Chapter 328
When Eleanor glanced over, Charlotte met her eyes, just barely. Her face, striking and bright, stayed perfectly calm. Not a flicker of emotion in those clear eyes.
“Coordinator, when Charlotte got first in physics, you all said she must have cheated. Now she’s topped the entire country, and again there’s some anonymous accusation?” Eleanor turned her stare on the coordinator, her voice sharp and cold. “Why is it so hard to believe my student could come first fair and square?”
“It happened once, and now it’s happening again!” Eleanor’s frustration only grew. “If Charlotte is innocent this time, I promise I’ll find out who’s stirring up trouble behind the scenes.” Her students never started drama, but they weren’t afraid to finish it.
The coordinator’s expression looked just as troubled. He lowered his voice. “This is a big deal. The anonymous tip claims Charlotte got the exam paper and answers ahead of time. They even say there’s evidence.”
He looked at Eleanor, serious. “If the exam really was leaked, it isn’t just on you and me. Even the principal could be in trouble. For now, bring Charlotte to the office. We need to get to the bottom of this.”
He finished with a long, meaningful look at Charlotte before sighing. If the leak was real, this was huge.
Got the test and answers in advance? Eleanor’s mind spun. She knew from the last exams-physics, math—that Charlotte’s basics were rock solid. There was no way she’d cheat. She just couldn’t believe it. But what about the so-called evidence?
“Charlotte, come with me,” she said softly.
Charlotte stood, her face blank, and walked over.
As they left, a student sitting at the front whispered, “I just heard Ms. Eleanor and the coordinator talking. Sounds like someone reported Charlotte for cheating, said she got the test and answers before the exam.”
“What?” Andrew, Parrish, and Shirley all reacted at once.
Shirley shook her head. “No way! That’s impossible.”
Parrish snorted. “Charlotte can barely be bothered to do her homework. You really
think she’d go out of her way to get the test early?”
Andrew just muttered, “Some people are so stupid.”
On the way to the principal’s office Eleanor kept glancing at Charlotte, who walked beste her, looking lik she couldn’t care less. Worry creased Eleanor’s brow.
“Charlotte, you didn’t cheat, right?” Her voice didn’t sound accusing more like she needed to hear it out loud.
There was just something about Charlotte. She was real. Honest. The kind of person you just trusted.
Charlotte lifted her lashes, her answer easy. “No.”
The word eased something in Eleanor. “I believe you.”
“When the Education Bureau people ask questions, just answer honestly, okay?”
Charlotte nodded politely. “Sure.”
Conversation over, they walked into the principal’s office together.
This exam was a huge deal, with eyes on it from across the country. And now, accusations of cheating and leaks at a school as well known as Vanguard High? It was serious The Education Bureau had even sent officials to investigate in person.
Charlotte walked in. The principal, the director of academics, the coordinator, and
three officials sat waiting. The mood was tense.
The principal introduced her. “This is Charlotte from Class C. She’s the one who got the top score in the country.”
One of the officials, a man in glasses, looked right at her. “Since you’re here, let’s get straight to it. Charlotte, you scored first in
County But during the rehet
period, someone anonymously reported you for cheating