bChapter /bb61 /b

Joshua’s call came at just the right moment, giving Shermaine a perfect excuse to avoid the students who insisted on apologizing bto /bher. She walked in quieter corner and answered the call.

They had spoken on the phone a few times before, so the conversation felt much less awkward.

On the other end of the phone, Joshua heard the noise from Shermain’s side. “The parent–teacher meeting just ended?” he asked.

b“/bYeah,” Shermaine replied. Then she asked, “Is there something you

“I’m at Basterel University.”

“What are you doing there?”

need?”

“A project I invested in has shown some results, so I came to check

on

When Shermaine first learned she might have a fiancé, she had done some digging into Joshua. The information she found was basic at best. Some aspects of his identity were kept private, and uncovering them required significant effort.

She hadn’t felt the need to look too deeply into him–knowing the basics was enough. She knew he had been heavily investing in Al and new energyb. /b

She couldn’t help but think of the task she hadpleted–it was rted to new energy and had been posted by Basterel University’s Engineering Lab on the International Tech Forum. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was the same project.

Shermaine raised an eyebrow. “A new energy project?”

Joshua thought for a moment before answering, “You seem to know a lot about it.”

4

‘So it is the same project. My fiancé is the one paying me. But he’s so rich; that amount of money means nothing to him. Besides, I’ve put in bthe /beffort,’ Shermain thought with a faint smile.

Then she replied nonchntly, “Just a little.”

For some reason, Joshua had a feeling that she was being modest and that she was hiding something. She had always been mysteriousb. /b

He was curious and thought about digging deeper, but he decided there was ino /irush–they had plenty of time. He had called bto /bry something he’d bjust /bheard. Changing the subject, he said, “Wendelyn’s found herself a scapegoat. Want me to take care of it?”

Shermaine had expected this. Tond a fatal blow, she needed to hit Wendelyn where it hurt. “No, I prefer to handle things myself,” she replied. After ba /bbrief pausei, /ishe added, “But thanks for calling me to let me know.”

They had known each other for a while now. While their rtionship was one of mutual assistance, there was no need to keep things so formal in private.

Joshua said leisurely, “We don’t have to be so formal with each other.”

What he didn’t realize was that this thought stemmed from his desire to be closer to Shermaine. It was buried so deep within him that beven /bbhe /bwasn’t..

aware of it.

yster,

Shermaine smiled faintly but didn’t say anything. She licked her lips and thought, ‘It’s better to keep some distance. Otherwise, if we things could get messy.‘ Seeing Janice waving at her, she said, “Grandma’s calling me. I’ve got to go.” Before Joshua could respond, bshe /bhung up.

Seeing Janice waving at her, she said, “Grandma’s calling me. I’ve got to go.” Before Joshua could respond, she hung up.

As Joshua listened to the disconnect tone, his Adam’s apple moved, and his gaze darkened slightly. He had never been hung bup /bbon /bbbefore/bb–/bbnot /bbeven /bbby /bhis father. He wasn’t annoyed, let alone mad.

Instead, that peculiar feeling rose again, like a bsoft /bbreeze brushing past his heart, tickling him faintly. Then bhe /bbrealized /bbthat /bbShermaine /bbseemed /bbto /bbhave /b

bChapter /bb61 /b

turned bdown /bhis suggestion.

Erin knew there was no point in arguing with Yvonne any further, and that Wendelyn might even take revenge on her for itb. /bbSo/bb, /bshe decided to stay ment :

bThanks /bto Yvonne taking the fall for her, Wendelyn was boff /bthe hook. After wiping away her tears, she was about to leave when a ssmate askedb, /b“Wendy, why did Yvonne go after Shermaine for you?”

Wendelyn bit her lip and said, “I don’t know. But I’ve always shared my worries with her. Maybe she misunderstood something, which is bwhy /bbshe /bbdid /bthis.b” /b

She lowered her head and continued in a pitiful tone, “Guys, I’m sorry for this. I’ll go talk to Yvie. I don’t know why she did something so foolish–bthis /bwon’t change anything.”

With just a few words, Wendelyn once again painted herself as the poor, helpless victim, while Shermaine remained the cold, heartless sister bwho /bbullied her younger sibling.

Shermaine ran over to Janice and smiled faintly at the parents of her ssmates nearby. Then her gaze shifted meaningfully toward bRuth/bb. /bA glint of coldness shed in her eyes as she said with a fake smile, “Mom, you don’t look bso /bgood. Are you feeling unwellb?/bb” /b

Ruth felt terrible, with a sharp pain in her chest. It was as if millions of needles were piercing her heartb, /bwith blood flowing relentlessly.

She never imagined Shermaine would be so outstanding–even surpassing Wendelyn–earning the admiration of both students and parents.

Wendelyn had done well in high school, too, and Ruth had attended the parent–teacher meetings with pride. But Wendelyn had never gotten straight bA’s/bb, /bnor had she received such widespread praise from both teachers and parents.

Shermaine’s performance meant nothing to Ruth, who only cared about Wendelyn–the daughter she had raised herself. Besides, Shermaine wasn’t even her daughter. The fact made Ruth even more upset. She responded coldly, “I’m fine.”

At Ruth’s harsh tone, Janice’s smile faded. She finally realized that Ruth couldn’t stand Shermaine’s sess, and that was why she looked so sulky.

Shermaine, unfazed, said casually, “If you’re not feeling well, you should head home. Grandma’s here, and that’s all I need. Anyway, you’re not bexactly /bhappy about me getting straight A’s. After all, I’m not Wendelyn.”

Ruth’s eyes widened, and soon a chill ran down her spine as Janice was ring at her, eyes full of fury.

Ruth gritted her teeth and thought, ‘This little brat must be doing this on purpose.‘

bAD /b

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