Chapter 78
The group was there to corner her but since she had left, Yates and the others were off the hook. Cordelia didnât hesitate, hopping into the car as Larry hit the gas and the vehicle shot away
Sitting inside, Cordelia glanced back through the window
Yates, with his hands in his pockets and a defiant smirk on his face, was followed by Flame No. 1, who was shouting something, while the rest held back the swarm of reporters. At that moment, her rowdy friends seemed almost endearing.
Cordeliaâs attention returned to the inside of the car. Once home, she checked her phone and saw a friend request from Yates. She accepted and labeled him âLittle Flameâ.
Little Flame said, âAll sorted. Donât worry!â
His messages always had a certain swagger, which she found quite adorable.
Stepping out of the car, she ducked her head to reply as she entered the house, âThanks.
But as soon as she was in, she could hear Stewardâs thunderous voice, âWhat in the world is going on here?â
Cordelia quickened her pace. As she entered she saw her grandparents sitting stiffly on the couch, glaring at Sanderson, âReporters inside the company premises! If this hits the papers tomorrow, our stocks will plummet! How could you be so careless! Do you think Superiority College is something you can just buy your way into?â
Sanderson shook his head firmly, âDad, I havenât been anywhere near Ontoky City lately. Doesnât this whole thing seem a bit odd? Every year tons of students get into Superiority College on special consideration. Why are they fixated on Lia? Someoneâs definitely pulling strings behind the scenes.â
They were all business people. With a single sentence, Sanderson managed to redirect Stewardâs thoughts, âWhoâs targeting Cordelia?
Sanderson was grave, âRather, whoâs targeting the Delaney Group? Liaâs just caught in the crossfire!â
The Delaney Group was the Delaney familyâs enterprise.
Stewardâs mind raced with potential competitors, âWe need a thorough investigation! Those bribed reporters. are bound to leave a trail.â
Rachel, who had been silent, chimed in, âWhy not just have Lia decline the offer? That would clear our name
Lorna immediately interjected. âI disagree. Lia has always been upright. Why should she decline?â
Laurinda banged her cane down, cutting through the air with her voice. âItâs absurd! What has the girl done to catch a professorâs eye? Itâs not believable!â
Before Lorna could respond, Sanderson interjected, âDeclining the offer now would just signal to everyone that weâve got something to hide.â
Steward frowned, making the final decision âLetâs wait and see
Cordelia stood there, silently observing the family debate.
At school, the Flames had shielded her from the reporters. At home, her parents sheltered her from the storm.
She never needed it, but in that moment, she felt a warmth in her heart, as if something precious filled her.
That night, Lorna sighed in , Sandersonâs gaze was resolute, âNo matter what, I believe in Lia. If it comes down to Superiority College revoking her offer, Iâll fight them to the end.
The next day, the social media platform that had been down for three days was back up!
The reporters at school might have been held back Yates, but others had been bought out. As soon as the trending topics returned, the hashtag âSuperiority College Admission Scandalâ was hot again, with comments flying.
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âWhy hasnât there been a resolution? Why wonât the admissions give a statement?â
âGetting into Superiority College is sacred. So many strive for it. Is the college really so cavalier about its admissions? Disappointing!â
âRumor has it that Greenmeadow International School, where the student in question attends, is full of elite kids.â
The controvers, brewed online.
Cordelia wasnât fazed by the noise, but while eating at Midnight Scent, she received a message from Yates, âReporters at the door. Let me know when youâre about to arrive.â
Were the Flames waiting for her? Cordelia bit into her sandwich and texted back, âWill do.â
Everard, seated beside her, wasnât trying to pry, but the name âLittle Flameâ was hard to miss.
Cordelia to hand out nicknames, and this guy⦠must be Hackettâs grandson, right?
Messaging this early? What was so interesting?
Everard drifted his gaze to the halfâeaten sandwich in Cordeliaâs hand and he casually asked, âHey kid, whatâs in that sandwich?â
Cordelia paused, a bit puzzled, âBeef.â
âIs it any good?â
âItâs alright.â
No sooner had she replied than Everard leaned in and snatched the other half of her sandwich, taking a big
bite.
Cordelia froze, baffled.
With a playful grin, Everard waited for her reaction. Was this indirect kiss going to make Cordelia blush?
After two seconds, Cordelia finally moved. She glanced at the table, then quickly grabbed the last sandwich, stuffed it into her mouth, chewed vigorously, and swallowed before declaring, âAll gone.â
Everard was speechless. So in her eyes, his flirtatious move was just a sandwich heist?
Cordelia felt parched and took another sip of her almond milk latte, noticing Everard staring intently at her. She hesitated before offering him the drink, a bit embarrassed, âYou want some?â
Everard accepted the latte and after a brief handshake with Cordelia, he watched her leave. Then, staring at the cup in his hand, he suddenly chuckled to himself.
At that moment, Calvert, who had once again witnessed his bossâ flirting fail, nervously piped up. âBoss, thereâs a new issue from the international math journals just released.â
Under the watchful eyes of the press, Cordelia, her baseball cap pressed down over her eyes, was escorted by Yates, safely into the school.
No sooner had she entered the classroom than she faced accusations.
Hayley lashed out, âItâs all because of you that our whole school is being ridiculed! Cordelia, just how fake are your math scores that you bribed a professor for early admission?â
Hanley chimed in, jaw clenched, âCordelia, what you did was really out of line.â
That when Daniel burst in, âCordelia, the dean is here!â
A teacher from the administrative office walked in, eyebrows knitted in concern, âCordelia, the reporters have surrounded the principal, and the entire school is in a PR crisis because of you. Can you explain how you got an early admission to Superiority College If you canât provide a satisfactory explanation, the school will have. no choice but to expel you!
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13.09
Chapter 78
[PS: Tomorrow, the tables will turn, shocking the entire internet! Leave a comment ple
[PS: Tomorrow, the tables will turn, shocking the entire internet! Leave a comment please!]
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