She raised her voice slightly, her tone measured yet suggestive. “Still, there’s a lot about my sister that we don’t fully understand. For instance, when she left the Sinclair Family, we all assumed she would struggle, eventually give up, and come back to us. But instead, not only did she stay away, but she also managed to find herself a wealthy benefactor…” Realizing that her words might have crossed a line, she quickly adjusted her tone and continued, “What I mean is, let’s not be too hard on her. My sister has always been good at keeping her talents hidden. I’m confident she’ll perform well in this exam. Why not give her a fair chance to compete ?” Madam Victoria immediately composed herself, aware that her earlier outburst had been inappropriate. Her words had clearly contradicted Serena’s tactful narrative, but fortunately, Serena had stepped in with her usual quick thinking to steer the conversation back on track. “You’re right,” Madam Victoria said, nodding as if to regain control of the situation. “I was so worried about Liza losing that I let my emotions get the better of me. But, of course, with her abilities, it’s impossible for her to fail.” She turned to the dean, offering an apologetic smile. “You understand, don’t you, Dean? As parents, we can’t help but fear the worst for our children. I may have spoken too harshly earlier, but it was purely out of concern. Please don’t take it the wrong way.” The dean, though slightly puzzled by the conflicting statements, didn’t want to involve himself in the family drama of the wealthy. He nodded politely, choosing not to probe further. “Of course, I understand completely.” Serena leaned closer to Madam Victoria and spoke in a low voice, her tone filled with feigned concern. “Mom, don’t stress too much about Sister. I’m good friends with Ava, so if Sister really does lose the bet, I can persuade Ava to let it go. There’s no way she’d actually make Sister kneel and apologize. But honestly, if Sister loses, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing. She’s far too arrogant for her own good. A loss might teach her some humility and remind her that there’s always someone better out there.”Madam Victoria smiled and patted Serena’s hand affectionately. “Serena, you’re so considerate and thoughtful.” Despite her words, Madam Victoria’s frustration with Liza simmered beneath the surface. To her, Liza was nothing but a constant source of trouble—a useless burden who brought nothing but shame to the Sinclair Family. The dean watched the two leave, his expression complicated. As they exited, he overheard Madam Victoria muttering to Serena, “Once this is over, we need to make sure Liza leaves Li City University. Someone like her doesn’t deserve to be teaching here. Don’t let her drag you down with her nonsense. She’s nothing but a disgrace to the family.” The dean remained silent, but for the first time, he began questioning the mental state of the mother-daughter duo. Their attitude seemed wholly unfounded. From what he knew, Liza had been specifically recruited by the university because of her exceptional abilities. In fact, the feedback from the other teachers about Liza’s teaching had been overwhelmingly positive. Her Class 3 students, once known for their unruly behavior, had become much more disciplined and engaged. The students now actively participated in lessons, even taking the initiative to ask questions and seek guidance. These clear signs of improvement reflected Liza’s competence as an educator. The dean couldn’t understand how Madam Victoria and Serena could so confidently label her as worthless. Their words seemed rooted in personal bias rather than fact. … When Liza received a call from the dean, she was surprised. Throughout her time at the university, she had always kept a low profile, and the dean had largely left her to her own devices. She couldn’t fathom why he would suddenly summon her now. After hearing his explanation, she thoughtfully touched her chin. “So, my younger sister suggested to you that I have excellent English skills and should take the test as well?”The dean nodded, though his expression was tinged with skepticism. After his recent encounters with Serena and Madam Victoria, he no longer trusted their words entirely. “Teacher Liza, please don’t feel pressured. It’s perfectly fine if you choose not to participate. I only wanted to bring it up casually,” he reassured her. Liza smiled, her tone lighthearted. “It’s not a big deal. It’s just a test, after all. If anything, my participation might help ease the tension for my students. They’ve been so on edge lately, it’s like they think the world is ending.” The dean blinked in surprise, not expecting her to agree so readily. He hesitated before asking, “Teacher Liza, are you sure about this? Have you thought it through carefully? You truly want to take the test?” His concern was evident. He was on the verge of warning her that her sister and stepmother might be setting a trap for her. Liza chuckled, amused by his reaction. “Yes, I’ve made up my mind. Go ahead and arrange it, Dean. I’ll sit for the test this afternoon.”She knew that Serena had deliberately orchestrated this situation, and she had no intention of backing down. If her sister wanted to play games, Liza was more than willing to oblige. … At precisely two o’clock in the afternoon, the test commenced, slated to last until four. Liza sat at her desk and skimmed through the test paper. It didn’t take her long to understand the questions, and within a short span of time, she had completed the entire exam. Checking the clock, she realized there was still over an hour remaining. Deciding she had no reason to linger, Liza confidently stood, gathered her belongings, and handed in her paper far ahead of schedule. Her actions caused an immediate stir in the examination hall. The students sharing the venue with her began whispering among themselves, unable to hide their astonishment.