Chapter 111

Lorna used to find embarrassing Funny a boring thing, but now, as the words left her mouth, therewas a thrilling rush of satisfaction.

Especially when she saw Fanny freeze, her eyes wide with shock, Lorna couldn’t help but revel inthe moment even more.

She casually brushed her bangs aside with a flick of her hand and continued with a smile, “Can youbelieve it? Our girl got accepted on a scholarship, and she’s still hitting the books when she couldbe scrolling through her phone or hanging out.”

Fanny glanced over at Cordella, who was indeed not playing on her phone, but diligently working onsome math problems.

Fanny wasn’t up to date with the high school system these days, so she didn’t doubt Lorna’s words.But Sallie frowned, clearly skeptical, “That can’t be right.”

“What’s wrong?” Fanny asked, puzzled.

Sallie directed her gaze toward Cordelia, “The early admissions season hasn’t even started. Even ifwe’re talking about academic competitions, the finals haven’t taken place yet. How could she havebeen accepted already? And to Superiority College of all places?”

Sallie spoke with a hint of pride that drew the attention of nearby onlookers, who started to gatheraround.

“What’s going on?” a nosy party–goer asked, and soon a group of society ladies had joined thefray.

Fanny couldn’t help but smirk, “Oh Lorna, there’s no need for fibs. I might not know about earlycollege admissions, but my Sallie here does. So, because I mentioned she’s attending OntokyUniversity, that’s the reason you claimed your daughter got accepted into Superiority College?”

The topic of Cordelia’s scholarship was something only high school students and their parents wereconcerned with. As these parents were busy with their own careers, they didn’t usually pay muchattention to others” affairs, so most were clueless.

Hearing Fanny’s words, the crowd started chattering.

“Just a bit of one–upmanship. But making up a story about Superiority College? That’s a bit much,isn’t it? Who even gets into that university?”

“Our kids are looking abroad anyway. Many of them are studying overseas. No need for suchcomparisons.”

“Exactly, Mrs. Delaney. This kind of behavior is in poor taste.”

As the accusations piled up, Lorna grew desperate, “My daughter really did get accepted, and it’s allover the internet. You can look it up. There are plenty of Lia’s classmates here, and they can vouchfor her.”

Her adamant response made the crowd waver.

Fanny turned to Sallie, asking, “Sallie, what do you have to say?”

Sallie spoke up. Traditionally, scholarships are based on academic performance, and whileGreenmeadow International School does have its slots, Superiority College doesn’t usually offer them to such institutions Another way is through competition scholarships. Someone who clinches anational championship in contests like math or physics might get scouted, or have their entryrequirements lowered. Of course, there are also prodigies who make significant breakthroughs incertain fields and get admitted on those grounds, but they’re few and far between.”

Fanny looked at Lorna, “You hear that? Few and far between.”

Unfazed, Lorna retorted, “Well, my Lia is one of those exceptional few.”

Sallie couldn’t help but scoff, This year, I’ve only heard of one person getting a scholarship likethat.

Apparently, she solved Batra’s Conjecture and made an outstanding contribution to the field ofmathematics. That got her an offer from Superiority College. The girl’s name is Cordelia.”

The room fell silent.

Fanny turned to Lorna, “What now? Cat got your tongue?”

Instead of crumbling, Lorna smiled confidently and said, “Oh dear, I’ve been so caught up talking toyou that I forgot to introduce her properly.” She pointed to Cordelia and announced to everyonepresent, “This is my daughter, Cordelia Delaney.”

The revelation caused an uproar.

Sallie and the others stared at Cordelia in disbelief. Usually, those immersed in research,particularly in mathematics, were expected to be bespectacled, possibly balding, and notnecessarily easy on the eyes. But here was Cordelia, delicate and stunningly beautiful. It seemedimprobable.

The crowd was filled with the children of the affluent, but few had ever managed to secure a placeat Superiority College.

Thus, the news quickly spread across the party.

Soon, Lorna and Cordelia were surrounded by an even larger audience. Even the most successfulparents admired a child with stellar academic achievements, leading them to point Cordelia out totheir high schoolers, “See that? That’s Cordelia. She got a scholarship to Superiority College.”

One of the teens rolled their eyes, “Mom, I already knew. She’s the top student in our senior year,aced math and physics competitions, and I heard she’s made some kind of breakthrough. All thetop universities are scrambling for her. Some people are just natural geniuses, and let’s notcompare, okay?”

The mothers, initially hoping to inspire their children, now looked at Cordelia with even morerespect.

The whispers and buzz continued.

The Foster family was also in attendance. Hanley obediently followed his parents, Belinda andEdwin, greeting the adults they knew. As they walked, they overheard some pointed remarks, “What a shame the Fosters called off that engagement, huh? Bet they’re kicking themselves now.”

“‘d they break it off?”

“They say it was because their boy Hanley was too academically inclined and they thought Cordeliawasn’t up to par. So they switched to Kermit’s daughter.”

“They called her academically lacking? Is their boy Hanley going to get into a better university thanSuperiority College?”

Belinda’s face darkened at these comments.

Hanley felt humiliated as if he had been slapped across the face.

Edwin’s frown deepened, his displeasure clear.

The group hadn’t noticed the trio eavesdropping as they continued their conversation, their voicesneither loud nor soft, “Man, I wish I had a boy around her age to set up with her. Do you think Ms. Delaney would go forsomeone six years younger?”

*Six years? Your kid’s still in grade school, isn’t he?”

*Dream on, folks. You all forget why we’re here today? It’s Hackett’s birthday bash, but there’sanother agenda, remember?”

*You mean….

“Yeah, that’s right. When it comes to looks, she’s top–notch. And she’s not just a pretty face, smartas a whip.

12.52 too. I bet Hackett’s considering playing matchmaker with Mr. Wallace.”

“Well, wouldn’t that be a stroke of luck?”

Fanny and Sallie had overheard the conversation, and their expressions darkened.

Just then, a voice chimed in, “Oh, you’ve got it all wrong.” All eyes turned to Rachel as she spoke.

Rachel rarely found herself the center of attention, and this moment brought a tinge of smugness toher face, though she tried to hide it with a dismissive sneer, “Sure, our Cordelia’s a looker and shehits the books hard, but pity she’s picked herself up a pretty boy outside of our circles, some sayhe’s a real troublemaker.”

“What?.” The crowd was stunned.

Fanny felt a surge of triumph and couldn’t resist a taunting look at Lorna, “Who would’ve thoughtyour daughter would end up with such a loser for a boyfriend?”