Chapter 4 · The Adopted Heiress: Rise Of The True Genius

Whistles echoed through the air. Blake's crew instantly flashed mischievous grins.

Blake shot me a teasing look, meeting my steady stare without flinching, and gave a quick nod.

He said, "Alright. If you're feeling bold, I'm game."

I ignored the teasing look in his eyes and headed for an empty spot in the corner.

Once Blake followed me over, I cut straight to the chase. I said, "If you promise to protect my friend, I can hook your dad up with a new job."

Blake was caught by surprise for a second, clearly not expecting me to know about that.

In my previous life, I'd once overheard him making a phone call.

That was exactly why I'd waited until now to step in and help Max deal with the bullying.

Five minutes later, Blake and I had struck a deal.

He switched back to his usual cocky persona, giving me a playful smirk. He asked, "So, what's up with you and Max? Why're you so keen on covering for him?"

I didn't bother answering. Instead, I just shot a dismissive glance at his straw-like hair.

I asked, "Seriously, have you ever thought of dyeing that mop back to a normal color?"

Blake hesitated a beat, then gave that little shrug like the answer was self-evident. He said, "Come on, blond' the whole bully brand. Go dark, and I'll have to hand in my crown."

I wasn't buying his theory, and honestly, I was done wasting energy on this kind of nonsense.

"Suit yourself," I tossed over my shoulder as I turned to leave.

As soon as I walked away, Blake's crew hurried over to him, all curious. One asked, "Blake, what did that kid just say to you?"

Blake just watched me walk away.

Only after I'd gotten in my car and left did he let out a soft laugh and say, "That kid's pretty tough."

His crew noticed something was up, and one of them teased, "Blake, you into her or something?"

Blake quickly looked away.

Meeting their mischievous stares, he playfully cuffed the guy who asked on the head.

He demanded, "Quit the nonsense. Get outta here."

After Blake and his crew took off, a shadowy figure in black slipped out from around the corner, moving slowly and quietly.

The figure watched Blake disappear down one path, then shifted its gaze to where I'd gone, a sinister smirk curling at its lips.

Monday rolled around, and the moment I stepped into school, I could feel that something was off.

Upon seeing me, they shot me a look full of disgust or mockery, gossiping nonstop behind my back.

It didn't take me long to get the whole story.

Someone had papered the bulletin board with a mile-long rant and blown-up photos of me and Blake. I knew exactly which drama queen had staged the whole thing.

Just then, my homeroom teacher, Elara, walked up to the bulletin board. The moment she saw me, her expression darkened. She said, "Emma, come with me to the office."

Half an hour later, Andrew and Sophia showed up at the school, having been called in about the whole bulletin board incident.

When they came in, they didn't scold me or jump to blame. Sophia patiently asked, "Emma, is what they wrote on the bulletin board true? Don't worry, just be honest. We believe you."

Honestly, just hearing that put them miles ahead of most parents.

Something warm bloomed in my chest.

Without a second thought, I said, "Mom, Dad, I'm not dating Blake. I just talked to him a couple of times, that's all."

Emily, who'd been hiding out in the crowd, suddenly stepped forward.

She said, "She's lying! I can prove it. She and Blake were an item before."

She grabbed my hand, putting on her best concerned face. She said, "Emma, did you forget? You promised Blake forever and always. How could you flip the script after just a few months in the city?"

She made it sound like she'd seen it all with her own eyes.

Elara looked annoyed and shot me a sharp look. She asked, "Emma, is that true?"

I turned to answer, but Sophia jumped in before I could say anything.

Sophia said, "Ms. Quinn, Emma's still just a kid. Maybe she got temporarily confused. Yeah, puppy love isn't good, but it's really not a huge deal.

"We'll have a serious talk with her at home and make sure she stays away from Blake. Can we just let this go?"

If anyone else had claimed it, Andrew and Sophia probably wouldn't have bought it. But since it was Emily, they had to take her word for it.

After all, Olivia always said Emily and I used to be thick as thieves back in the orphanage.

Elara looked uneasy.

She said, "Our school has a strict no-dating rule, and with it plastered all over the bulletin board for everyone to see, we can't just pretend it didn't happen.

"At minimum, she'll get a major infraction on her record and have to deliver a public apology in front of the whole school."

Andrew and Sophia's eyes filled with panic.

Afraid that making me read that apology out loud would totally shatter my self-esteem, they were just about to beg Elara for mercy when, suddenly, a voice echoed from the doorway.

The voice called out, "I'm backing her up—Emma's not dating Blake."

Chapter 4

Whistles echoed through the air. Blake's crew instantly flashed mischievous grins.

Blake shot me a teasing look, meeting my steady stare without flinching, and gave a quick nod.

He said, "Alright. If you're feeling bold, I'm game."

I ignored the teasing look in his eyes and headed for an empty spot in the corner.

Once Blake followed me over, I cut straight to the chase. I said, "If you promise to protect my friend, I can hook your dad up with a new job."

Blake was caught by surprise for a second, clearly not expecting me to know about that.

In my previous life, I'd once overheard him making a phone call.

That was exactly why I'd waited until now to step in and help Max deal with the bullying.

Five minutes later, Blake and I had struck a deal.

He switched back to his usual cocky persona, giving me a playful smirk. He asked, "So, what's up with you and Max? Why're you so keen on covering for him?"

I didn't bother answering. Instead, I just shot a dismissive glance at his straw-like hair.

I asked, "Seriously, have you ever thought of dyeing that mop back to a normal color?"

Blake hesitated a beat, then gave that little shrug like the answer was self-evident. He said, "Come on, blond' the whole bully brand. Go dark, and I'll have to hand in my crown."

I wasn't buying his theory, and honestly, I was done wasting energy on this kind of nonsense.

"Suit yourself," I tossed over my shoulder as I turned to leave.

As soon as I walked away, Blake's crew hurried over to him, all curious. One asked, "Blake, what did that kid just say to you?"

Blake just watched me walk away.

Only after I'd gotten in my car and left did he let out a soft laugh and say, "That kid's pretty tough."

His crew noticed something was up, and one of them teased, "Blake, you into her or something?"

Blake quickly looked away.

Meeting their mischievous stares, he playfully cuffed the guy who asked on the head.

He demanded, "Quit the nonsense. Get outta here."

After Blake and his crew took off, a shadowy figure in black slipped out from around the corner, moving slowly and quietly.

The figure watched Blake disappear down one path, then shifted its gaze to where I'd gone, a sinister smirk curling at its lips.

Monday rolled around, and the moment I stepped into school, I could feel that something was off.

Upon seeing me, they shot me a look full of disgust or mockery, gossiping nonstop behind my back.

It didn't take me long to get the whole story.

Someone had papered the bulletin board with a mile-long rant and blown-up photos of me and Blake. I knew exactly which drama queen had staged the whole thing.

Just then, my homeroom teacher, Elara, walked up to the bulletin board. The moment she saw me, her expression darkened. She said, "Emma, come with me to the office."

Half an hour later, Andrew and Sophia showed up at the school, having been called in about the whole bulletin board incident.

When they came in, they didn't scold me or jump to blame. Sophia patiently asked, "Emma, is what they wrote on the bulletin board true? Don't worry, just be honest. We believe you."

Honestly, just hearing that put them miles ahead of most parents.

Something warm bloomed in my chest.

Without a second thought, I said, "Mom, Dad, I'm not dating Blake. I just talked to him a couple of times, that's all."

Emily, who'd been hiding out in the crowd, suddenly stepped forward.

She said, "She's lying! I can prove it. She and Blake were an item before."

She grabbed my hand, putting on her best concerned face. She said, "Emma, did you forget? You promised Blake forever and always. How could you flip the script after just a few months in the city?"

She made it sound like she'd seen it all with her own eyes.

Elara looked annoyed and shot me a sharp look. She asked, "Emma, is that true?"

I turned to answer, but Sophia jumped in before I could say anything.

Sophia said, "Ms. Quinn, Emma's still just a kid. Maybe she got temporarily confused. Yeah, puppy love isn't good, but it's really not a huge deal.

"We'll have a serious talk with her at home and make sure she stays away from Blake. Can we just let this go?"

If anyone else had claimed it, Andrew and Sophia probably wouldn't have bought it. But since it was Emily, they had to take her word for it.

After all, Olivia always said Emily and I used to be thick as thieves back in the orphanage.

Elara looked uneasy.

She said, "Our school has a strict no-dating rule, and with it plastered all over the bulletin board for everyone to see, we can't just pretend it didn't happen.

"At minimum, she'll get a major infraction on her record and have to deliver a public apology in front of the whole school."

Andrew and Sophia's eyes filled with panic.

Afraid that making me read that apology out loud would totally shatter my self-esteem, they were just about to beg Elara for mercy when, suddenly, a voice echoed from the doorway.

The voice called out, "I'm backing her up—Emma's not dating Blake."