Chapter 81
After school, Mia rushed to find Sarah and noticed she seemed distracted.
“Sarah, what’s wrong?” Sarah had always appeared calm and collected to her.
Sarah smiled faintly. “Nothing serious.”
“You’re lying. Is it about what everyone’s discussing on the forum? Who would spread such rumors? Sarah, are the school leaders
pressuring you?” Mia asked with concern.
She’d heard plenty of talk, even from the faculty office.
“Nothing gets past you. The school leaders aren’t pressuring me. Lucy invited me to her birthday party – Jane Lawrence will be
there.”
Mia’s face scrunched up. “She invited you to her birthday party? That’s definitely suspicious. Sarah, don’t go. If you want to meet
Jane, I’ll tell my brother. He can arrange it.”
She looked proud to her, her brother could do anything.
“No need. I’ve already decided to go. Meeting Jane isn’t just about the competition,” Sarah declined. She didn’t want to rely on
Zachary every time.
‘Mia’s eyes widened. “Not just about the competition? Then what else?”
“It’s a secret,” Sarah said thoughtfully.
Seeing Sarah didn’t want to elaborate, Mia didn’t push.
As soon as she left the counseling office, she called Zachary excitedly. “Zac! Did we get an invitation from the Chancer family?”
There was hesitation on the other end. “What invitation?”
“For Lucy’s birthday party, did we get one?”
Hearing Mia’s expectant tone, Zachary was about to say no when his assistant knocked and delivered an invitation. Opening it, he
saw it was indeed from the Chancer family, “Yes, it just arrived.”
Before he could ask how Mia knew, she exclaimed, “Save that invitation – I’m going!”
“Why do you suddenly want to attend Lucy’s party? Don’t you dislike her?”
“Of course I do! But she gave Sarah an invitation today. That’s so strange! Lucy must be up to something. I have to go to protect Sarah,” Mia said angrily.
“She agreed to go?” Zachary asked softly.
“Yes, that’s why I have to go too!”
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Chapter 81
Near the end of the school day, Sarah was packing up when Dean Larson called.
She guessed it was about Jane, and she was right.
+15 Bonus
“Miss Sanders, the board knows about the forum discussions. They want to use Jane’s presence to generate buzz for the
competition. Is there any progress? Professor Wells told me you haven’t confirmed yet, but if you could secure her, that would be
excellent.”
Sarah thought for a moment. “Sir, I’ll try my best.”
“Good, don’t stress too much about it.”
After hanging up, Sarah stared at the invitation, lost in thought. Lucy’s scheme was too obvious, too amateur.
She checked Jane’s schedule again and found she’d be leaving for City C in a week, with a packed schedule until then. Tomorrow’s party would be her last chance.
When Sarah arrived at the Chancer family’s luxurious mansion in her evening dress, James, who was greeting guests at the
entrance, froze for a moment at the sight of her.
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