Chapter <b>311 </b>


    The buzz of anticipation filled the staff room at Parkside High School. Every teacher leaned in<b>, </b>hanging on Mr. Hammond’s next words.


    Clearing his throat, Mr. Hammond decided to cut to the chase, “Folks, two of our students from Parkside High have made it to the finals.” He paused, letting the suspense thicken before dropping the bombshell, “And topping the preliminary round with the only perfect score is <b>our </b>very own Mirabe.”


    The deration sent a wave of excitement through the room. The International Competition was no ordinary exam. It was a beast of its own. Mirabe wasn’t just talented; she was a phenomenon.


    Sitting among her colleagues, Ate felt her eyes well up with pride. When Mirabe had first joined her Advanced ss, she worried the girl might struggle to keep up. But Mirabe had proven her wrong, time and again, shattering expectations.


    While Ate was visibly moved, Morgan, sitting beside her, kept his gaze down<b>, </b>his right hand trembling slightly on the desktop. First ce in the national round, now a top finish in the international preliminaries, and likely the same in the


    finals–bitterness tinged Morgan’s thoughts. If only he hadn’t let his prejudices cloud his judgment.


    Elsewhere, in a différent kind of silence, a plush vi basked in the evening light.


    “Mirabe’s preliminary scores are in,” announced Curtis, bncing aptop on his knee. Its screen disyed the official results of the international contest.


    Wyatt leaned in eagerly, “How’d she do?”


    “First ce,” Curtis replied, lips tightening, “with a perfect score.”


    Wyatt’s face went ck with awe. “Man, I used to think I could match her grades.”


    Curtis shot him a disdainful look. “In your dreams.”


    “Right… some people are just on a different level,” Wyatt murmured.


    Closing theptop, Curtis shelved the topic as James descended the staircase. Wyatt and Curtis straightened up as he approached. Wyatt cleared his throat and spoke up, “Sir, Mirabe aced it again–a perfect score and first ce. She’s something else.”


    <b>10:57 </b>


    Chapter <b>311 </b>


    James shot him a nce. “Don’t you have better things to do?” He slouched onto <b>the </b>sofa, exuding an air of nonchnce.


    Wyatt shot up<b>, </b>“Oh, right! I’ve got that tea date with the neighbor–gotta talk real estate. Will catch youter, Sir.<b>” </b>


    With that, he was gone.


    While seizing the opportunity, Curtis stood up too, “I’ll go check on<b>… </b>things<b>.</b>”


    James had been acting a bit strangetely. Every time he and Wyatt talked about Ms. Mirabe, the gaze James would shoot them was enough to send shivers down their spines. It was best to avoid him when possible.


    As soon as they were gone, James fished out his phone and opened Messenger. Swiftly, he typed. [Congrats on first ce.]


    At her hotel, Mirabe raised an eyebrow at the message and replied. [Thanks.]


    After a moment, she sent another. [How have you been feelingtely?]


    Since concocting that remedy for him, she’d been swamped withpetition prep, courtesy of Mr. Hammond, and hadn’t checked in on James‘ health.


    Back in the vi, James‘ fingers hesitated on the screen before he typed. [Not great.]


    Mirabe’s brow furrowed, [What happened?]


    James shifted in his seat, his handsome features rxed. [It’s my chest… feels kind of tight.]