Chapter 16:
Meeting Stacey’s gaze, Rylie raised an eyebrow provocatively. “You’re not backing out now, are you?”
A sudden unease twisted within Stacey, as though Rylie had become an unreadable stranger. Still, she answered softly, “If that’s what it takes to reassure you, I’m fine going through with it.”
With cold detachment, Leland interjected, “Let’s see what kind of score you can achieve.”
As Rylie seated herself, she lifted her pen calmly, feeling everyone’s eyes lock onto her every movement.
The dean clicked his stopwatch, while Leland hovered nearby, his lips curved in scorn as he scanned the test. The complexity of the exam even puzzled him; if Rylie answered a single question correctly, it would be nothing short of a miracle.
Even Stacey peeked at the questions and found herself completely baffled. Pretending to be concerned, she added in a gentle plea, “Rylie, take it easy. We trust you; don’t push yourself unnecessarily.”
Leland scoffed harshly. “She’s just too stubborn to admit the truth. This will finally prove she’s a fraud.”
Anticipation filled the room, each person awaiting Rylie’s inevitable failure. But the atmosphere began to shift.
The dean and the teacher leaned closer, scrutinizing Rylie’s answers. Their expressions gradually moved from skepticism to surprise. Stacey, always attuned to subtle changes, sensed something unusual and tried once again to distract Rylie. “Look, Rylie, Fred wasn’t someone I wanted to steal from you. There’s no reason for resentment.”
Annoyed by Rylie’s lack of response, Leland snapped, “Don’t ignore Stacey. Didn’t anyone teach you basic manners?”
Rylie raised her eyes calmly. “You seem to be the one lacking basic manners. Are you blind? I’m busy here.”
“As if it’ll matter,” Leland retorted.
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The medical dean interjected firmly, “Stacey, please hold your comments until after Rylie finishes. There’s no reason to interrupt prematurely.” Stacey recoiled slightly, fists tightening at her sides.
The mere thought of Rylie surpassing her filled Stacey with dread — she couldn’t allow such humiliation. Eventually, time ran out.
The dean, principal, and teacher clustered around Rylie’s paper, passing it back and forth, their whispers intense and astonished.
Leland’s voice dripped disdain. “Her handwriting is barely readable, and her reasoning is muddled. Don’t strain yourselves trying to decipher nonsense.”
“On the contrary,” the dean announced enthusiastically, “Rylie has exceeded expectations. Her answers aren’t just correct; they’re superior to our model solutions. Honestly, even I would have struggled to score this highly.”
A subtle smirk played at Rylie’s lips as she watched Stacey and Leland frantically seize the paper, shock rendering them speechless. Far from illegible, Rylie’s writing flowed elegantly across the page, each answer brilliant and clear.
Leland was dumbfounded. How had she become this talented without their notice? Wasn’t she supposed to be shallow and unremarkable?
Stacey stood frozen, envy surging inside her. When exactly had Rylie grown so incredibly strong?
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