The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

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Rosie was so stunned she forgot to be scared, her mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

The legendary MOIRE!

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The Rowans were one of the top families in Seaside City, yet her snobbish older sister had begged for ages and still couldn’t get a single WT. piece, not even a freebie.

And Natalie actually had a one-of-a-kind backpack!

Rosie had never really looked at her bag before. Natalie was always so low-key, and the bag looked so worn, just like her, it radiated a simple “don’t bother me” vibe.

Ten minutes later, the car pulled up smoothly at the police line outside the exam center.

Lewis turned around. “Miss Rowan, Miss Moore, the road is blocked ahead. You’ll have to walk from here.”

“Okay.”

The two girls got out. Before they left, Lewis kindly wished them both the best of luck on their SAT exams.

Henry added, “Just do your best.”

Lewis nodded in agreement. Even though Rosie wasn’t much of a student, the exam was just a formality, the Boss would take care of her future regardless.

“Thanks, Uncle Henry!”

Rosie chirped back, her voice much lighter now that she was out of that high-pressure car environment.

Natalie gave another slight nod toward the car as a silent goodbye, then turned and blended into the crowd heading for the gates.

The area was packed with anxious parents and students heading into “battle,” the air thick with nerves.

Rosie took a deep breath, linking arms with Natalie. “Good luck! Natalie, we can do this!”

Natalie kept her pace steady and gave a simple “Mhm,” her calm eyes fixed on the distant entrance.

The black Bentley didn’t leave immediately.

Henry watched the girls’ receding backs through the window.

He saw Rosie chatting excitedly while Natalie responded with an occasional nod.

Natalie dropped her non-exam gear in a locker. She and Rosie were in different buildings.

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Chapter 6

Hers was the one in the back. She didn’t head inside until twenty minutes before the start.

The moment she stepped into the room, there was a collective gasp.

“Holy… she’s gorgeous.”

“Damn, what a look.”

“Isn’t that the school belle from Seaside High? Being in the same room as her for two days is pure luck!”

Natalie ignored the whispers and walked straight to Seat 30 in the corner.

Sensing an unfriendly gaze, she glanced sideways. It was Isabelle Grant.

Isabelle was wearing heavy makeup and a brand-new Dior mini dress.

She flashed a fake smile at Natalie, but since the proctors were already inside, she didn’t speak.

Isabelle hid her jealousy behind a grin and raised a hand to wave, but Natalie just gave her a lazy look and turned away.

Isabelle’s smile froze, her hand hovering awkwardly in mid-air.

Silence spoke volumes. The other students didn’t say anything, but Isabelle could feel their mocking stares.

She was fuming.

Bitch!

How can she show up here so calm and composed after being kicked out with nothing?

By what right?!

She should be a mess, covered in dirt. Honestly, she shouldn’t even have been able to afford the exam!

What really made Isabelle’s skin crawl was Natalie’s face.

Even without a drop of makeup, she was breathtaking, effortlessly drawing every eye in the room. Even the proctors couldn’t help but sneak a few looks.

Compared to Natalie’s natural, cool elegance, Isabelle’s carefully curated outfit and makeup suddenly felt forced and tacky.

Damn her!

What does this brat have? Just that seductive face?

If her dead grandmother hadn’t been blind enough to adopt her, she never would have been able to call

herself a Grant!

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Chapter 6

The Grants gave her a roof, and instead of being grateful, she has the nerve to steal my spotlight!

Isabelle gripped her pen so hard her nails dug into her palms.

Fine, let her take the test. So what?

With her grades, she’s going to be the laughingstock of the city!

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The thought gave her some comfort. She was the rightful eldest daughter of the Grant family. What could a loser like Natalie possibly offer to compete with her?

The exam began as the proctors handed out the papers. First up: Literature.

Natalie took one casual look at the paper and started writing.

Her pen moved with incredible speed, never pausing. It glided across the answer sheet with a steady, rhythmic scratching sound.

She didn’t look like someone taking a life-altering exam; she looked like she was breezing through a simple homework assignment. She was relaxed, almost bored.

Less than an hour in, while Isabelle was still struggling with a classical text translation, she saw Natalie put down her pen out of the corner of her eye.

Without even bothering to double-check, Natalie flipped her paper over and folded her arms on the desk. Then, she rested her head down, clearly settling in for a nap!

Isabelle froze for a second, then a wave of contempt and satisfaction washed over her.

I knew it. She’s a total airhead!

She doesn’t even know how to fake it!

Giving up this early on such an important test and sleeping in public?

The rumors about her being a failing, uneducated delinquent were spot on!

A piece of trash like her doesn’t deserve to be in the same room as me.

Even if you finished early, you were confined to a separate room until the end anyway. Might as well sleep at the desk.

Natalie only woke up when the final bell rang.

She packed her things and stretched her neck just as the proctor finished collecting the papers and announced they could leave.

The gates opened, and students flooded out like a tide.

14:33 Thu, May 14

Chapter 6

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Outside the lines, beside the anxious parents, a swarm of reporters waited to catch the first “scoop” of the day.

Isabelle was immediately surrounded by two reporters as she emerged.

She instantly fixed her expression into a sweet, poised smile for the camera. “The Literature exam was quite fair. The essay prompt was creative and required some deep thought, but I read a lot in my spare time, so it felt pretty smooth…”

Her voice was gentle and her words well-chosen-the perfect image of an honors student.

But before she could finish, a different group of cameras suddenly swiveled elsewhere. Even the reporters interviewing her instinctively turned their heads.

Natalie was strolling out, her backpack slung over one shoulder, unhurried.

Her clean, makeup-free face and cool aura made her stand out like she was under a spotlight.

She looked completely indifferent.

14:33 Thu, May 14