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Novel Catalog
Chapter 47
Bonnie’s voice broke the silence on the line. “Let’s just forget about that. It’s too much trouble.”
The principal’s enthusiasm deflated almost immediately. “You can go ahead and hang up now, then.”
Bonnie paused, the quiet stretching out between them. Then, in a tone far more serious than before, she said, “I have something important to tell you.”
The principal, intrigued despite himself, responded quickly, “Have you changed your mind?”
“No,” she replied flatly.
He was about to end the call when her voice stopped him again. “I’m going to hang up now,” he said, but she didn’t let him.
She took a breath before speaking again. “Here’s a tip. Stop letting wealthy kids into your university through unconventional means. It’s affecting your institution’s reputation.”
The principal’s interest piqued immediately. Bonnie wasn’t just another student with a complaint; she was speaking with authority, like someone who had been paying attention to the inner workings of Pyralis University.
Bonnie wasn’t done yet. “Ged told me his grandfather is the principal. He could pull some strings to get me in, and Ivor said the same. But you need to clean up your act. The longer you turn a blind eye to this, the more people will try to buy their way in, and your reputation will be shot.”
The principal, still processing her words, nodded slowly, as though seeing the bigger picture for the first time. “You’re right,” he admitted, sounding resigned. “I can’t afford to ignore this any longer. If we don’t change things now, we’ll just keep encouraging illegitimate enrollment. It’s time for a stricter approach.”
That was all Bonnie needed to hear. She ended the conversation without a word of thanks, leaving the principal to ponder her advice.
The next morning, an official announcement was released on the university’s social media accounts. It stated:
“Pyralis University will screen its applicants more strictly, ensuring that no illegitimate means will be tolerated in the enrollment process.”
The statement sent shockwaves throughout Pyralis and beyond. For years, it had been an open secret that certain students could buy their way into the university through connections or donations. Now, that loophole was being closed. But the sudden change raised questions—why now? What had sparked this shift?
Ivor read the news with a furrowed brow. He had just promised Bonnie that he could get her into Pyralis University, but now, with the rules tightening, that promise was going to be much harder to keep.
This news wasn’t just a problem for Ivor; it sent ripples through the entire community. Parents who had been planning to pay their way to secure spots for their children were suddenly in a panic. Everyone was asking the same question: What had happened?
But no one knew that it was all because of Bonnie’s intervention.
When Trina saw the news, she couldn’t have been happier. She had been worried that her parents might use their connections to get Bonnie into the university and save face. But now, everything was working in her favor. Bonnie, that “trash,” was going to have to face the consequences. After all, anyone could study hard and get into college, but Trina was sure that Bonnie would never be able to pull it off.
The SATs began as scheduled. As the test came to an end, Bonnie walked out of the venue, scanning the crowd. There, across the road, she spotted a Maybach parked in front of the entrance. As she walked over, the door opened, and Ivor stepped out, holding an umbrella for her.
The women around them couldn’t help but stare, their eyes filled with envy. A handsome man was meeting Bonnie after her SATs, treating her like a queen. It seemed like Bonnie had won the game of life, and they were none too pleased about it.
Bonnie overheard one of them mutter under her breath, “Heh. All she cares about is dating. I’m sure she’s going to do poorly on the SATs.”
Excuse me, but I’ll be the highest scorer on the SATs, Bonnie thought to herself, stifling a grin.
Ivor raised an eyebrow at her teasingly. “When did you get here?” she asked, playing along.
“I never left,” he said smoothly, handing her a milkshake. Bonnie looked at the cup in her hand and grinned. It was a banana milkshake—her favorite.
“You always say milkshakes aren’t good for us,” she remarked.
“Well, you like it,” Ivor said with a shrug. “I guess it’s okay to indulge every now and then.”
Bonnie took a sip, the cool sweetness spreading over her tongue. It was just what she needed. Ivor watched her intently, his gaze soft and full of appreciation. She looked so serene, sipping the milkshake like a kitten lapping at milk.
As she finished the last drop, Ivor’s slender fingers reached toward her face. Before she could ask what he was doing, he gently wiped a small smudge of milkshake from her lips. The touch was surprisingly intimate, and Bonnie’s skin tingled where he had brushed against her.
Her eyes widened slightly at the unexpected sensation. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice betraying a mix of surprise and confusion.
“I’m wiping some milkshake off your face,” Ivor replied, his tone straight-faced, though the glimmer of humor in his eyes made it clear he was enjoying the moment.
Bonnie, feeling oddly self-conscious, quickly collected herself. There was something about the way he was looking at her—something that made her feel both flustered and frustrated. She turned away without saying anything else and climbed into the car, settling into the seat with a sigh.
Ivor’s voice broke through the silence as he reached into a bag. “Here,” he said, offering her a slice of cake.
Bonnie blinked in surprise, but when she looked at the cake, her surprise melted away. It was a delicate slice of strawberry shortcake, her favorite. The gesture was simple, but it made her feel oddly cherished. She smiled softly and took a bite, savoring the sweetness as Ivor watched her quietly.
There was something about him—something that made her heart flutter in a way she couldn’t quite explain.