The Coma Prince’s Fiancée novel Chapter 167

Watching Rebecca single-handedly reverse the room's dynamic with a few sentences—and seeing the undeniable shift in Magee's eyes—Paulina felt a venomous spike of jealousy threatening to consume her.

But she expertly masked her fury. Keeping her voice soft and innocent, she said, “I was worried Rebecca was going to get bullied. I didn't expect her to be so bold about her connection to President Lane. I just hope flaunting it like that doesn't cause trouble for him.”

Magee found her words slightly jarring, though he couldn't immediately pinpoint why. Rebecca had explicitly stated that Wade recruited her. That meant they knew each other beforehand and had some sort of private connection. That had to be what Paulina meant by “connection,” right?

He paused. “If my great-uncle actually cared, he would have issued a statement. The fact that he hasn't means he doesn't give a damn. Don't worry about it. If Rebecca really is that talented, it's a win for the university.”

Paulina knew how deeply Magee revered Wade. She had assumed her subtle implication that Rebecca was a shameless social climber would disgust him. Hearing him defend her instead felt like a slap to the face. The rage screaming in her chest nearly broke her perfectly curated facade.

It took immense effort for her to force out a few words. “Yeah, you're right.”

Meanwhile, the boy who had mocked Candace realized his own allies had folded. Humiliated and stripped of his pride, he muttered stubbornly, “She's got a big mouth, but this exam tests talent, not talking. People with no real skill should just take the criticism and shut up. Acting tough now won't save her when she loses everything later.”

Rebecca cast a look of pure contempt his way, throwing his exact words back at him. “People with no real skill should just take the criticism and shut up. Make sure you keep your ears open when the results come out.”

“This is an exam area! What are you all doing gathered around causing a scene?” the teacher snapped as he emerged from the hallway, having just consulted the judges.

The crowd instantly scattered like startled birds.

Garnett stared back, entirely unafraid. “Bring everything you have. We'll see who gets the last laugh.”

From a distance, Paulina watched Gavin's unshakeable confidence and felt a fraction of her anxiety dissipate.

Gavin, you better not let me down.

Just as she was about to look away, she caught Rebecca staring directly at her with a knowing, predatory smirk. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly averted her eyes, pretending to look elsewhere.

In her peripheral vision, Rebecca's smirk only grew wider.