Under the Heiress' Facade

Cindy jolted upright as Hera called out her name unexpectedly during the live broadcast.

Anticipation crackled in the air, but before Cindy could learn more about the delegations' offers, the live stream abruptly cut out.

The tension lingered, leaving her restless for a long time.

Her own examination score, a decent 189 placing her fourth, wasn't quite good enough for guaranteed admission to Comridge, her dream school.

Despite their strained relationship, the thought of Hera recommending her was a surprise.

...

Meanwhile, Hera emerged from the meeting room, clutching two coveted invitation letters.

Back in Class K, pandemonium erupted as she entered.

"Boss, you sneaky genius! You pretended to be a slacker!" Katie shrieked.

"So, beauty and brains really do go hand-in-hand. Is it too late for me to start cramming now?"

"Never thought I'd share a class with a top student!"

"Gotta hit the books harder, or I won't even be worthy of being in her shadow!"

The excited chatter attracted Kerry's attention.

Beaming with pride, she entered and congratulated Hera, wiping away a tear of joy. She was a firm believer in every student's potential and recognized Hera's unique brilliance.

"One question, though. Why were you always turning in blank papers?" Kerry asked, her curiosity piqued.

Hera's reply was nonchalant, bordering on smug. "The papers were too easy. I didn't feel like doing them."

The entire class groaned in unison.

Was this the gap between a genius and a slacker? They'd never know for sure.

The afternoon classes dragged by in a blur of excitement, the buzz only fading as the final bell echoed through the halls.

Katie suggested a celebratory karaoke night for Hera. The class president was thrilled at the prospect and immediately volunteered her family's karaoke venue.

Even Kerry was swept up in the festive mood and agreed to join the celebration. She even extended the invitation to Christopher and Cindy.

Hera, a self-proclaimed loner, usually steered clear of class gatherings. But as she watched the infectious excitement swirling around her, a tiny seed of doubt sprouted in her mind. Maybe, for the first time ever, she wouldn't say no.

The after-school buzz was electric as a large group formed. They headed toward the class president's family karaoke chain.

At the school gate, Hera spotted Gino lingering purposefully.

He caught wind of their plans and declared, "This one's on me!"

Hera raised an eyebrow, her gaze laced with skepticism.

"Are you sure you can swing it?" she asked, remembering the Everetts' financial troubles and Gino's probable lack of funds.

Gino puffed out his chest, a show of exaggerated pride. "Money? No problem! My pockets are overflowing. Tonight, everyone will feast like royalty! It's all on me!"

Hera's lips remained sealed at his words.

"Boss, haven't you checked the forum today?" Katie chimed in, noticing Hera's bewildered expression.

While online forums held little appeal for Hera, she did recall her classmates mentioning something about lost bets.

"Apparently, your brother placed a five-million-dollar bet on the forum on you doing well. Needless to say, you blew everyone away. The forum gamblers lost big, lining your brother's pockets with their misfortune. The bookie even threw in another five million!"

Katie sighed dramatically. "Such a genius move! Making money with zero effort. Why didn't I think of that?"

Gino said with pride, "I'm officially a millionaire now!"

He then flourished a card in front of Hera. "Here you go. Spend it all!"

Hera's silence spoke volumes. There he stood, bragging about his newfound wealth, completely unaware of who truly earned it.