Under the Heiress' Facade

Seeing the mirrored shock on the students' faces, the teacher felt a sense of satisfaction.

The teacher explained, "The exam questions were meticulously crafted by the delegations of top universities just yesterday afternoon. The papers were printed under strict security measures and remained sealed until this morning.

"Not even Dean Ludden had access to them. The answer key was only released at noon today, so cheating was absolutely impossible!"

Gino and Zyler were dumbfounded. Every single student present was in a state of utter disbelief.

Even Christopher didn't achieve a perfect score last year, and this year's exam was even more challenging. Yet, Hera finished it in half an hour and got every single answer right!

Weren't there rumors that Hera cheated on the entrance exam and left the midterms blank? How could she possibly achieve this level of academic excellence? And in such a short amount of time! It was simply mind-boggling.

Whispers filled the air.

"She's the real deal! Is this why the cheating scandal during the entrance exam was dropped?"

"I remember Christopher defended her on the forum, saying it was a misunderstanding."

"Yeah, that rings a bell."

"How is Hera so incredibly gifted? Didn't she come from a small town?"

"Did she intentionally turn in a blank paper to throw everyone off?"

"That's some serious under-the-radar genius!"

"Well, there goes my allowance for the next three months."

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of lively chatter.

Jefferson stood frozen in disbelief. He had invested a total of three million dollars on the bet. If his parents discovered he lost it all in one go, they would skin him alive.

He shot a stiff glance at the still-stunned Gino, then abruptly turned and fled the scene.

In his haste, he collided with Zyler, who was still reeling from the news. Zyler stumbled and fell to the ground.

Snapping out of his daze, Gino saw Zyler's pale face and couldn't resist a sneer. "Bowing down in defeat, are we? Reality hitting hard?"

This hypocrite-who had looked down on Hera for her rural background, broken off the engagement between their families, and indirectly caused the Everetts' bankruptcy-was now getting a taste of his own medicine!

Zyler's expression went through a mix of emotions. He had only scored 150 and was a full 50 points behind Hera, ranking a measly 17th.

His dream of getting a recommendation from Vardhar University was shattered.

Just then, a broadcast announcement echoed through the school's speakers. "Respected teachers and students, please return to your classrooms immediately and turn on the multimedia computers. Next, please witness a historic moment for Cavenridge."

The students were still buzzing with the revelation of Hera's perfect score and were intrigued by what could possibly be even more shocking. Everyone hurried back to their classrooms, powering on the multimedia computers and connecting the classroom projectors to the school's main platform.

A live stream flickered to life on the screens, revealing a conference room filled with university deans and representatives from prestigious institutions.

Was this a glimpse into the inner workings of the academic elite?

The camera panned, focusing on a tall, elegant young woman standing composedly before the delegation.

It was Hera.

"Ms. Youngworth, you have excelled in the examination, achieving remarkable results that have deeply impressed us. We present to you this brochure and invitation from Vardhar University. We sincerely hope you will consider our offer."

With utmost respect, the Vardhar University representative extended a formal invitation to Hera.