Chapter 36 No More Ties
“Alright. One million it is.
Eliza agreed without hesitation. “Once I’ve paid that million, I’ll have nothing more to do with the Rivers family”
With that, she turned and walked straight out of the office.
Henry, worried, followed her out
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Naomi, for her part, was all too happy to see Eliza gone–but then she remembered the upcoming math competition. Grumbling inwardly, she chased after her.
“Elizal
soli and pitiful “Do you really men in
Naomi caught up and grabbed her arm, her voice You want to cut ties with us? Mom was just upset, she didn’t mean what she said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my word.” Eliza replied, pulling her arm back with a calm, detached motion.
She couldn’t even be bothered to fake politeness anymore.
Naomi watched as Eliza walked into Class Six, and gave up trying.
Whatever. As long as Eliza was still willing to help her, she didn’t care if they were “estranged.”
It’d be better if Eliza never came home again.
Inside Class Six
Henry hesitated “Eliza, are you really sure about this? You’re seriously cutting ties?”
“But that’s one million. How are you going to get that kind of money?”
That wasn’t small change.
Eliza was still a high school student–how could she possibly earn that much?
“Don’t worry. I have my ways.”
She’d been waiting for an opening like this for a long time.
And now, she finally had it.
Across the room, Nolan watched the lonely but determined look in Eliza’s eyes, and his expression darkened.
One month passed in a flash.
It was finally the day of the citywide math competition.
Eliza and Nolan boarded the school’s bus together, heading to the test venue.
The whole ride, Nolan just leaned against the window and slept.
While the other students were frantically reviewing formulas and question types, Nolan looked like he couldn’t care less–like this entire competition was just another nap.
Up front, Naomi wore a face mask and had tied her hair into a ponytail–trying her best to look like Eliza.
After all, Eliza was supposed to take the test in her place.
Chapter 36 No More Ties
She had to make sure no one got suspicious
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“You haven’t been coming to any of the tutoring sessions.” Zayden said, handing her his notebook. “You should really go over the formulas and question types. It’ll help you avoid mistakes.”
Naomi nodded sweetly. “Don’t worry, Zayden. I’ll do my best on this competition.”
With Eliza taking the test for her, winning an award was practically guaranteed.
Soon, they arrived at the testing school. Everyone received their exam number tags.
Naomi was on the lookout for a chance to swap with Eliza.
But after looking around for a while, she still couldn’t find her.
She stood alone while the rest of the group began lining up to enter.
Zayden glanced at the steadily moving line of test–takers. “It’s starting soon. Let’s head in.”
L
Naomi’s expression was strained.
If she went in now, how would she switch identities with Eliza
“Zayden, I think I ate something bad. My stomach’s acting up I’m going to the bathroom real quick. I’ll be right back!”
Before he could stop her, Naomi bolted toward the school building.
With the test about to start, missing it wasn’t an option.
Zayden quickly followed her inside.
Inside the building, Naomi hurried through classrooms, scanning every one for Eliza.
Because of the way the test numbers were assigned, Naomi and Eliza weren’t in the same room.
Each school’s students were mixed up to avoid cheating, so being placed in the same room was rare.
Finally, Naomi spotted her–on the second floor, seated near the back of a classroom.
Only five minutes remained until the test began.
Naomi stood at the doorway, coughing repeatedly, trying to catch Eliza’s attention.
But Eliza sat there like she hadn’t heard anything, eyes down, focused on the paper in her hands.
“Student, the papers have already been handed out. Please go to your own room immediately,” the proctor warned from behind
Naomi grew more anxious, hoping Eliza would finally look up.
But Eliza didn’t glance her way once.
“I said return to your own exam room. Now,” the proctor said more sternly.
With no choice, Naomi gristed her teeth and walked back to her own classroom.
Inside, Eliza watched Naomi storm off from the hallway and let a faint smile play on her lips.
Now, she was finally putting everything back where it belonged.
Chapter 36 No More Ties
The test lasted a full 120 minutes.
And for all 120 of those minutes, Naomi squirmed in her seat.
The exam questions were unorthodox–far from the standardized SAT–style problems she’d practiced..
They were tough, and she struggled through every page.
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