Chapter 30

Evelyn Laurent's lips curved into a faint smile as she bowed respectfully to the three elderly men. "Good afternoon, professors."

"This is your senior, Ethan Sullivan. He's quite the celebrity at Harvard University."

Professor Benjamin Klein introduced with enthusiasm.

When Ethan's name was mentioned, a subtle shift crossed both their expressions.

Evelyn's gaze met Ethan's deep, assessing eyes. A flicker of surprise passed through them. She blinked, then nodded politely. "Hello, senior."

Professor Klein's eyes darted between them. "Do you two know each other?"

"Yes."

"Not really."

Their simultaneous but contradictory answers made the professor raise an eyebrow. He didn't press further, continuing to introduce Evelyn to the other three professors.

Under Ethan's arrangement, the group moved to the largest private room in the café.

"Evelyn, I brought these old fellows here today to show them something extraordinary!"

Professor Klein sat across from her, his eyes crinkling with pride.

The three professors studied the composed young woman before them with veiled curiosity.

Her poised demeanor and quiet confidence betrayed no trace of her supposed rural upbringing.

Without further preamble, Professor Klein produced a test from his briefcase. "Evelyn, solve this."

She accepted the papers, scanned them briefly, and began writing.

The room fell silent.

All three professors watched her moving pen with rapt attention.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his intense gaze fixed on Evelyn.

He never expected the prodigy Professor Klein raved about would be Evelyn Laurent.

Records showed a chronic truant with failing grades. Yet the girl before him solved problems with fluid grace, her pen dancing across the paper.

The soft scratching of her pen filled the private room.

Professor Klein crossed his arms, beaming with pride. The three professors grew visibly astonished.

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

This was a side of Evelyn he'd never seen.

Not the prickly girl from before. Not the ice-cold assassin. Here, she radiated focus and confidence—a brilliance impossible to ignore.

Like a pearl long buried in dust, finally revealing its true luster.