Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
Meanwhile.
Andrew, the president of the Westerly College student union, glanced at the clock, a bit worried.Mirabella’s companions should have finished their matches by now, but they hadn’t shown up.
Could they have suffered a complete defeat, losing so badly that Mirabella had stayed back to console the tearful group?
With this thought, he sent Mirabella a WhatsApp message, [Done yet? Need any help?]
Mya clung to Joyce’s arm, her nervousness apparent, “Why hasn’t Mirabella come yet? I’m getting anxious.”
“Me too.”
Their turn was coming up soon. Mirabella had promised to come and cheer for them before their matches.
But now, Mirabella hadn’t replied to their WhatsApp messages or answered their calls. Could it be because they were losing badly?
“Oh no, no, no.” Mr. Eugene watched in disbelief as Mirabella captured another one of his pieces.
Although Mirabella hadn’t been practicing at home lately, she understood Mr.
Eugene’s strategies, knowing the defenses he would set.
So, she purposely let Mr. Eugene think he was successful in defending his pieces. Instead, she attacked from a different angle, targeting his undefended pieces.
The old man regretted his previous move, wishing he hadn’t made it!
After another half hour, Mirabella clinched the win by a single piece.The audience was stunned into silence, refraining from applauding for fear of hurting Mr. Eugene’s pride.
He had lost to Mirabella?
Just as Mr. Eugene was about to voice his admiration for a well-play game, a young woman stepped forward with a challenge.
“Impossible! When Mirabella beat Alma just now, I already felt something was off. Now that she’s beaten Mr. Eugene, don’t tell me you guys aren’t suspicious?”
The girl’s words ignited a spark of doubt among the crowd.
“Exactly, Mirabella is just a student. How could she possibly beat Mr. Eugene?”
“Mr. Eugene is a renowned Master of chess.”
“I find it strange, too. Mirabella must have cheated! She must have an Al helping her!”
“A while ago, there was news about a chess player who cheated using artificial intelligence and got caught, right? But his methods were pretty amateurish. He used a tiny camera to capture the chessboard and sent it to his accomplices. They used computer Al to analyze the game, then sent him the next move.”
“Mirabella must have used some sort of smart chip. I demand a body search!”
“If Mirabella really did stoop so low to beat Mr. Eugene, I believe she owes Mr.
Eugene an apology, and Alma, too!”
“Her violin performance just now might also have been Al-assisted””
Everyone’s speculative chatter reached Mirabella’s ears. She smirked, amused at the comparison of her brain to an Al.
“Maybe all her previous contests, including the SATs, were rigged too. If that’s the case, I demand we involve the police!”“I also demand we call the police and revoke her eligibility for all contests.”
“L hope that Westerly College will take a firm stance and expel her. We can’t let a fraud like her continue her education.”
“You’re just hurling baseless accusations!”
The folks from Westerly College came forward to defend Mirabella, their faces flushed with indignation.
“Every move Mirabella made was witnessed by all of us. How could she have cheated? And how would she have done it?”
“You all keep mentioning Al, but can you provide any proof?”
“We can’t right now. That’s why we want to involve the police.”
“Brazen enough to cheat but not brave enough to be accused?”
“So, this is how Westerly College teaches you? Winning by any means necessary?”
The crowd seemed convinced of Mirabella’s guilt, looking at her with disdain.
The people from Westerly College were fuming yet unable to defend her. “If you can’t provide any proof, it’s defamation! Mirabella can sue you!”
“Sue us? Great, but first, let’s call the police! Once they’re here, the truth will come to light.”
The people from Westerly College were livid. They turned to Mirabella and said with a mix of anger and helplessness, “Mirabella, they’re going too far.”
“Go ahead and call the police if you want to. Those who can’t provide proof, I’ll sue each one of you.
Also, I will demand a public apology from Summerfield College and a major demerit”Mirabella’s defiant attitude infuriated the people from Summerfield College.
Did she think they couldn’t provide any proof, and that’s why she was acting so high and mighty?
She was the one who cheated, yet she was talking with such arrogance!
She wouldn’t know what hit her until it was too late!
Their vice principal was right here!
Did this girl have no respect for authority?
She was demanding Summerfield College?
On what grounds was she demanding Summerfield College?
Who did she think she was?
Sitting nearby, a frown settled on Leopold’s face as he eyed the students with irritation.
Regardless of how highly Principal Charles thought of Mirabella, it was clear that given her academic prowess and standing, she would never stoop so low as to cheat.
“Was that what you’re learning at Summerfield University?” Leopold asked sternly, his hands folded behind his back. “Accusing classmates without any evidence?”
“Well, Sir” one student began, it’s a serious matter if she’s straying from the path. We just hope that Mirabella doesn’t tarnish her image.”
“We hope that people at Westerly University see her true colors and not be deceived.”
“And if her perfect SAT scores were obtained by cheating. Don’t you think it’s unfair to those who study hard?”
“Yeah, she easily beat everyone using Al.”
“Enough!” Leopold rebuked, “You’re all so articulate when it comes to slander, but where was that eloquence when it came to academics? You are a disgrace to Summerfield University!”
“Apologies for the spectacle, Mr. Eugene, Leopold then turned to Mr. Eugene with a smile, “I’ll be sure to address this issue with each of them. If they fail to show remorse, I’ll invite their parents to discuss their future at the university.”
After all, Summerfield University valued a student’s character more than their grades.
“Vice Principal.The students were confused. Why was their own Vice Principal siding with an outsider?
Was it because Mirabella was pretty? Or was it because he wanted to impress Mr. Eugene by defending Mirabella?
In the crowd, Serena let out a sigh of relief. So, Mirabella had used some tactics to win the competition.
Perhaps even her title ‘Maestro Melody’ was fraudulently obtained.
And her medical skills, maybe she had just copied from the internet or had an Al guiding her.
Elsewhere, Alma felt a wave of satisfaction. So, Mirabella had won the competition by unfair means.
She always knew that no one could match her violin skills or chess ability among their peers, not even the foolish Serena.
Now, it was Mirabella’s turn to face the music!
“Hahaha.” Mr. Eugene laughed heartily, apparently not affected by the situation at all.
“I’ve been teaching this young lady chess for over ten years now, and she’s become better than her teacher. I should be proud, right?”
What?
Everyone was taken aback. What did Mr. Eugene just say?
Mirabella was his student? For over ten years?
Alma and Serena thought they had misheard, but the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces told them otherwise. How on earth did Mirabella get so close to Mr. Eugene to become his student for ten years?
The Vice Principal next to them laughed in a respectful and courteous manner, “These students sure don’t know how to behave. I’ll definitely teach them a lesson later. Hope you weren’t bothered, Mr.
Eugene.”
Mr. Eugene was in high spirits, not the least bit bothered by the people or things around him. He said, relishing the moment, “Well, this trip was certainly worthwhile!”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.