The Coma Prince’s Fiancée novel Chapter 88

The checkpoints came one after another, each gate swallowing her a little deeper into the campus. Rebecca kept her face still, but her stomach tightened. There was no turning back now, not when she was already here, or Wade would track her down and hassle her for it.

Paulina, meanwhile, seemed weirdly happy to spot Rebecca standing uncertainly at the entrance of Apex Academy. Paulina’s smile only got brighter as she strolled over, acting like she owned the place.

Go on, Rebecca. Be jealous. This is somewhere you’ll never, ever get to set foot in.

“Rebecca, were you waiting for me? Sorry, I walk slow. The prep program you’re in is over in the first building, not here at Apex. I’ll walk you over.”

“Let’s get moving then. If we wait any longer, we’ll be late.” Irvin chimed in, already familiar with Rebecca’s academic record so he didn’t think twice. He reached for her suitcase.

“No thanks,” Rebecca said, dodging him. “This is where I’m supposed to check in.”

Paulina shot her a look, pure mockery in her eyes. So this was how she wanted to play it?

Her voice sharpened. “Rebecca, are you sure you read that right? Apex Academy isn’t where new students check in. You’d have to ace a bunch of tough exams just to be considered here. I know you’re dying to be someone special, to make Mom and Dad proud, but you have to be realistic. This is a one-step-at-a-time kind of place.”

Rebecca heard the fake sweetness in her words and felt her patience thin. “Wasn’t embarrassing me earlier enough for you?” she asked coldly.

Paulina faltered, then forced another sweet smile. “Look, there’s no need to get upset. If you really want to get into Apex Academy, I can talk to Wade. Maybe he’ll pull some strings.”

People around them started murmuring, clearly on Paulina’s side.

“Who does she think she is, talking to Paulina like that? Just because Wade noticed her, she thinks she’s some big shot…”

“Seriously. At Vantage Point University, physical stats are the baseline. Does she really think breaking some fitness record gets her into Apex?”

“What a joke. Wade was just being nice to her and now she acts like she’s on his level.”

“Apex Academy? In her dreams. How’s a dropout from a no-name school even hoping for a spot here?”

Their laughter was loud and harsh. Even Magee looked at her disapprovingly.

Rebecca just rolled her eyes and glared at Paulina. “Was it you who spread those rumors?”

Paulina, happy to see the crowd turn on Rebecca, put on an innocent face the moment she was questioned. “No, Rebecca, I didn’t go telling everyone. I just mentioned your situation so people would keep an eye out for you.”

Rebecca shot him an icy look, her eyes full of cool defiance. “If you’re going to pretend you didn’t see that, don’t insult my intelligence.”

Magee, so used to getting his way here, turned red with anger, but before he could say another word, the scanner let out a telltale beep. The gate slid open.

For a moment, the world seemed to freeze. Everyone exchanged looks, silent and stunned.

They stared at Rebecca like she’d just rewritten the rules.

Paulina’s fists clenched. This wasn’t possible. Rebecca only got into Vantage Point because Paulina had recommended her. No way she made it into Apex on her own. Did her parents pull strings?

She went pale just thinking about it. All that for a little family connection? Did her parents really not care what people said?

Rebecca, finally free of their noise, held up her acceptance letter and waved it at them, grin spreading across her face. “See you around,” Rebecca said lightly, and walked through without looking back.

Their shock melted into rage, but it didn’t matter. No tantrum or insult could slow Rebecca’s calm, steady stride as she walked into Apex Academy.