Chapter 222
Mr. Hammond’s gaze flickered with a hint of something different upon hearing Summer’s explanation. His mouth curled into a half–smile before he turned and walked to the window, standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
“I’m rather curious to know what your father would have to say about all this,” he remarked with a detached tone.
Summer watched Mr. Hammond’s silhouette against the window, with a flicker of unease stirring in her heart. Yet, recalling her father’s reassuring text message, she allowed herself to
relax.
Morgan considered for a moment before suggesting. “Should we invite Miss Mirabella to join us? To clarity things face–to–face?”
To have her witness how her foster family slandered her?
Mr. Hammond didn’t turn around. His gaze was fixed outside, and his voice was resolute. “No need.”
Relief loosened Summer’s tense grip upon hearing his words.
It wasn’t long before Colton arrived at the school, stepping into the office with a genial smile on his broad, square–jawed face. “Apologies for the delay. Got caught in a bit of a traffic snarl.”
Summer opened her mouth to speak, but Colton shot her a glance, signaling her to bide her time. He was no stranger to Mr. Hammond, so he addressed him directly. His voice was laden with regret. “Mr. Hammond, I’m truly sorry for the commotion caused by my foster daughter at the school. The truth of the matter is…”
Colton’s version echoed Summer’s, but his words carried an air of authenticity, especially when he touched upon Mirabella’s academic performance, emphasizing her struggles. “To be frank, my foster daughter’s grades were at the bottom of the barrel back in our hometown. But now, she insists on joining this national competition. I as a father made the grave mistake of helping her cheat,” Colton said, shaking his head in feigned remorse.
Mr. Hammond studied Colton, with a barely perceptible sneer playing at the corners of his mouth. Just as Colton was gearing up to add more, Mr. Hammond interjected. “Are you suggesting Miss Mirabella is a poor student?”
Caught off guard, Colton nodded, “Indeed, I won’t lie – she barely got accepted into the county high school after a lot of… effort on our part.”
The implication of “effort” was clear to any discerning ear it hinted at monetary influence.
Morgan, initially hoping to validate his fair treatment of students through Colton’s words, found. himself frowning deeper with each passing moment. Cheating in a competition was one thing. but bragging about bribing one’s way into high school was quite another.
Summer, observing the peculiar expressions on both Mr. Hammond and Morgan’s faces,
1/2
12:11
Chapter 222
immediately realized her father had misspoken. She hadn’t mentioned to him Mirabella’s repeated academic triumphs.
About to speak up, Summer was cut off by Mr. Hammond’s voice, “How fortunate then, for I too put considerable effort into recruiting Miss Mirabella into Parkside High School.”
Colton’s face was a picture of bewilderment. “But, but how can that be? You’re not joking. Mr. Hammond? My foster daughter’s grades…”
Parkside High School was no ordinary institution – a prestigious school ranked within the top five nationally, with an admission of only the elite among elites. Now Mr. Hammond was claiming he personally went to great lengths to enroll his foster daughter there? The notion seemed fantastical utterly nonsensical to Colton, and he felt his world spin. He might not have paid much attention to her academics, but he knew the extent of her capabilities.
Mr. Hammond’s laughter held a tinge of derision. His authoritative demeanor was now tinged with sarcasm. “Are you implying, Mr. Colton, that I, the principal of Parkside High School, lack the basic ability to judge talent?”
