Lorna used to find embarrassing Funny a boring thing, but now, as the words left her mouth, there was a thrilling rush of satisfaction.
Especially when she saw Fanny freeze, her eyes wide with shock, Lorna couldnât help but revel in the moment
more.
She casually brushed her bangs aside with a flick of her hand and continued with a smile, âCan you believe it? Our girl got accepted on a scholarship, and sheâs still hitting the books when she could be scrolling through her phone or hanging out.â
Fanny glanced over at Cordella, who was indeed not playing on her phone, but diligently working on some math problems.
Fanny wasnât up to date with the high school system these days, so she didnât doubt Lornaâs words. But Sallie frowned, clearly skeptical, âThat canât be right.â
âWhatâs wrong?â Fanny asked, puzzled.
Sallie directed her gaze toward Cordelia, âThe early admissions season hasnât even started. Even if weâre talking about academic competitions, the finals havenât taken place yet. How could she have been already? And to Superiority College of all places?â
Sallie spoke with a hint of pride that drew the attention of nearby onlookers, who started to gather around.
âWhatâs going on?â a nosy partyâgoer asked and soon a group of society ladies had joined the fray.
Fanny couldnât help but smirk, âOh Lorna, thereâs no need for fibs. I might not know about early college admissions, but my Sallie here does. So, because I mentioned sheâs attending Ontoky University, thatâs the reason you claimed your daughter got accepted into Superiority College?â
The topic of Cordeliaâs scholarship was something only high school students and their parents were concerned with. As these parents were busy with their own careers, they didnât usually pay much attention to othersâ affairs, so most were clueless.
Hearing Fannyâs words, the crowd started chattering.
âJust a bit of oneâupmanship. But making up a story about Superiority College? Thatâs a bit much, isnât it? Who even gets into that university?â
âOur kids are looking abroad anyway. Many of them are studying overseas. No need for such comparisons.â
âExactly, Mrs. Delaney. This kind of behavior is in poor
As the accusations piled up, Lorna grew desperate, âMy daughter really did get accepted, and itâs all over the internet. You can look it up. There are plenty of Liaâs classmates here, and they can vouch for her.â
Her adamant response made the crowd waver.
Fanny turned to Sallie, asking, âSallie, what do you have to ?â
Sallie spoke up. Traditionally, scholarships are based on academic performance, and while Greenmeadow International School does have its slots, Superiority College doesnât usually offer them to such institutions Another way is through competition scholarships. Someone who clinches a national championship in contests like math or physics might get scouted, or their entry requirements lowered. Of course, there are also who make significant breakthroughs in certain fields and get admitted on those grounds, but theyâre few and far between.â
Fanny looked at Lorna, âYou hear that? Few and far between.â
Unfazed, Lorna retorted, âWell, my Lia is one of those exceptional .â
Sallie couldnât help but scoff, This year, Iâve only heard of one person getting a scholarship like that.
Chapter
Apparently, she solved Batraâs Conjecture and made an outstanding contribution to the field of mathematics. That got her an offer from Superiority College. The girlâs name is Cordelia.â
The room fell silent.
Fanny turned to Lorna, âWhat now? Cat got your tongue?â
Instead of crumbling, Lorna smiled confidently and said, âOh dear, Iâve been so caught up talking to you that I forgot to introduce her properly â She pointed to Cordelia and announced to everyone present, âThis is my daughter, Cordelia Delaney.â
The revelation caused an uproar.
Sallie and the others stared at Cordelia in disbelief. Usually, those immersed in research, particularly in mathematics, were expected to be bespectacled, possibly balding, and not necessarily easy on the eyes. But here was Cordelia, delicate and stunningly beautiful. It seemed improbable.
The crowd was filled with the children of the affluent, but few had ever managed to secure a place at Superiority College.
Thus, the news quickly spread across the party.
Soon, Lorna and Cordelia were surrounded by an even larger audience. Even the most successful parents admired child with stellar academic achievements, leading them to point Cordelia out to their high schoolers, âSee that? Thatâs Cordelia. She got a scholarship to Superiority College.â
One of the teens rolled their eyes, âMom, I already knew. Sheâs the top student in our senior year, aced math and physics competitions, and I heard sheâs made some kind of breakthrough. All the top universities are scrambling for her. Some people are just natural geniuses, and letâs not compare, okay â
The mothers, initially hoping to inspire their children, now looked at Cordelia with even more respect.
The whispers and buzz continued.
The Foster family was also in attendance. Hanley obediently followed his parents, Belinda and Edwin, greeting the adults they knew. As they walked, they overheard some pointed remarks,
âWhat a shame the Fosters called off that engagement, huh? Bet theyâre kicking themselves now.â
ââd they break it off?â
âThey say it was because their boy Hanley was too academically inclined and they thought Cordelia wasnât up to par. So they switched to Kermitâs daughter.â
âThey called her academically lacking? Is their boy Hanley going to get into a better university than Superiority College?â
Belindaâs darkened at these comments.
felt humiliated as if he had been slapped across the face.
Edwinâs frown deepened, his displeasure clear.
The group hadnât noticed the trio eavesdropping as they continued their conversation, their voices neither loud
nor soft,
âMan, I wish I had a boy around her age to set up with her. Do you think Ms. Delaney would go for someone six years younger?â
*Six years? Your kidâs still in grade school, isnât he?â
*Dream on, folks. You all forget why weâre here today? Itâs Hackettâs birthday bash, but thereâs another agenda, remember?â
*You meanâ¦.
âYeah, thatâs right. When it comes to looks, sheâs topânotch. And sheâs not just a pretty face, smart as a whip.
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Chapter 111
too. I bet Hackettâs considering playing matchmaker with Mr. Wallace
âWell, wouldnât that be a stroke of luck?â
Fanny and Sallie had overheard the conversation, and their expressions darkened.
Just then, a voice chimed in, âOh, youâve got it all wrong.â All eyes turned to Rachel as she spoke.
Rachel rarely found herself the center of attention, and this moment brought a tinge of smugness to her face, though she tried to hide it with a dismissive sneer, âSure, our Cordeliaâs a looker and she hits the books hard, but pity sheâs picked herself up a pretty boy outside of our circles, some say heâs a real troublemaker.â
âWhat?.â The crowd was stunned.
Fanny felt a surge of triumph and couldnât resist a taunting look at Lorna, âWho wouldâve thought your daughter would end up with such a loser for a boyfriend?â
Chapter 112