“I’m just trying to protect my own reputation,” Hallie said, folding her arms.

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She shot Olivia a look of pure contempt and continued, “I simply don’t believe someone who never went to high school can handle the SAT. It’s better to end the course to cut your losses now before you publicly humiliate yourself.”

Troy was speechless with rage. ‘How the hell did we hire this woman?‘

Seeing how worked up Troy was getting, Olivia worried he might burst a blood vessel. She put a calming hand on his arm, a silent signal to let it go.

Then, she turned to Hallie and asked, “What makes you so sure I can’t handle the SAT?”

“Do you even have to ask?” Hallie said, giving Olivia an insulting look from head to toe. “Look at you. I’m surprised you can afford your next meal, let alone a top–tier education.”

Olivia nced down at herself. It looked fine to her. She was wearing a gray mid–length puffer coat and light blue jeans. That was a totally normal, casual outfit. She had no clue why Hallie thought this screamed “broke.”

“Is that so?” Olivia asked with a soft, dangerousugh. “And what if I can?”

“If you can prove you’re that good, I’ll quit. I won’t teach Englorian here ever again.” Hallie sneered. “Not only that, but I will retire from the field of education for the rest of my life.

“And if you can’t? You will get out of this ssroom and make a formal, public apology to me. And you must make a written statement that you will never take the SAT exam.”

A wave of shocked gasps swept through the room. The bet was insane.

Hallie was a legend in her field. She was nearing retirement, but her name still carried immense weight. To quit under these circumstances would be to end her entire career in disgrace.

But for Olivia, the stakes were infinitely higher. Without the SAT, the door to every famous university would be mmed, locked, and bolted forever.

A good university wasn’t the only way to seed in life. But it was the most reliable path. And for most people, it was the only one that mattered.

A fresh wave of whispers rippled through the ssroom as the students stared at Olivia with a mixture of disbelief and pity.

“No way she takes that bet, right? Even if she’s smart enough for the SAT, she can’t risk losing her chance to even take it,” one said.

“Exactly. And making an enemy of Ms. Brown is a death sentence. I heard her family is a big deal…” another. whispered.

“Man, picking a fight with a teacher on day one. It’s legendary,” someone muttered.

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The whispers didn’t faze Olivia in the slightest. She stood calmly beside Troy, toying with the pendant at her

throat.

“Fine,” she said, her voice clear and even. “I ept your terms.”

Hallie’s eyes lit up with triumph. “Mr. ckwell, you heard her. She agreed. You are a man of integrity, and I trust you won’t interfere. All these students are witnesses.” fn2da0 This text is hosted at find[?]ovel/fn2da0

Troy felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He was cornered. With a heavy heart, he nodded. As much as he wanted to save Olivia from this, the bet was made in public. His hands were tied.

“Olivia, think about this,” Troy pleaded, grabbing her hand. “This is your future we’re talking about. It’s not a game.”

‘Grace told me to watch out for Olivia so she could take the SAT, not get banned from it forever,’ Troy thought, panicking. ‘How am I going to exin this to her?‘

“Don’t worry,” Olivia reassured him calmly. “I know what I’m doing.” To her, the SAT was hardly a real challenge.

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