The one who spoke was none other than Caitlin.

Charis had fired off a humiliating question at Gertrude, leaving her defenseless and ashamed. Caitlin, without missing a beat, had returned the insults with double the force. Her voice was calm, yet each word landed with a powerful impact, commanding the attention of everyone in the room.

An abrupt silence fell.

All eyes were now fixed on Caitlin.

Gertrude slowly lifted her head, her gaze falling on Caitlin standing beside her. She felt an indescribable emotion swell in her chest. Because of her name, she had been a target of ridicule throughout her school years. In high school, she was completely ostracized by her classmates. No one wanted to be her friend, and no one spoke to her. So, she had poured all her energy into her studies. She knew that for a child from the mountains, acing her exams was the only way out.

After the college entrance exams, her parents had initially refused to let her attend university. Their reasoning was simple: a girl's destiny was to get married.

They had done their duty by supporting her through high school.

Gertrude's next step was supposed to be joining the other girls from her village at an electronics factory in a big city. After working for a couple of years, they would find a matchmaker, marry her off to a decent family, and collect a handsome wedding gift. After all, Gertrude had a younger brother, and as the older sister, she had to think of his future. Her parents had even found a factory for her and told her she'd be leaving in three days.

Just then, a ray of hope pierced through Gertrude's bleak world. The exam results were released, and her results made her the top student in her city. A star had broken free from the long night.

Admissions officers from both Kingsward University and Winthrop

Academy came to her home. Kingsward promised her a

scholarship of three hundred thousand dollars and a full waiver of tuition and fees if she enrolled. Her parents were overjoyed They threw a huge celebration banquet for the entire village. From that day on, they never missed an opportunity to boast about their daughter, the top scholar.

Hearing Caitlin's words, Charis's eyes widened, and her face turned pale with anger. "Are you crazy? I was talking to her, not you! What does this have to do with you? Why are you barking?"

Charis came from a family with

some money. She was always surrounded by a group of fawning friends. If she said one thing, they would never dare say another She could call them idiots to the faces, and they would still smile and never talk back. But today, Caitlin had dared to insult her. Not only had she insulted her, but she had also accused her of having no manners.

Caitlin's serene face showed not a flicker of emotion as she looked at Charis. "Tsk, you don't like it when someone mimics you?"

Mimics her? What did Caitlin mean? When the implication of Caitlin's words sank in, Charis's face became a kaleidoscope of colors. Was Caitlin implying that she was the one who was barking? This low-class, uncultured person! How dare she call her a dog?

Charis had known that the people in the dorms would be a mixed bag of riffraff with no class or refinement That was why she had never wanted to live here in the first place. But her grandmother had insisted, saying it would help temper her personality. That meddling old woman! If it weren't for her, she wouldn't be tangled up with a commoner like Caitlin today.

Before Charis could retort, Caitlin added coolly, "And another thing. Gertrude is my

friend. Her business is my business."