Chapter 53
“Mirabella, spill the beans, girl Does your family own an oil field or something?” Jenna’s words dripped with jealousy. With a sly arch of her brow, Mirabella casually picked up her phone, unlocked it with a quick swipe of her thumb, and with Jenna watching, she nonchalantly accepted a tidy sum of ten grand from Delilah and Shawn via Messenger. The sheer audacity of her movements was enough to leave anyone agape.
Jenna’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God!” Oh, how she wanted to murder her desk–mate not only swipe every penny from her Messenger, but also hog her billionaire parents all to herself!
“Ugh, it’s downright maddening to compare yourself to others.” Jenna sighed dramatically, feigning sorrow. “Why can’t I have a pair of filthy–rich parents doting on their princess, huh?”
Mirabella turned her head, flicking her bangs away from her forehead with a nonchalant grace. Her eyes sparkled with an enticing glint as she quipped, “You may not have tycoon parents, but there’s still a chance for you to be a tycoon mommy to some spoiled child.”
Jenna choked on her own laughter and threw her a thumbs–up. Whoever said her desk–mate was just a pretty face must not have heard her razor–sharp wit.
Mulling over the recent rumors, Jenna shifted closer to Mirabella. Her playful expression from moments before was replaced by one of genuine concern. “Speaking of which, there’s some gossip going around about you. Have you heard?”
Mirabella raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “What gossip?”
After pondering for a brief moment, Jenna said, “Rumor has it that your grades are nothing to brag about, that you can’t even match up to the average Joe in class, and that you got into this school through some backdoor shenanigans.”
Parkside High School wasn’t like the neighboring Maple Academy; it was a place for the true academic cream of the crop. The school’s rules were strict, and its principal was famously unbending and iron–fisted. The idea of someone sneaking in through the backdoor was practically unheard of at Parkside.
However, the rumor about Mirabella’s using such means was now the scandalous exception, challenging the integrity of Parkside’s reputation. Rumors are often harmless, but when they attack the honor of an institution, they become a serious matter.
Considering how Mirabella’s parents seemed to be showering her with money transfers daily, Jenna couldn’t help but suspect that there might be a kernel of truth to the whispers of nepotism.
Of course, she’d rather not believe such gossip, especially since her desk–mate’s studious dedication was plain for all to see.
Mirabella, catching Jenna’s conflicted gaze, offered a sly smile and countered, “Do you believe it?”
“Me? Of course not,” Jenna shook her head. “You’re always buried in books. You’re the quintessential bookworm. Anyone could be accused of sneaking in, but you’re the least likely suspect.”
Hearing Jenna’s assessment, Mirabella could only chuckle and shake her head at the girl’s Innocence.
While Mirabella remained utterly unfazed and unconcerned, Jenna voiced her frustration, “How can you be so calm? Wouldn’t any normal person be upset about being bad–mouthed?”
Mirabella gave her a contemplative look before replying in a laid–back tone, “Rumors are squashed by the wise.”
Jenna’s mouth twitched with annoyance. “That’s easy to say, but if this rumor keeps spreading, it could become a real headache. If those idiots take it to the principal, that would be a disaster.”
After a pause, Jenna suddenly remembered something. Her eyes lit up as she faced Mirabella. “Actually, I might just have the perfect way to squash this rumor.”
Mirabella’s eyebrow quirked in interest. “Oh?”
