take Joanna’to a private school?‘
Shannon’s face went ghost–white.
She knew who he was.
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Chapter 23
Dereck Sinclair, the principal of Harvenridge Institute–one of the top schools in the city.
She’d only ever seen him once before, sitting on stage at a citywide educator’s conference, delivering a keynote speech. She had even dreamed of being invited to teach at his school one day.
Now he was here. At her school. Trying to recruit Joanna?
And he looked desperate–like he was terrified he’d lose her.
But Joanna didn’t look the least bit surprised.
Last night, sensing that Ariel and Samara would probably cause trouble for her at school, she had casually sent out a few recommendation letters through some connections to several other top schools in the city–just in case.
Joanna didn’t like to make trouble, but she never let people walk all over her. Cross her, and she’d make sure you regretted it.
Now, Dereck was standing right there at the school gate, rubbing his hands together, practically buzzing with excitement.
“Joanna, think about it, would you? Our school has top–tier teachers, international competition opportunities, and we fully support students who want to publish academic research—even in high school!
“Did you know? Professor Aiden spent a year at our school before skipping grades and jumping straight into Everglen University! You could be the next one–even better!”
Shannon couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
‘Better than Aiden?
‘That is absurd. Aiden is a once–in–a–century genius. And this girl–from a small village–is supposed to compare?
‘Dereck has to be delusional. Or worse–tricked.
‘Don’t they say people from the mountains are good at playing with poison and spells? Maybe he’s been cursed or drugged or something…‘
She couldn’t help but speak up.
“Mr. Sinclair… with all due respect, you might be mistaken. A high schooler with that kind of talent? You haven’t even seen her work–maybe someone fed you false info?”
But Dereck shook his head, firm and confident.
“No way. The person who wrote her recommendation–there’s no faking that.”
Ariel’s face twisted in anger.
“Who was it? There’s no one in the world more talented than my brother, Aiden!”
Aiden was a rare prodigy–earned dual PhDs from Everglen University by 17.
He’d completed six years of elementary school in just one, breezed through middle school in another, and after a short medical break during high school, aced the exam and got into Everglen University.
While still in high school, he was already taking college–level courses. By freshman year, he’d published multiple papers in quantum physics that shocked the world. He was even nominated for a Nobel Prize–but didn’t bother to attend.
2/3
Now, at 21, he was already the youngest professor in his field.
And someone dared to say Joanna might surpass him? Ridiculous.
Shannon quickly agreed.
“Sir, with all due respect, that’s just too far. No one can surpass Aiden.”
But Dereck simply smiled and said calmly,
“What if I told you… it was Aiden himself who said Joanna might surpass him?”
Chapter 24
