Orphan To Unbreakable Queen - Chapter 144: Chapter 144

"Tsk, with scores like that, Dad and Bryan must be thrilled, huh?" Trevor said, more amused than anything else—he clearly enjoyed the drama.
With such stellar grades and an inspiring comeback story, Aubree was bound to be swarmed by reporters. Rithol High School was destined to become the center of a media frenzy today.
Alice's expression darkened. She had been counting on Carmen's stellar exam results to help her regain some standing with Ronald—there was no way she would let Ronald marry Carmen off in an arranged marriage. But now, her own position in the Wilson family had become downright precarious.
What Aubree said at the hospital last time had clearly planted a seed of doubt in Ronald's heart. Alice had tried to dodge the issue afterward, but she still ended up having a conversation with Ronald about it.
Alice's abandonment of Aubree was a fact, but whether her supposed breakdown had been real or just a cover, whether adopting Carmen had been coincidence or calculation—those things could not be proven. Alice pushed the blame for abandoning Aubree onto her PTSD. At least on the surface, Ronald had no choice but to accept that explanation.
Alice had no idea that Ronald had secretly ordered a DNA test on her and Carmen. Now, things between Alice and Ronald were extremely delicate, every interaction laced with unspoken tension.
Trevor's right,' Alice thought. 'Now that Ronald regrets how he treated Aubree, he'll no doubt be the first to rush to Rithol High School and act like the doting father.'
"We should go to Rithol High School too!" Alice said through gritted teeth. She had to see it for herself—there was no way she would believe Aubree could outshine Carmen, whom she had spent decades carefully nurturing!
Daxton's expression darkened, and he clenched his fists tightly. 'That bitch! Carmen had done so well—this was her chance to finally get Dad's attention. But she just had to outdo Carmen and steal all the limelight!' he thought furiously. 'Can't Aubree just let Carmen be happy for once?'
"Carmen, let's go see for ourselves," he said.
Trevor strolled along behind the others, slipping on sunglasses and a baseball cap—he was not about to miss this spectacle.
When the SAT scores came out, Aubree, Alvin, and Matilda agreed to check their results together. The three of them met at Alvin's place in Forith Bay, in his gaming room where two computers were set up. Aubree and Alvin checked their scores first while Matilda waited her turn, the room buzzing with anticipation.
When Aubree's scores came out, even Alvin could not help but do a double-take. He had always prided himself on being sharp-witted, and until now, the only person who had ever truly earned his respect was his uncle, Bowen—in Alvin's eyes, Bowen was practically inhuman, a real freak of nature.
And now, there was yet another one—Aubree!
"Sometimes I honestly wonder if you're even human. Where do you get all these creative ideas? And on top of that, you're way too smart," Alvin said.
Aubree chuckled. "Don't be too amazed. I'm the legend you'll never catch up to."
Alvin rolled his eyes, speechless, and checked his own score—it was just as impressive. Even as an art student, Carmen's results were already something to brag about, but Alvin's were a whole tier above hers.
"Wow, coming from the guy who's always asleep in class and never touches a pen. Didn't think you had it in you, Alvin." Aubree had expected Alvin's grades to be decent, but this was unreal. If the other students at Rithol High School found out, they would probably lose it.
Alvin scoffed. "Pfft, I mastered the school curriculum ages ago."
Alvin always had one-on-one tutoring from renowned painting masters. 'The only exception was when Uncle Bowen lost his mind and got Aubree to tutor me,' he thought.
Matilda was also thrilled about their excellent scores. "Congratulations to you both! With results like these, getting into your dream colleges is pretty much guaranteed now," she said.
"Matilda, aren't you going to check your SAT scores?" Aubree asked.
"I'll pass..." Matilda managed a weak smile. "I didn't take the SATs."
She had not told a single soul about this.
Matilda was already over the age of 18 when she met Aubree. She had already signed a coaching contract with the esports club, so taking the SAT no longer held much relevance for her.
Aubree frowned slightly. Ever since returning after Christmas, she had a nagging feeling that Matilda was hiding something from her. But with the SAT looming and the company about to launch a new project, she did not dwell on it.
"Matilda..." Aubree began.
Just as she was about to ask more, Bowen entered with a fruit platter. The computer screen was still displaying their scores. He glanced at it and remarked, "Not bad at all—you've made the Turner family proud."
Before Alvin could feel proud of himself, Bowen started laying the most outrageous flattery on Aubree.
Bowen said, "Now that's our Bree! These scores are practically valedictorian-level—just a hair's breadth away! And to think you've only been studying for a year. Honestly, this year's valedictorian should be thanking their lucky stars you didn't go all out sooner!"
Alvin was speechless for a moment. 'No wonder they say love works miracles—how could it not? It can turn a perfectly normal person into a total lovesick fool,' he thought.
Aubree's phone buzzed with a text from her homeroom teacher, summoning her back to Rithol High School.
Aubree figured it was probably for some publicity interviews or something like that. Normally, only the valedictorian at Rithol High School would get this kind of treatment—but then again, she was no ordinary person.
"My homeroom teacher just texted me. She wants me back at Rithol High School," Aubree said.
"Okay, I'll give you guys a ride there," Bowen said.
When the trio arrived at Rithol High School, they found the school gates swarmed by a massive crowd—mostly reporters who had raced there at the news, with clusters of students' parents mixed in.
Although there were plenty of reports about Aubree's SAT results, not a single interview with her had been published yet. Every media outlet was clamoring to land the first exclusive.
No matter what label the newspapers assigned, it inevitably ignited a frenzy among readers, making the story a widespread sensation.
As Aubree got closer, she noticed a crimson banner already hanging above the entrance of Rithol High School. This was nothing out of the ordinary—every year, after the SAT results were released the school would proudly display the achievements of their top-scoring student. But this time, it was completely different.
Matilda nudged Aubree with her elbow. "Well, well, look at you, Aubree! For the first time ever, Rithol High School is hanging a banner for third place instead of the valedictorian!"
Hanging high at the school entrance was a large banner that could not be missed: "Congratulations to our student Aubree Miller for her successful entrepreneurship and achieving third place in the state after just one year of academic study." The banner was hung conspicuously high, as if Rithol High School wanted to make absolutely sure no one could miss it.
With the front gate crowded, Aubree and Alvin exchanged a quick glance and, without hesitation, slipped in through the back entrance. Behind them, the shouts of reporters echoed as they made their way inside.
"Aubree!"
"Aubree, you legend!"
"Just one year of prep, and you're only two points behind the valedictorian!"
Alvin headed to his classroom while Aubree and Matilda headed to theirs. The moment Aubree and Matilda walked in, the class instantly erupted into a boisterous uproar, with cheers and excited chatter filling the air.
Aubree became the center of every envious glance, each one laced with silent resentment. Aubree had studied for merely a year and already achieved third place in the state. To those who had spent years burning the midnight oil, their efforts suddenly felt meaningless—nothing more than proof that they had endurance.
Aubree gave them a friendly smile. Her homeroom teacher beamed with pride as she looked at Aubree and said, "Switching back from art to academics was the best decision you ever made."
When Aubree first decided to pursue art, her homeroom teacher was so distraught she nearly burst into tears on the spot.
"You should've seen the teachers' lounge," the homeroom teacher said. "The moment your results hit, jaws dropped. Class One's homeroom teacher—who's always so smug about their star pupil—was speechless. That student only scored two points more than you. The look on that teacher's face? Absolutely priceless.
"Not only did you excel academically, but you also built a successful startup this year! Now, the school leadership and education bureau officials all want to meet you. Oh, and did you see all those reporters swarming outside the school gates when you came in? The school wants to gather them in the auditorium for a formal press conference with you.
"When the time comes, be sure to highlight how you managed to achieve both academic excellence and entrepreneurial success in just one year. I read your essay, too, Aubree. My goodness! Who would've thought someone your age could write with such depth and insight?"
Aubree smiled inwardly. That essay distilled the wisdom of her two lifetimes.
Aubree thought to herself, 'They want to interview me?'
Aubree had a pensive expression on her face, wondering how Alice and the others were reacting. Carmen had made a point of bragging to her during exams—claiming she had done exceptionally well this time. Now, Aubree was genuinely looking forward to seeing their reactions.
How well could she have possibly done?' Aubree thought. She flashed a sardonic smile. 'I'm suddenly curious to see the look on Carmen's face when she finds out I've stolen the spotlight.'
"Alright, I'll do the interview," Aubree said.