When classes let out at Kingsford No. 1 High School, the entrance was swarming with students. Jean Quincy wasn’t trying to be quiet, so naturally, so people nearby heard what she said.
That included so seniors who weren’t staying for evening study hall.
Aurora Sinclair faltered for a mont but didn’t turn around, pretending she hadn’t heard. This infuriated Jean Quincy, who was about to say more when Zeke Quincy stopped her. "Can’t you see Butler Sinclair is here?"
Only then did Jean Quincy notice an elderly man standing beside the Sinclair family car—it was Butler Sinclair, Master Sinclair’s most trusted confidant. She imdiately quieted down.
Butler Sinclair, a perpetual smile on his face, opened the car door to welco Aurora Sinclair. Before getting in himself, he glanced back dispassionately at Jean Quincy. He didn’t say a word, but the look alone made her flinch.
***
In the Vice Dean’s office at the Academy of History.
Erin Archer, holding her teacup, glanced at the man across from her and teased, "I heard from Greene that the girl’s grades are quite good. So why are you having her co for tutoring every day? What are you really up to?"
Alvin Morgan, who was reading, glanced up at her. "What could I possibly be up to?"
"Oh, I’m sure I have no idea..."
Erin Archer suppressed a smile.
Alvin Morgan was her own ntor’s grandson. He was normally so low-key he was practically invisible, so for him to proactively ask her to tutor a high school senior was genuinely shocking.
"Sir, I’m back with the chicken leg rice. I also bought a cupcake—Young Master Lockwood said it’s her favorite!" Beta Morgan was the most perceptive of the Morgan Mr.s, always knowing exactly how to please his master.
Sure enough, a flicker of approval showed in Alvin Morgan’s eyes.
Before long, Butler Sinclair arrived at the office door with Aurora Sinclair.
Butler Sinclair hadn’t seen them last ti, so upon seeing them today, he assud they were Erin Archer’s students. He gave them a kindly smile before placing the paper bag in his hands on her desk.
"Professor Archer, I’ll entrust our Second Miss to your care. This is just a small token of our esteem, nothing grand."
The gift bag was identical to the one they had given Chester Greene the day before.
Master Sinclair had been worrying himself sick over Aurora Sinclair’s tutoring, terrified that if their etiquette was found lacking, the professors wouldn’t give her their best effort.
Erin Archer didn’t decline the gift and politely saw Butler Sinclair to the door.
"Let’s eat first." Alvin Morgan set down his book, stood, and walked over to Aurora Sinclair, pulling up a chair and sitting right beside her.
Aurora Sinclair stared at him for a mont, then abruptly scooted her chair a little farther away before sitting down.
Erin Archer almost burst out laughing at the sight. ’Did Alvin Morgan just get snubbed by a high school girl?’
Alvin Morgan glanced at the new distance between them, his brow knitting slightly. He said nothing, simply lowering his head and looking at his phone.
A mont later, Beta Morgan received a text from his master.
Find out what happened at school.
Beta Morgan: ...
’The overprotective dad mode is activated again!’
After Aurora Sinclair left, Alvin Morgan reviewed the contents of the Kingsford No. 1 High School forum that Beta Morgan had forwarded to him.
The top three trending threads were all about Aurora Sinclair. One, a "bombshell" post, even claid she was the Sinclair Family’s illegitimate daughter.
Alvin Morgan imdiately opened his laptop. With a few casual keystrokes, every post and comnt about Aurora Sinclair on the entire forum was permanently deleted.
Beta Morgan silently said a prayer for Kingsford No. 1 High School.
"Who from the Morgan Family attends Kingsford No. 1 High School?"
Beta Morgan: ...
"Sir, I’ll find out right away!"
In less than three minutes, Beta Morgan was back, reading from his phone. "Two kids from the Morgan Family’s branch lines are at Kingsford No. 1 High—a sophomore and a senior."
Alvin Morgan gave him a dispassionate look, and Beta Morgan instantly understood the unspoken command. "I’ll make the arrangents!"
***
「The next day.」
Senior Class 6.
Miles Lawson, the guy who knew everything happening in the school, dropped a bombshell the mont he walked into class.
"Hey guys, the school didn’t delete the threads about Aurora Sinclair! It was a hacker!"
Last night, all the threads about Aurora Sinclair on the Kingsford No. 1 High School student forum were deleted. You couldn’t even post her na—it beca a blocked phrase. So everyone figured the school had stepped in.
Miles Lawson continued, "It’s not public knowledge. I just heard it from the guy who runs the forum!"
"For real?"
"Totally. He didn’t delete any threads yesterday. It was only when the computer science teacher checked that they found traces of a hack into the school’s intranet." Miles Lawson glanced cautiously out the classroom door as he spoke.
"So? What did the school do?"
Miles Lawson glanced at the classroom door again, lowering his voice. "The principal said not to worry about it, and the whole thing was just dropped. I’m guessing the Sinclairs hired soone..."
"Holy shit! Are the Sinclairs that badass?"
"So it’s true, rich people can do whatever they want! I’ll admit, I’m salty."
"But wait, don’t you guys think it’s weird? Why would the Sinclair Family hire a hacker to delete threads?"
Suddenly, a girl looked toward Aurora Sinclair’s desk and voiced the question on everyone’s mind.
"You don’t think it was because of that thread about her being an illegitimate daughter, do you?"
"I’m a hundred percent sure that’s why! Aurora Sinclair can’t be an illegitimate daughter. Otherwise, why would the Sinclairs hire Professor Greene as her private tutor?"
"Yeah, and I heard a girl from the art track say that Jean Quincy once ntioned she had a cousin who was sent to the mountains to learn martial arts as a kid. You don’t think that was Aurora Sinclair, do you?"
As soon as the words were out, everyone in Class 6 turned to look at Aurora Sinclair’s desk, their faces full of awe.
"No wonder the Sinclairs hired a hacker!"
"Hacking what threads?" Mona Lowell and Mandy Warren, who had just walked in, happened to overhear.
A girl who was on good terms with them quickly recapped the class discussion, and the smile on Mona Lowell’s face dimd.
Mandy Warren rolled her eyes. "Who’s to say she isn’t just an illegitimate daughter who finally got acknowledged?"
At that mont, Alex Warren, who had been playing a ga in the back, shot her a look. "Yesterday, Jean Quincy called Aurora Sinclair ’Second Cousin.’ Several of us heard her."
The other troublemakers sitting near him, who hadn’t joined the conversation, all nodded in agreent.
"Seems like they get along great!"
Mandy Warren still wasn’t convinced, but seeing Aurora Sinclair walk in with her schoolbag, she just scoffed and shut up.
***
During the lunch break, Mandy Warren ran into the Class 6 classroom, eager to share the latest scoop she’d gotten from Jean Quincy with Mona Lowell.
Noticing Aurora Sinclair wasn’t at her desk, she raised her voice considerably.
"Mona! I just asked Jean Quincy about Aurora Sinclair’s real story."
At this, nearby students crowded around, asking eagerly, "So what’s the story? Is she really the Sinclairs’ illegitimate daughter?"
"No, but she’s the most cursed person in the Sinclair Family!" Mandy Warren said, glancing at Aurora Sinclair’s empty desk with a look of revulsion.
Luna Jennings imdiately grew agitated. "Mandy Warren, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
Mandy Warren sneered at her. "Hey, I’m not the one saying it! Jean Quincy told herself. She said Aurora Sinclair brings misfortune to everyone around her—that she was the reason her own parents died, and that’s why the Sinclairs sent her away..."
She hadn’t even finished her sentence when—CRASH! Ethan Lowell shot to his feet, his face dark and nacing. His cold gaze was locked on her, and the desk in front of him lay overturned on the floor.
It had knocked over several other desks in front of it, which now lay toppled like dominoes—a testant to the force of his action.
With books and papers scattered across the floor, everyone in the room was frozen in fear.
Alex Warren ripped off his headphones and glared at Mandy Warren. "What fucking century are you living in, still spouting that superstitious bullshit?" he sneered. "Are you a fucking idiot?"
Mandy Warren’s face went pale with fright, and she was too scared to utter a word.
Ethan Lowell tilted his chin up slightly, his gaze sweeping over Mona Lowell and the girls beside her. Without a word, he turned and walked out the back door of the classroom.
Alex Warren scrunched up his nose, then pointed to his own head. "Try using this once in a while before you gossip," he said, his tone biting. "Born under a bad sign? Looks to like you were born without a brain!"
Soone couldn’t hold back a snort, and the classroom instantly erupted in uproarious laughter.
Mandy Warren bit her lip, her face flushing with humiliation as she stared daggers at the back door.
***
In the stairwell.
Ethan Lowell trudged up the stairs, hands in his pockets and a grim expression on his face.
Seeing Aurora Sinclair, he was reminded of his own past.
His parents had been in love, but because his mother ca from an ordinary background, the Lowell Family had refused to approve the match. His father was forced to marry a woman of equal status from one of the Great Families.
As a result, he’d been branded an illegitimate son from a young age. Only after his mother passed away did his father finally bring him into the Lowell household.
Back then, to debase his standing, his father’s wife had spread rumors that he was a jinx who would bring ruin to the Lowell Family. As a result, Master Lowell had grown to intensely dislike him.
If that woman hadn’t later beco unable to bear children, Master Lowell would never have agreed to let him return to carry on the family line...
Alex Warren, his face full of indignation, complained as they climbed, "Boss, that Jean Quincy has a seriously nasty mouth. And they’re supposed to be family..."
Ethan Lowell’s brow was furrowed. He let out a cold laugh. "Family? Hah..."
His face was a mask of pure derision.
***
The quietest place at Kingsford No. 1 High School was the rooftop of the main academic building. Ethan Lowell and his crew always hung out there to play gas, and eventually, other students learned to stay away.
The two of them followed the familiar path up the stairs to the roof.
The mont they pushed open the door to the rooftop, they saw a familiar figure sitting on the concrete, engrossed in a book.
Quiet. A bit lonely.
"Sinclair? What are you doing here?" Alex Warren asked, clearly surprised.
Aurora Sinclair glanced back at them, closed her book, and got to her feet with deliberate slowness, heading for the door.
Her reflexes were clearly lightning-fast, yet her ordinary movents were oddly slow. Her walk, in particular, was almost slower than an elderly person’s. Sotis Alex Warren felt antsy just watching her.
Her expression was cold, her eyes distant. She offered them a simple nod of greeting and then prepared to leave with her book.
Alex Warren quickly stepped in front of her.
"Whoa, why are you leaving? Just keep reading. We only ca up to check out the view..."
But she just regarded them calmly for a mont. Then she slowly pulled two yellow talismans from her pocket, handed one to each of them, and deftly slipped past to leave the rooftop.
"This... what’s this supposed to an?" Alex Warren was completely baffled by her actions.
Ethan Lowell stared at the yellow talisman in his hand, his expression shifting rapidly. He clenched it in his fist. "She believes she’s a jinx!"
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