Kicked Out, She Came Back To Rule - Chapter 427: Chapter 427

"What's with that look? You weren't badmouthing me to Kaia, were you?" Tobias narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Penny.
Penny tensed under his glare. "No way! I'd never badmouth you. I was just telling Kaia how amazing you are, she'd be crazy not to treasure you. Guys like you don't just grow on trees!"
Kaia shot Penny a quick, knowing glance but didn't call her out on the lie.
"Thanks," Tobias said. "When Kaia and I get married, I'll make sure you get a massive cash gift."
"I'll be waiting! And it better be big, I don't want it if it's not generous enough!" Penny teased.
"Deal," Tobias replied.
"Alright, you promised." Penny winked.
Kaia could only stare at them, totally speechless. She hadn't even said yes yet, but these two were already treating her wedding like it was set in stone.
Just then, Devin walked over. "Mr. Moreno, all the investors are here, you're the only one missing."
Tobias turned to Kaia. "Come with me? Have a seat beside me?"
"No way, I don't want to be the center of attention," Kaia said, giving him a gentle push. "Go on, you should get in there."
If she actually sat beside the head of the Moreno Group like Tobias wanted, everyone at school would forget about the research contest and make her the main topic of gossip. She'd never get any peace on campus again.
"It's him," Andrea murmured, her brow furrowing as she watched Tobias' figure disappear.
"Who? You actually know that insanely gorgeous guy?" one of her classmates asked, wide-eyed.
"I've seen him around, but I don't really know him." Andrea shrugged.
'Weird… What's Tobias even doing here?' Andrea wondered, glancing in the direction he'd gone. 'And did I just see Kaia hanging out with him? What's going on?'
Come to think of it, during the fall festival, Ruth got a call saying the whole town where Kaia lived was buzzing. Word was, Kaia showed up back home with the billionaire from Morganburg.
Of course, the Bennett family didn't buy it back then.
But now, curiosity gnawing at her. Andrea quietly trailed after Tobias, making sure to keep her distance so he wouldn't notice.
"Let's head in too," Kaia said to Penny.
"I've been dying to get in there, the research contest must be so awesome," Penny replied. She'd barely taken two steps when she spotted Stephen from Dr. Bennett's research institute.
"Professor Weaver, hi!" Penny called out excitedly, hurrying over to greet him. It was only after she greeted him that she realized Jake was standing there too.
"Professor Guzman," she added.
Jake shot a glance at Penny, then at Stephen. "You two know each other?"
"Uh… well…" Penny stammered, instinctively glancing back at Kaia.
She hadn't known Stephen at all until Kaia took her to the research institute last time.
Jake followed Penny's gaze and, when he saw Kaia, his heart skipped a beat.
'Looks like I'm finally getting closer to the truth,' he thought.
Stephen parted his lips, on the verge of saying, "Dr. Bennett—" but caught himself at the last second.
"Hi, Professor Weaver," Kaia said, nodding politely.
Stephen blinked in surprise, then quickly scrambled to recover his composure. "Hello, hello."
Jake didn't look away from Stephen and Kaia, believing he was finally onto the truth.
"You going in too? Come on, let's go together," Stephen suggested.
"Alright," Kaia replied, stepping toward the contest hall.
Stephen waited for Kaia to get ahead before following after her.
Right as he caught up, Joel, still dressed as a bodyguard, immediately shadowed him, sticking close at his side.
Jake gulped, tense, staring first at Stephen, then at the bodyguard built exactly like Joel. 'Wait a second, that's it. Everything adds up now!'
Meanwhile, Andrea quietly slipped into the venue after Tobias, and when she saw him take a seat in the Moreno Group's investor section, her jaw nearly hit the floor.