bChapter /bb202 /b

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He had a staff member escort the envelope to the scoring office, ensuring a clear chain of custody. This public disy was for Olivia’s sake–to silence any whispers of cheating before they could begin.

Olivia let out a long,zy stretch and stood up, ready to leave. All that writing had made her hungry. It was time for lunch.

“Hold it,” Hallie snapped, her eyes cold as she watched Olivia head for the door. “Where do you think you’re going? I never dismissed you.”

“Lunch,” Olivia said, not even bothering to turn around. She leaned casually against the wall, her backpack slung over her shoulder. “It’s one–thirty. I’m hungry. Any objections?”

“You-” Hallie began, but the word died in her throat as she caught the murderous look in Troy’s eyes. She instantly fell silent.

“Olivia, I’ll have Curtis take you to lunch,” Troy said, his warm smile returning as he took her hand. “We have a cafeteria here. But if you don’t like it, just have him take you somewhere nice.”

Olivia smiled. “That sounds great. Thank you, Mr. ckwell.”

Curtis was already waiting by the door, a striking figure in a tailored white suit. He adjusted his gold–rimmed sses, his gaze soft as it settled on Olivia.

He had everyone’s attention. A wave of excited whispers broke out among the girls in the ss.

“Wow, he’s gorgeous. Is that her boyfriend?”

“No freaking way. That’s who she’s dating?”

“That suit, that watch… He has to be the heir of some crazy rich family.”

Even Hallie found herself momentarily captivated by his charm.

As Troy watched Curtis and Olivia fall into step together, he thought they looked like a perfectly matched set. He nodded with deep satisfaction.

‘It would be wonderful if Curtis could win her over, he thought. ‘Grace and I are already so close. This would be the ultimate family alliance!

Meanwhile, the students who had just finished the first two sections of the exam were packing up their things. Their whispers followed the couple out the door.

“Okay, not gonna lie, they look amazing together.”

“And their height difference is perfect. It’s like they’re walking a red carpet.”

“Wait, he’s a ckwell, right?”

12:11 Monb, /bOct 6

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Tm so jealous. The ckwells are basically royalty in Hirica, Can you imagine marrying into a family like fn36eb Readplete version only at fι?dnοvel/fn36eb

that?

Curtis overheard the gossip, and his smile grew wider. This was music to his ears.

“Ms. Summers,” he said, turning his head slightly to look at Olivia. “Where can I take you for lunch? The cafeteria is an option, of course, but I know a few excellent ces nearby. The choice is yours.”

Troy had asked him to do this, but Curtis was more than happy to escort Olivia himself.

As they stepped into the biting wind, Olivia instinctively pulled her jacket tighter. “Cafeteria’s fine, she mumbled into her cor. “Anything is fine.”

‘It’s freezing out here, she thought, ncing at Curtis. ‘Is he really not cold in just a suitb? /b

“As you wish,” Curtis said.

Meanwhile, back at Willow Lane, Howard was at his breaking point. Grace and Nina had been interrogating him for hours on end.

These two are the most suspicious people I have ever met,‘ he thought, his head spinning. They’ve been grilling me all morning. At this point, the only thing they haven’t asked me is the color of my boxers.

“Ma’am,” Howard pleaded, his voice cracking with fatigue. “Do you believe me yet?”

Nina leaned into Grace’s ear. “His story hasn’t changed once,” she whispered. “I think he’s telling the truth. What if he really is Olivia’s brother?”

Grace wasn’t convinced. ‘He’s earnest, she thought. ‘But he has no real proof. It’s just a feeling on his part.‘

“Alright,” Grace announced, cutting the tension. “Let’s break for lunch.”