Chapter 36

"Oliver, how could you do this to me!"

Isabella Valentine's shrill voice pierced the air. Even her flawless makeup couldn't conceal the fury twisting her delicate features.

Oliver Valentine's gaze turned icy. "Enough."

He had never spoken to his sister with such chilling detachment before. "If you want Professor Klein's approval, earn it through merit—not underhanded schemes!"

Isabella froze, tears welling in her eyes.

The cold dismissal in his voice felt like a knife to her heart. She slammed the phone down, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Underhanded schemes? She had pulled all-nighters for that physics competition, worked equations until her fingers cramped. All she wanted was to leverage family connections to get closer to Professor Klein—and her own brother shamed her for it?

Her nails dug into her palms. She clenched her jaw. She would prove to everyone she was a hundred times better than Evelyn Laurent!

——

In the examination hall, Evelyn set down her pen and handed the test to Dr. Evans. "Headmaster, I've finished."

Professor Klein and three other faculty members immediately gathered around. Ethan Sullivan and Oliver Valentine entered just then, their gazes locking onto the composed young woman.

Evelyn flexed her wrist slightly, watching calmly as the professors graded her paper.

"This can't be!"

Dr. Evans' hands trembled as he stared at the perfect score. He looked up at Evelyn, too stunned to speak.

Oliver stepped forward, scanning the immaculately written answers. Every question was flawless, even the most obscure concepts addressed without error.

Had he not witnessed it himself, he might have suspected cheating.

"Well? Isn't my protégée brilliant?" Professor Klein beamed, eyes crinkling with pride.

Though they'd expected excellence, the other three professors were equally awed by the perfect score.

"Astonishing!" Dr. Evans murmured, a sheen of sweat on his brow.

Professor Klein stroked his beard smugly. "Good thing I recognized her talent and admitted her directly."

"Wise decision, Professor!" Dr. Evans nodded fervently, scrambling to process her enrollment. He dreaded to imagine the global frenzy if Evelyn had taken standard entrance exams—every top university would have fought to recruit her.

When the official seal stamped the documents, Dr. Evans exhaled in relief. This prodigy now belonged to Harvard University.

He had a feeling—Evelyn Laurent would become a legend on campus, just like Ethan Sullivan.