All the other kids in class envied him.
Daph devoured a beef pie, savoring every bite, then lifted her bowl and gulped down the last of her soy milk. She ate with such enthusiasm that the elementary schoolers sitting at the table in front of her, after catching sight of her enjoying her breakfast, hurriedly stuffed another piece of pumpkin pie into their own mouths.
When Daph finished, Selene handed her a wet wipe for her hands.
“Come on, let’s get going to school.”
At the mention of “school,” the brightness in Daph’s eyes faded in an instant.
Selene caught the shift in her daughter’s mood immediately.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“Mommy, I don’t really like going to school anymore.”
Selene pressed gently, “Did something happen at school?”
Daph shook her head. Lately, she could clearly feel the other kids didn’t want to play with her anymore. But she told herself she couldn’t let her mom worry.
“It’s nothing! Even though I don’t like school as much, I still have my friends there. Being with them every day makes me happy!”
Daph didn’t explain further, but Selene could sense something was off.
Charteris Academy was an elite private school, and the kids there absorbed their parents‘ attitudes. It was no surprise their behavior toward Daph had begun to change.
Selene took Daph by the hand and they got into a cab.
They hadn’t been driving long when Selene’s phone rang.
She picked up.
“Hello, is this Ms. Selene Thompson?”
“Yes, this is Selene.”
“I’m calling from the ALI Competition Organizing Committee. I wanted to congratulate you on winning first place in the preliminary round!”
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Selene was stunned.
“First place?” There must be some mistake.
The staff member sounded excited. “That’s right! Miss Thompson, your written score was 89!”
She’d even tried to hold back a little.
First place with just 89 points?
Were there really no strong contenders in the ALI Math Competition this year?
The staffer continued, “Miss Thompson, according to the information you provided, you graduated from Aldonia University of Science & Technology, but then spent seven years as a full–time homemaker. The committee is very interested in your story and your outstanding score. Also, the National Broadcast Network heard about your achievement and would like to interview you. Would you be available?”
Selene replied, “I’m on my way to drop my daughter off at school.”
The staff member perked up. “Which school does your daughter attend?”
“Charteris Academy. She’s in her last year of kindergarten.”
Through the phone, Selene could hear the rapid clacking of a keyboard.
Then: “The National Broadcast Network would like to do a brief interview with at the Charteris Academy gate. Would that be alright?”
you
Selene glanced at her daughter.
Daph had no idea what was going on, her innocent eyes meeting Selene’s.
In that moment, Selene made up her mind.
“Yes, I’d be happy to.”
She put down her phone and gently stroked Daph’s soft hair.
“Daph, I promise–I won’t let anyone look down on you. I’ll do everything I can to change our future, for both of us.”
Dames hopped off the back of Felicity’s motorcycle. A few friends he usually played with were already waiting for him at the school gate.
As soon as they spotted him, they all called out together, “Good morning, Young Master Vaughn!”
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Chapter 68
Felicity had taught them to use that title.
Dames snorted proudly, chin held high as he strutted over to them.
Just then, one of the kids pointed behind Dames, eyes wide as if he’d discovered something incredible.
“Hey, look! Daphne’s coming to school in a taxi!”
Dames and Felicity both turned to look. Sure enough, Daph and Selene were just getting out of a yellow cab.
Most of these privileged kids arrived in chauffeured cars. The sight of a classmate
stepping out of a taxi drew immediate red c
“She took a cab? Gross! Daphne probably smells like old seats!”
Felicity laughed coldly at the yellow taxi. Without the Vaughn family, Selene really had turned into a nobody.
She knew that the $6 million Harrison had given Selene was frozen by the financial oversight committee. How many more times could Selene afford a cab?
Maybe next time, Selene would be reduced to biking her daughter to school on a rental cycle.
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