Chapter 458:
“So, to clear things up, and fairly test Zaylee’s real ability… Why don’t we verify it right here?”
“Verify? Right here?” Gunter repeated, confused.
“Yes,” Rylie replied, her lips curling into a quiet, unsettling smile. “If Zaylee truly mastered Advanced Honors-level problems written by several teachers and scored near-perfect in a short time, then solving similar — or even easier — questions shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
She didn’t even glance at Letty, whose face had turned ghostly white. Her focus remained on Zaylee, her presence pressing down like a weight.
Rylie said softly but firmly, “Zaylee, do you dare answer a few questions right now? They won’t be harder than the average level of this test. Maybe even easier. If you answer them correctly, you’ll clear your name — and defend Dr. Carter’s honor. What do you say?”
The room buzzed to life again.
Live questions and answers! This was even more exciting than a written test. All eyes turned to Zaylee — curious, tense, and hungry for drama.
Zaylee’s body froze. Her face went white again, even paler than before. Her lips parted, but only a dry sound came out. Her terrified eyes darted to Letty, silently begging for rescue. Answering questions from Rylie, here and now? That was asking for a miracle.
Letty’s heart dropped. She knew exactly what Rylie was trying to do — publicly crush her. Her temples pulsed with rage as she snapped, “Rylie! What do you think you’re doing? This is a public examination hall, not your personal classroom! You don’t have the right to test my student on the spot! Do you even have a teaching license? Are you qualified to make those questions?”
Rylie replied calmly, “Then test me. Ask your own questions to check if I’m qualified.”
Every journey starts at gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s﹒𝒸о𝗺
Her voice was slow, unbothered. “If I can answer every question you give, Dr. Carter, then surely I’m fit to examine Zaylee. Or… Are you scared?”
Her lips curled into a slight smile, laced with mockery. “Are you scared that your doctorate might not hold up against a ‘useless tutor’ who ranked bottom of her class in high school?”
Letty’s face twisted with fury. Those words — “useless tutor” and “scared” — cut deep. Her pride in her degree had been stomped on. Murmurs swept through the crowd.
“Ms. Carter, test her!”
“Yeah! Show us what a doctorate can do!”
“Why won’t you ask her questions? Is she right?”
“Did you buy that degree or what?”
Every voice stabbed at Letty like a needle. Her face turned red, her chest rising and falling quickly. Rylie stood calm and unshaken while Letty stood trapped, challenged by a study slacker and humiliated in front of everyone. She had no choice.
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