Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter 24
and Wayne exchanged glances, a hint of amusement in their eyes.
They knew that Ms.
Emerson’s criticism was as much about asserting authority as it was about the recent scandal surrounding the test papers.
Nicole couldn’t care less about her words.
She’d been the target of Ms.
Emerson’s mockery before, and nothing about the woman’s tone fazed her now.
Nicole focused instead on the test papers being handed out by Lulu.
She knew she would ace this test without breaking a sweat, as she had prepared well in advance, and she couldn’t help but feel a little smug about it.
The rest of the class, however, was anxious.
The atmosphere had turned tense, and some students glanced nervously at the papers they’d received.
They knew Ms.
Emerson was ruthless when it came to marking papers, and the thought of her scrutinizing their every mistake made them uneasy.
Ms.
Emerson didn’t waste any time getting to the point, glaring over the students’ heads as she began speaking again.
“I trust everyone knows how to do their work properly.
If not, you’ll have more problems than just a bad grade.” Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the room, lingering for a moment longer on Nicole, before continuing.
Nicole merely rolled her eyes and turned to her test.
The other students couldn’t help but glance at her in awe, knowing how composed and unbothered she was despite the pressure of the class.
Outside, the tension from the morning’s confrontation with Austin still lingered in the air.
But for Nicole, the real battle was always in the classroom—against mediocrity, against those who couldn’t see the bigger picture, and against those who were too focused on petty things like status and pride.
As she breezed through the test with confidence, her thoughts once again drifted to Carl.
The unexpected news that he was alive had shaken her more than she’d like to admit, but it also gave her a new sense of urgency.
She couldn’t afford to waste time with things that didn’t matter.
And right now, that included everything in this classroom, including the drama Austin had caused and the gossip surrounding her.
Nicole finished the test early and leaned back in her chair, her mind wandering again.
As she sat there, she realized that she wasn’t the same person who had entered this school a few months ago.
No longer just the quiet, reserved girl from the countryside, she had become someone others took notice of.
It was strange, but she wasn’t sure how she felt about it yet.
All she knew was that she had a purpose now, and nothing could distract her from it.
