Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 418

Mira scanned the list of universities on the desk. They were elite institutions, but Aethelgard University wasn't among them.

"I still want to take the standard entrance exam."

Even if Aethelgard University offered her a free pass, she wouldn't take it. She wanted to earn her spot the hard way.

The entrance exam wasn't just a hurdle; it was a defining rite of passage. Skipping it felt like leaving high school unfinished.

With her current momentum, if she pushed just a little harder, she could legitimately aim for the title of National Valedictorian.

Doing so wouldn't just guarantee her entry into her dream program—it would generate astronomical hype and capital for Solflare Entertainment.

"With your current academic baseline, as long as you don't make any critical errors, getting into Aethelgard University is well within reach.

"But you have to stay sharp. The entrance exam is a bloodbath. There are geniuses everywhere, and Aethelgard only takes the best."

"I know, Mr. Harth. I'm aiming for perfect scores across the board."

"The national competition in Aethelgard is next week. Make sure your head is in the game."

Mira was the most brilliant student Mr. Harth had ever mentored, and he was deeply invested in her success.

He had been a top-tier scholar in his youth, but he had never seen anyone with Mira's lethal combination of raw intellect and strategic vision.

He couldn't wait to see what she conquered next.

The second semester of senior year was moving at a breakneck pace. March had vanished in a blur, and April was already here. The final entrance exams were only two months away.

In her past life, Mira had been murdered right before the exams. She had never gotten the chance to sit for them, and as a ghost, she hadn't exactly spent her time studying the answer keys.

That meant this test would require genuine, grueling effort. She had to double down.

She put her art and music lessons on hold. She even paused her pharmacological training with Master Ellis, promising to resume after graduation.

Her only non-academic commitment was her daily morning combat training and a weekly sparring session with her mentor.

The next morning at school, Liora—usually bubbly and oblivious—was still sulking and wiping away tears.

"Mira, it's really over. My brother made it official."

She remembered how Liora had snapped at her yesterday and decided it wasn't worth the headache.

But Liora noticed anyway. "What is that look for, Elara?"

"Liora, listen to me," Mira intervened smoothly. "We have exactly two months left until the most important exams of our lives. You cannot afford to lose focus over this.

"Let your brother handle his own drama."

Liora had been entirely checked out of her studies lately, and this was just over her brother's love life.

Mira honestly dreaded to see what would happen when Liora went through her own breakup.

After Liora dragged herself back to her desk, Elara leaned over. "I didn't realize she was such a tragic romantic."

Mira wasn't sure 'tragic romantic' was the right term, but she let it slide.

Now completely unburdened by Xavier, Roxanne threw all her ruthless energy back into the corporate war.

The very next day, Lenny Forbes delivered the intel. "Mira, Mara just successfully stole Ethan's confidential files. The USB drive she used to copy the data was handed to her directly by Roxanne."