Donovan’s gaze was as cold as the winter sea, piercing through Arielle with an air of indifference that bordered on disdain. His lips curled slightly, almost imperceptibly, as he spoke, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Oh. You're the one that Vinson shoved into my class.” Arielle’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, the sharpness of his words cutting deeper than she’d anticipated. Wow,no mercy at all. But as quickly as the sting of his comment came, she pushed it aside, her expression smoothing into one of calm resolve. He’s right, though.Vinson did shove me into this class. But where is he now? He hasn’t contacted me in ages, as if he’s vanished into thin air. Her thoughts, momentarily distracted by Vinson's absence, were soon reined back in. Arielle composed herself, lifting her chin slightly as she met Donovan’s icy stare. “Yes, Mr. Baxter,” she said, her voice steady, almost pleasant despite the tension. “Nice to meet you.” Donovan barely acknowledged her words. He turned away with a dismissive flick of his head, a scornful sneer tugging at the corners of his mouth. To him, she was just another student who had found her way into his class not by merit, but through connections—an affront to the very principles he stood by. Yet, bound by Marcus’ decision, Donovan had no choice but to accept her, though he fully expected she’d be gone soon enough. She’s going to leave anyway. While Marcus and Donovan exchanged words, oblivious to the storm brewing within another, Wendy stood nearby, her mind a maelstrom of emotions. Surprise, disbelief, jealousy, rage, and an acute sense of humiliation all collided within her, threatening to overwhelm her entirely. Her face flushed, the heat of her turmoil rising to her cheeks as she clenched her fists tightly, nails digging into her palms. It took every ounce of strength to keep herself upright, one hand gripping the wall for support as if the very ground beneath her had started to crumble away. The one Vinson introduced to Donovan was her, and not me! The realization struck Wendy like a physical blow, nearly knocking the wind out of her. She had been so sure of her place, so certain of her superiority over Arielle, only to have the rug pulled out from under her. Donovan’s voice cut through the fog of her thoughts, bringing her back to the harsh reality of the moment. “Yeah. I'm not sure whether Mr. Brown told you, but if you don't place in the top twenty in the next monthly test, you'll be kicked out.” Wendy’s heart skipped a beat as her breath hitched in her throat. Top twenty? A cold sweat broke out on her brow. Mr. Baxter's class was notorious, filled with the best and brightest students in the country. Even for Wendy, who prided herself on her academic prowess, securing a spot in the top twenty was no small feat. But Arielle? Arielle,a lowly waitress? The sky would fall before she even came close to the top twenty. Wendy’s mind raced, her thoughts dark and vengeful. She was certain that Arielle would fail spectacularly, and when that happened, Vinson would finally see her for what she truly was—a nobody, undeserving of his time or attention. Arielle, meanwhile, noticed the storm brewing within Wendy and couldn’t help but let a small, sly smile tug at her lips. She caught Donovan’s gaze and replied calmly, almost nonchalantly, “Mr. Baxter, I got it. I will give it my all.” Donovan’s expression darkened further, a deep crease forming between his brows. He found her uncollected temperament grating, and her self-assuredness baffling. To him, she was nothing more than a pretty face who had coasted through life on luck and connections. He couldn’t fathom how someone like her, who had entered through the backdoor, could ever hope to compete with his top students. This girl doesn’t know her place at all. Without another word, Donovan turned his attention to Wendy, a student he actually respected. “Head back to class first,” he instructed her curtly. “I'll help you submit this form to admissions. After this, there will be an open test for everyone to assess their level of high school knowledge. Following that, you will be seated according to your score.” Wendy straightened up, her voice brimming with false confidence as she responded loudly, “All right, Mr. Baxter!” She glanced back at Arielle, hoping to catch her looking defeated or at least concerned, but what she saw made her blood boil. Arielle wasn’t even paying attention, her eyes casually scanning through her phone as if the entire exchange was of no consequence. The sight of Arielle’s indifference stoked the fire of Wendy’s resentment. She gritted her teeth, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fists. With a final glare at Arielle, she bade Marcus goodbye and stormed off towards her class, the resolve hardening within her. I will ace this test,and then I’ll watch Arielle be seated in the back where she belongs.