Chapter 29 Trouble Before Enrollment
+8 Pearls
Sloane’s slender fingers danced swiftly across the screen. With a quick dash from her second skill, she dodged the enemy’s key control abilities, then unleashed her ultimate move, ‘Flowery Potential. In an instant, pink petal effects bloomed across the screen as Diao Chan twirled gracefully within the magic circle. Seamlessly weaving her first skill, ‘Explosion of Fragrance,‘ into her ultimate, she dealt massive damage in a fluid, dazzling combo that left the spectators stunned.
The enemy heroes‘ health bars drained rapidly. Kill after kill, she dominated the virtual battlefield.
“Victory!” The opponents surrendered.
Samson excitedly whipped out his phone. “Sloane, come on, let’s play a match! Let me show you how slick I am with Arli!” He said as he eagerly launched the game.
Sloane glanced at his stats, then smiled and agreed, “Alright.”
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
Benjamin looked helplessly at the two already engrossed in their phones. “Samson…”
Waving him off impatiently, Samson said, “Ah, it’s just the Rivers family head wanting to apologize to Lucas or whatever. Don’t worry about it.”
Then, he buried himself back in the game.
Benjamin sighed and resigned himself to handling the matter outside.
Lucas frowned slightly as he glanced at the two heads huddled together but ultimately said nothing.
Bonding over the game, Sloane and Samson ended up adding each other as friends, even planning to team up again sometime.
Later, after the banquet ended, Samantha locked herself in her room, refusing to come out no matter how much Adrian and the others tried to comfort her. It was not until Helen’solemnly promised to ‘take care of everything‘ that she reluctantly emerged.
Helen, a woman of considerable means, quickly spun the narrative. Tales of Samantha’s stunning piano performance spread like wildfire, while Sloane’s zither performance was conveniently omitted. Those who had attended the banquet tacitly went along with the cover–up.
From that point on, Samantha’s reputation as a ‘piano prodigy‘ was firmly established.
Basking in the admiration and envy of others, Samantha walked with a newfound air of arrogance.
Early morning at the Rivers family breakfast table…
“Sammy, there’s only a week left until school starts. I’ve already asked Molly to pack your things: When the time comes, Adrian will take you to campus. Helen said, her heart swelling with pride as she looked at the brilliant daughter she had so carefully nurtured.
Boone and Conrad immediately jumped in.
“I’ll take Sammy too!”
“How could I miss sending Sammy off on her first day?”
Samantha shot Sloane a smug glance and pretended to suddenly remember, “Oh right, what about Sloane?”
Boone wrinkled his nose in disdain. “Her? She’s useless. Better for her to stay home and not embarrass the Rivers family.”
Conrad chimed in, “Exactly. What school would even want someone
her?”
Sloane felt her appetite vanish; even her favorite butter bun tasted like
ash.
Couldn’t these people let me eat in peace for once?
Hearing the conversation, Marshall grew pensive. “It would be an embarrassment for the Rivers family to have a daughter
6:55 PM
Chapter 29 Trouble Before Enrollment
+8 Pearls
with only a middle school education. I know Mr. Ray of St. Fortuna. I’ll pull some strings and get her in there.”
Samantha’s eyes lit up at the mention of St. Fortuna. It was a private school in Stonebridge where spoiled rich kids with no academic merit went to scrape by.
