Kicked Out, She Came Back To Rule - Chapter 424: Chapter 424

Howard let out a long sigh, looking at his granddaughter with as much exasperation as he could muster.
Then he thought about Kaia, who was around Yvonne's age. The gap between them was just unbelievable. Anyone with a granddaughter like her would be proud.
"The Bennett family..." Howard muttered, "one day, they'll regret it."
As soon as Kaia walked back into the party hall, she nearly bumped right into Tobias.
"What's got you in such a hurry?" Kaia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I was looking for you," Tobias said, and those words made Kaia's heart skip a beat.
"I'm not some toddler, you know. I was only gone for a few minutes, did you really think I'd wander off and get lost?" she teased.
"Yeah, I am worried. Worried enough to want to keep you right by my side, maybe even tie you to me so I never lose sight of you," Tobias replied with a playful grin.
"Hey, don't think I'm some trinket you can hang on yourself," Kaia retorted, rolling her eyes.
"But you are. My own personal one, made just for me," Tobias shot back, looking smug.
Kaia had always prided herself on her mental fortitude, and lately, her resistance to men had gotten much better. Yet in this moment, she couldn't help but blush, and her heart skipped a beat.
"I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat," she said.
"Sure, I'll come with you," Tobias replied, sticking close by her side.
He doted on Kaia endlessly, getting her anything she wanted the instant her eyes lingered on it.
If Kaia didn't put her foot down, he'd probably be hand-feeding her in a heartbeat.
"Huh?" Tobias murmured in confusion after checking his phone.
"What's up?" Kaia asked.
Tobias showed Kaia his phone. "Got some insider news, Morganburg University is making it easier for the elite families to get in."
"Oh, really? Didn't know that." Kaia acted so well, even she almost bought her own story.
"The research competition is the day after tomorrow, right?" Tobias asked.
"You planning to show up?" Kaia turned to him.
"Yeah, the Moreno Group is one of the sponsors this time, so of course I'll be there," Tobias replied.
"So basically, the plan is to take advantage of the competition and slide some of your family's kids into university?" Kaia said, raising an eyebrow.
"That's not the real reason, though. I want a chance to meet the new president," Tobias said.
Kaia's gaze sharpened instinctively at his words. "Why are you so determined to meet the new president?"
"Because I have reason to believe the new president is more than just loosely connected to Dr. Bennett," Tobias said slowly. "And I'm not the only one, people are already speculating, and they'll do whatever it takes to get into Morganburg University."
Kaia held her tongue. Right now, saying less was definitely smarter.
She tried to distract herself by nibbling at her food, hoping Tobias wouldn't catch on to her nerves.
"So, you and Dr. Bennett's institute, there's something going on there, isn't there?" Tobias prodded.
Kaia instantly recognized that he was testing the waters.
"Yeah, we've got a pretty solid connection," she replied casually.
"Oh? So what exactly is that connection?" Tobias gave her a shrewd glance, trying to read her.
Kaia met his gaze, her eyes cool and crystal clear. "I'd prefer not to get into specifics. Since it's tied to the institute, I'm pretty sure you know why I'd rather keep it vague."
"Okay, you don't wanna say? I won't pry." Tobias shrugged. "So, you're not thinking about entering the research competition the day after tomorrow?"
Kaia chuckled. "I'm a computer science major. Why would I care about the competition?"
"You're so good at scientific research, even my genius little brother is dying to call you his mentor. If you signed up for the research competition, taking first place would be a total cakewalk for you.
"That way, you'd get an internship at Dr. Bennett's institute, and before long, you'd be a full-fledged member," Tobias said, sounding absolutely certain.