Chapter 643 Not Allowed to Enter the Exam Hall
“Shut up!” Mrs. Collins scolded. “You have no right to speak here!”
She was a rational person. Not only did Alexander’s doctor rescue her daughter from the jaws of death, but there was also the possibility of completely curing her daughter’s stomach cancer. For them, this was a great kindness. Besides, the food poisoning issue had been nothing more than a misunderstanding. There was no reason for them to blame others.
“Mr. Griffith and Mrs. Griffith,” she said gently, “this is all thanks to you. Don’t worry. We will ask the reporters to clarify the truth once Kiki is in better condition. It’s not easy to do business nowadays. So, we will not cause trouble for you.”
Elise’s impression of this woman improved significantly. When they first met, she had seen the woman beating and scolding Alexander. Hence, she initially thought that the woman was a crazy and unreasonable old lady. Only now did she realize that the woman’s actions stemmed from her deep love for her daughter.
“Thank you, both of you,” Alexander said.
“Don’t be in such a hurry to thank us.” Keira pushed herself up from the bed and sat up, leaning against the head of the bed. Her weak face was filled with stubbornness. “I can clarify the truth, but you must compensate me for my health and mental damages. It’s not much, just 10 million. You can afford it.”
“10 million!?” Mrs. Collins was so surprised that her hometown dialect slipped out. When she came back to her senses, she vigorously patted Keira on the arm. “Silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting!?”
We have always been mutually dependent on each other. While we might not be wealthy, we lived freely and with dignity. We have never even owed anybody so much as 10 or 100. How can she ask for so much money from them!?
“I’m not talking nonsense!” Keira seemed to have resolved herself, so she spoke with great persistence. “Without 10 million, you can go ahead and clarify the truth yourselves!”
“Keira Collins!” Mrs. Collins stood up angrily. “Do you know what you are saying!? What have I been teaching you since you were just a child? You cannot take a single cent from others if that money does not belong to you. Besides, you have just recovered from a serious illness, and you were saved by them! If anything, you should be grateful to them! But, look at you! What are you doing!? You disappoint me.”
When she heard those words, a hint of sadness flashed across Keira’s eyes, but the look vanished quickly. Even so, the change in expression did not escape Elise’s notice.
“This is my own business. Mom, don’t interfere in this,” Keira went on without heeding the others. “Only I know best whether or not my body suffered any damages. Besides, I have no obligation to clarify the truth for your company. Even if you don’t wish to cough up this money, there are many others outside who would be more than willing to pay. So, please leave if you’re not paying.”
Alexander was about to agree when Elise raised her hand to stop him. She pretended to be troubled. “You have to give us some time to raise this amount of money. Because of the negative news over the past two days, many people have been coming to collect various debt payments from us. So our accounts are empty right now.”
“Fine.” Keira agreed readily. “One day. I will only wait for one day. If I don’t see the money in one day’s time, then don’t blame me for cooperating with those reporters first.”
“One day is enough.” After saying that, Elise shot a look at Alexander. Then, the two of them walked out together. It wasn’t until they arrived downstairs that Alexander tentatively tried to ask Elise about her plans. “Are you trying to buy more time?”
To be honest, he wanted to say that he would still pay the 10 million in the end. However, it was too idealistic of her to think that she could use this time to patiently persuade the other party. She did not seem to know that human nature was inherently evil. For an ordinary family, 10 million was an income that they could never hope to achieve in their entire lifetime. Who would willingly give up on this opportunity to reach the skies in one step?
“10 million is not much, but we should not let other people blackmail us so easily. One day is enough time for us to investigate everything about Keira and her cousin,” she explained.
He nodded in agreement. “Raul and Keira do not look like relatives to me.”
She originally planned to perform the investigation on her own. However, before she could tell him her plans, her phone rang. It was a phone call from Mica. When she saw the caller ID, she immediately answered the call. “What’s up, Mica?”
“Elise, didn’t you check the class group chat? Where are you!?” Mica’s voice was very anxious.
“I didn’t check the chat. What’s wrong?” Elise had always set the class group chat on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode.
“Hurry up and return! The monthly exam has been brought forward. The exam is about to start!” Mica anxiously exclaimed. “This is all my fault. I was so busy dating that I forgot to remind you!”
“It’s fine. I’ll head back now.” Elise did not waste any more time. She ended the call and informed Alexander about her plans before leaving by taxi.
At this time, it would better express Alexander’s sincerity in making peace with the other party if he remained in the hospital.
——
…
Inside the classroom, Martin walked to the back of the classroom after he finished handing out the test papers. Then, he leisurely glanced at the clock on top of the podium. The clock display indicated that it was 9:00 AM sharp.
He had notified the class via the group chat yesterday that the exam would begin at 8:30 AM. Even so, Elise’s seat remained empty.
According to international practice, students would be barred from entry into the exam hall half an hour after the exam began. In other words, Elise had lost her qualifications to attend the monthly exam. As a result, her grades would immediately be marked as zero.
This is great. I was worried that Mason would deliberately let Elise and the other poor students off easy when setting the exam questions. But now, Elise is voluntarily absent from her exam. The Elite Class will be much easier to teach once I kick her out. This is easier than I thought it would be!
He stuck his hands in his pocket, looking very refreshed.
To his dismay, he heard the click-clacking sound of high-heels coming from the corridor the next moment. At the same time, Elise barged in through the front door.
“Teacher, I’m late! I’m sorry!” Elise took a deep breath and adjusted her breathing.
“It’s fine. Hurry up and take your seat. Don’t disrupt the exam.” Mason, who was the invigilator for this exam, responded good-naturedly.
“You can’t!” Martin rushed to the front aggressively. “Thirty-one minutes have passed since the start of the exam! Elise Sinclair can no longer enter the exam hall!”
“Mr. Kamp, this is not the college entrance examination. It’s just a test organized by the class. So there’s no need to be so strict,” Mason said.
“One can do nothing without rules and regulations.” Martin did not back down at all. “Mr. Young, you are the homeroom teacher. You indeed have the final say on the matter, but won’t this class become disorganized if nobody follows the rules? If you let Elise enter the exam hall today, then the other students will learn from her example. Who will take responsibility for that?”
“Miss Sinclair did not act deliberately. Besides, our class students are good kids. They will not do something like that,” Mason earnestly replied.
He knew that Martin did not like Elise. That was why Martin wanted to use this opportunity to expel Elise from the Elite Class. Unfortunately, it was true that she had given him leverage over her. All Mason could do at this point was say something nice in hopes that Martin would let Elise off.
“I don’t know whether the others are good students, but that is not the case for Elise. I have repeatedly emphasized the importance of the monthly exams in front of her. Even so, she was still late today. A person like her does not care about her future. Why should we worry about her? Today, you must follow the rules!” Martin deliberately raised his voice.
“Mr. Kamp, there’s no need for you to speak so loudly. I might be getting on in years, but I’m not deaf. I can hear perfectly fine!” Martin was starting to become upset.
He was the Director of the Department of Physics and the homeroom teacher of the Elite Class. I pleaded with him kindly, but he put on airs instead! Just because I am a tiger who doesn’t show my strength, does he take me for Hello Kitty!?
“Um…” Elise suddenly held up her phone. Then, she pressed on the screen so that the screen lit up, and she said, “According to the network time, it’s only 8:45 AM right now. Don’t you know that the clock in the classroom is fifteen minutes ahead?”
