Chapter 329

“Is that so? And?” Charlotte stood there, completely unbothered. Her pale, flawless face showed no trace of panic, just a hint of boredom.
The man with glasses hesitated, thrown by her calm. He cleared his throat and continued, “Someone claims you got the test paper and answers before the exam. Is it true?”
Before Charlotte could say anything, the man in the suit next to him jumped in. “You scored perfectly in every subject except Literature. You lost thirty points there. Top students don’t usually mess up a subject like that.”
“This is a big deal,” the first man said, his tone serious. “Think about your answer before you speak.”
Everyone’s attention locked onto Charlotte.
“If you didn’t do it, just say so,” Eleanor whispered, trying to reassure her.
The principal stayed quiet, but his brow was pinched tight. He didn’t know what to think. Charlotte was recommended by Mr. Lane, and she’d already come first in physics. He knew she was capable. But being number one in the whole country? He couldn’t quite believe it was possible.
“I didn’t,” Charlotte said, her voice steady.
Didn’t? The man with glasses let out a cold laugh. “I gave you a chance to be honest. Since you won’t admit it, we’ll let the evidence decide.” He set his laptop on the table. “Charlotte, tell me your email and password.”
Charlotte barely looked up. “3267136
As he typed in the information, everyone except Charlotte seemed to stop breathing. The rumor was the exam and answers were sitting in her inbox. One click would settle it.
The inbox loaded. Only one email was there. The subject line screamed out: Exam Paper and Answers. The timestamp? The day before the test.
Eleanor’s heart hammered in her chest. She felt a wave of cold run through her. How was this possible?
“Charlotte, this is your email. The
paper
and answers were received the day before the exam.” The man with glasses stared her down, his words slow and deliberate.” The evidence is right here. What do you have to say for yourself?”
He leaned in. “Tell us. Besides you, who else did you share this with?”
His tone was sharp, no room for escape. Cheating on a national exam meant being
banned from graduating and barred from important exams for three years. That was three years of her life, gone.
Meanwhile, in Class A, Nancy
in-Gla
strutted into the classroom, grinning
from ear to ear. She’d just been
eavesdropping outside the
het
principal’s office and had caught the
entire confrontation. With proof like that, Charlotte was done for.
Even if she had a dozen excuses, no one would believe her. The test was in her
email. Who could say she hadn’t opened it? No one.
“Olivia Nancy slid into the seat
beside her friend, excitement bubbling in her voice. “Charlotte’s about to get kicked out, and she won’t be able to take any exams för three years.”
Olivia’s lips curled in the faintest smile as she put on her best innocent look. “She really cheated? No wonder she got such good scores.”
“Exactly,” Nancy said, nodding. “Once Charlotte is gone, you’ll be the real national number one.”
A cold glint flashed in Olivia’s eyes. That top spot should’ve been hers all along.