Chapter 317

Anastasia narrowed her eyes.
“All right, Penelope, you may continue,” Mr. Jerome instructed.
Penelope started again, and everyone expected her to stumble over her words just like before.
But to everyone’s surprise, while Penelope was a little hesitant at first, it didn’t take long before she found her rhythm. Soon, she was reciting the passage with growing fluency, her voice steady and sure.
“What’s going on?” Maggie gasped. “Did Penelope swap brains with someone or what?”
Juliet frowned, unsettled by the sudden change.
The other students stared at Penelope in disbelief.
Shirley’s confidence returned. She shot Anastasia a cold, triumphant smile. “Told you. Penelope was just feeling a bit under the weather earlier.”
That explanation was enough for most people. After all, Penelope had always done well before-maybe she’d just had a rough start because she wasn’t feeling well. The idea seemed plausible.
Suddenly, those who had been rooting for Anastasia grew anxious. A moment ago, it looked like Penelope was about to lose. But now, with her reciting so smoothly, could Anastasia really win if the contest continued?
Out of everyone, only Anastasia remained unchanged. She didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. But when Penelope was about halfway through, Anastasia suddenly raised her hand.
“Excuse me, Headmaster. Sorry to interrupt, but I just remembered something important I forgot to do.”
All eyes turned to Anastasia.
Shirley sneered, “What’s so important? Don’t tell me you’re scared and just trying to buy time?”
“Please, what’s the point of stalling? If you’re going to lose, you’re going to lose. Maybe use this time to prepare yourself for your punishment-we can’t wait to see you make good on your promise.”
Anastasia ignored Shirley and her little sidekick. Unhurried, she replied, “I just remembered I forgot to set out the signal jammer I brought.” ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ
A signal jammer?
The others looked baffled, but Shirley and Penelope’s faces changed instantly.
Noticing their reactions, Anastasia smiled lightly at them, then addressed Mr. Jerome, “To prevent anyone from cheating, I brought a signal jammer in advance. I just forgot to set it up. May I do so now, sir?”
It was just a harmless little contest-Mr. Jerome doubted anyone would go as far as cheating. Still, since Anastasia had come prepared and there was no real reason to refuse, he nodded. “Go ahead and set it up.”
Anastasia signaled to her cousin.
She’d given the device to Juliet earlier, and since Juliet hadn’t heard anything about it, she’d assumed it wasn’t needed. But now, seeing Anastasia’s cue, she immediately understood. Juliet was quick; she almost instantly grasped what her cousin intended, and she felt nearly certain what had caused Penelope’s sudden turnaround.
Once the jammer was activated and set in place, Juliet’s eyes went straight to Penelope.
Anastasia looked at her too, lips curling into a faint smile. “Penelope, you may continue.”
Penelope’s face went stiff. She opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.
“Why isn’t she reciting?” The crowd started whispering, glancing at each other. Under the growing pressure, Penelope’s complexion turned pale, and sweat began to bead on her forehead again.
Shirley’s expression darkened. She was about to speak up when Anastasia’s voice floated in, calm and slow-
“Are you not feeling well again?”
Before Penelope could reply, Anastasia continued, her tone cool as ever, “You were perfectly fine a moment ago. But the second I switched on the signal jammer, you suddenly aren’t feeling well and can’t even say a word? Isn’t that just a little too convenient?”