<b>Chapter </b><b>39 </b>
“That pretty girl everyone’s talking about is actually my sister,” Beatrice finally said, unable to hold it in any longer after the eighth guy who went up to ask Briar for her number came back looking defeated and embarrassed.
Her voice was low but clear enough for those nearby to catch.
Nancy pped a hand over her mouth, wide–eyed. “Wait–she’s the one you told me about? She’s the one who got your dad to donate five entire buildings just to barely squeeze into Shoneport University?”
“What’s the deal?” Beatrice’s and Nancy’s exchange had piqued the curiosity of the crowd, and a few eager eavesdroppers leaned in, hungry
for the tea.
Nancy nced at Beatrice, hesitating. “Beatrice, is it okay if I spill?”
Beatrice bit her lip, her face a perfect mix of awkwardness and reluctance. “Nancy, please don’t. My dad went through so much to get Briar into Shoneport. If she hears this, it’ll crush her.”
Her words, though brief, were loaded with implications.
First off, everyone knew who Beatrice Jennings was. She wasn’t just a standout student in the university’s Dance Department but also the star protégé of Jolene, a renowned figure in the field. Her name was already well–known on campus.
Second, they now knew the stunning girl was Beatrice’s sister. And from the sound of it, that girl didn’t have the grades to get in on merit. ording to Beatrice’s words, it took a hefty sum of money and family connections just to get her admitted.
Now they found a solid reason for her to end up in Traditional Medicine. The field was fading fast, barely anyone’s first choice. It was the kind of major you could slide into without a ster academic record.
Lastly–and perhaps most obviously–the way Beatrice spoke hinted that the sisters weren’t exactly close.
Those who connected the dots shifted their gazes toward Briar. The starry–eyed admiration from earlier was gone, reced by a cooler, more critical appraisal. After all, what good was a pretty face if it masked an empty head? Some girls, already envious of Briar’s looks, now shot her smirks tinged with disdain.
Beatrice, having stirred the pot just enough, tugged Nancy away. But as she turned, her expression darkened, a storm brewing behind her
eyes.
‘Briar got into Shoneport University?‘ she thought, incredulous.
Who helped her?
‘Was it…Dad?‘
She dismissed the idea almost instantly. If her father had had the clout to charm the Shoneport board, Beatrice’s own admission wouldn’t have been such a grueling ordeal. She’d only gotten in thanks to Javier’s connections and her status as Jolene’s prized student.
Beatrice wondered, ‘So who could’ve pulled strings <i>for </i>Briar?
‘She barely knew anyone at Shoneport.‘
Over lunch, Beatrice fired off a message to her mother, urging her to probe her father and find out whether he had secretly pulled some strings for Briar.
Halle was floored by Beatrice’s text. She called Edgar immediately, probing delicately but persistently. After a few rounds, it was clear: Edgar
<b>had </b>no idea Briar had gotten into Shoneport University.
With her father out of the picture, Beatrice was stumped. Who could Briar have leaned on?‘ she wondered.
Back in the cafeteria, Briar had already noticed the subtle shift in atmosphere. The way some students were looking at her had changed- there were sideways nces, eyes filled with judgment, and veiled sneers. The air around her had turned prickly. She finished her lunch calmly, wiped her mouth, and began scanning the room for the source of those looks.
What’s with these Shoneport kids?‘ she mused.
‘Staring at people like they’re ready to start a fight. Weird hobby.”
“Hey, check the campus forum,” Mason said suddenly, snapping Briar’s attention to her phone. She opened the app and saw thetest post, pinned to the top, timestamped just fifteen minutes ago.
It was a photo of her and Frank at lunch. Whoever took it had gone out of their way to edit out everyone else at the table, crafting the illusion that she and Frank were on some cozy cafeteria date.