Chapter 173
“I’m laying it all out here today: there’s not a single parent at this competition who can hold a candle to our Rachel!” Jasper’s voice rang with an audacious certainty that caught everyone’s attention. “If anyone wishes to contest that, I welcome the opportunity to… enlighten them.”
The crowd stirred with murmurs, but no one dared to challenge him.
Neo-Vespera University, part of Solmaris, was well-known in these circles. Many affluent kids, struggling with their grades at home, dreamed of polishing their credentials abroad, yet even they couldn’t get a foot in the door at Neo-Vespera. This wasn’t a place for the faint-hearted; it was a breeding ground for prodigies.
Everyone here knew all about Rachel and her so-called “methods”, having navigated the upper echelons of society themselves. They could guess what was going on without much difficulty.
Haynes, the spineless husband, showered his mistress with devotion while letting his family ostracize his wife. A tale so cliché, it barely raised eyebrows anymore.
Sure, the wife was pitied, but aside from her pretty face, she didn’t have much else going for her. It was undeniable-she was stunning, with a kind of timeless elegance. Even among the elites, her looks were a rare find. If it weren’t for Deanna spilling the beans, everyone would have assumed she was an heiress herself.
But in the world of wealth and privilege, beauty was never in short supply. A pretty face alone wouldn’t keep a man’s heart forever. Over time, even the most beautiful faces could become tiresome.
Haynes’ new interest, though not as traditionally beautiful as his wife, was much more talented. In circles where education mattered, who would choose an uninformed trophy spouse with whom there’s no intellectual connection? It was no wonder Haynes was smitten with the new girl. She was, after all, a graduate of Neo-Vespera University.
Stripped of familial connections and social maneuvering, her academic pedigree alone would have granted her entrée into elite circles. Among the intelligentsia- those rare families who prized cerebral merit over bloodline-she’d have been embraced without hesitation.
Competing in her area of expertise would only invite humiliation.
“She’s a Neo-Vespera University alum? We’ve got a real expert on our hands,” someone murmured.
“Guess the first-place trophy’s going to the O’Brien family today,” another sighed. “I thought my kid had a shot at the top spot… now I’m hoping for a top-three finish!”
“The judges must be quaking in their boots knowing her credentials. They’ll probably just hand her their seats and ask her to judge instead.”
“Exactly, how could they even score her?”
A few people sidled up to Deanna, hoping to get an in.
“Deanna, what instrument does she play? I’d love her to tutor my kid.”
“Deanna, you’re finally valuing talent over pedigree, huh? Given the O’Brien Group’s current trajectory, you don’t really need to chase after family connections.”
“Well, it seems Haynes’ taste is pretty impeccable.”
Initially on the brink of tears, Rachel couldn’t help but smile as the crowd
showered her with admiration. People naturally empathize with the underdog, and
she was accustomed to playing that role to gather sympathy. She never imagined
a day when her own merits would earn her praise.
Rachel’s lips curled in triumph as she shot Stella a look dripping with smug superiority-
Then, a laugh like shattering glass sliced through the sycophantic chatter.
“I disagree.”
Stella’s voice cut clean through the room, calm as a winter pond. “Ms. Pearce, care for a little competition?”