Chapter 13
[Let’s meet on Saturday. I’ll text you the exact spot later.] Aubree replied to Alvin’s last message and flipped through her tenth grade textbooks.
She found it a bit amusing that she’d chosen the tutoring time for their meeting. Yet Alvin agreed so readily, clearly not taking the tutoring seriously. She wondered what expression he’d have when he found out Phoenix was her.
The first step was successful, despite the unexpected appearance of Bowen. Overall, things were going well.
Every semester, the first day of school at Rithol High School would include a start-of-term exam. It served two purposes: checking if students had slacked off over the holidays and reminding them of the effort needed for the new semester.
Her pen swiftly marked the pages as she studied. She considered herself a genius, but missing nearly two years of schooling was a fact.
During those two years of art school, her cultural lessons were shallow, and her mind was preoccupied with how to please the Wilson family. So, she only had a vague grasp of the subjects.
Aubree didn’t expect much from the start-of-term exam; making it into the top 100 would be a pleasant surprise. She had too much to do and no time to waste.
Shaking off distractions, she focused on her textbooks, absorbing knowledge like a dry sponge dropped into a vast ocean.
*****
Meanwhile, Emery had left Aubree’s room and climbed to the third floor, knocking on Bryan’s door.
“I know you have all the info on Aubree at school. Send it to me,” he said.
Bryan looked at him, whose eyes still bore the signs of recent tears, and the surprise in Bryan’s gaze hadn’t even had a chance to dissipate before he was caught off guard by the unexpected words that followed.
Indeed, since Aubree’s return, he assigned someone to keep an eye on her, requiring a monthly report of all incidents involving her outside.
But he was busy and didn’t have time to check the documents his assistant sent. He only asked for reports on any Aubree caused.
“I’ll have my assistant send it to you; mine’s outdated,” Bryan said casually.
trouble
His offhand remark hit Emery hard. Outdated meant Bryan, despite assigning someone to watch over Aubree, hadn’t cared enough to check on her, not even bothering to open the files his assistant sent.
Yet, Bryan always knew everything about Carmen immediately.
‘So, what exactly was Aubree to them in the Wilson family? She hadn’t even received family care, so how could they demand anything from her?’ Emery thought.
His breathing quickened at the thought, his fists clenched at his sides. “Okay,” he bit out, not staying another second.
He feared he’d lose control and fight his Byran.
He wanted to confront Bryan but realized he had no right to do so.
Bryan’s assistant quickly compiled all the information and sent it to Emery’s phone.
It was a ton of info, all about Aubree’s school life over the past three years.
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Chapter 13
Most of it was just everyday stuff, nothing special. But then, Emery saw the first monthly exam results and was totally shocked.
His eyes went wide, sparkling with disbelief.
It was a near-perfect score. There was even a compliment from Bryan’s assistant: [Mr. Wilson, Miss Miller’s academic performance is excellent. Her homeroom teacher thinks she has the potential to be a top scorer nationwide.]
‘No way?!’ Emery’s hand gripping his phone trembled violently as he roared inwardly, ‘How could this be?’
He clearly remembered Carmen showing off her top 100 school ranking after the first exam, and the family was so proud. His dad even handed her a bank card as a reward.
When they asked Aubree about her grade, she bit her lip and said she was at the bottom of the school, throwing away her report card. Mom was furious that day. She couldn’t accept her daughter being so terrible, so she made Aubree kneel outside the villa all night.
Then, Bryan suggested that Aubree join Carmen in art school.
