Chapter 3The Valedictorian Spot

"Maya, are you sure you want to transfer to another school during such a critical period?"

"Even though Lincoln High is a top school, you've lived and studied here at Washington High for two years. Moving to a new environment will inevitably affect you!"

"I promise you, as long as you don't go to Lincoln High, the valedictorian spot is still yours!"

"Or any other conditions, you can name them right now!"

Principal Miller gritted his teeth, making his final stand. After all, he knew that with my grades, as long as I performed consistently, I had an 80% chance of becoming the state valedictorian in the upcoming SATs.

What school would willingly let a potential state valedictorian slip away to a rival school!

I imagine if it weren't for today's fiasco, or if he had been a bit firmer, things wouldn't have escalated to this point!

I clearly saw Principal Miller shoot a glare at Mr. Davis. I bet he wanted to rip Mr. Davis's head off and kick it like a soccer ball!

Mr. Davis kept his head down. This was the first time I saw a hint of panic on his face, probably because he knew that losing a top student like me would definitely make the principal direct his anger at him.

Let alone keeping his position as head of the grade, he'd probably get stripped of his role as the homeroom teacher for the advanced class!

So even if it meant throwing away his pride, he had to make me stay.

"Maya, earlier... your teacher was just too anxious and misspoke."

"I apologize to you. Can you find it in your heart to be the bigger person? For the sake of the school that recognized your potential, please stay."

"Not a chance."

I shook my head at Mr. Davis without hesitation, saying slowly:

"Mr. Davis, you really don't need to bend over backward for me. Because deep down, you know you owe me more than just this one apology."

The naked sarcasm in my eyes made Mr. Davis's face instantly darken. But with the principal present, he didn't dare say a word in anger!

"Alright, Miller, sign the papers and let her go! You couldn't keep her because of your own issues; own up to your losses."

"If you have time to figure out how to keep students, you should instead investigate the ethics of your faculty, so no more students get poisoned."

"Of course, if your advanced class has any more students wanting to transfer, Lincoln High is more than happy to welcome them."

Principal Carter sounded like he was urging him, but his words were dripping with sarcasm.

I can only say, as expected of a top high school principal—he knows exactly how to hit where it hurts!

With things escalating to this point, and the rival principal showing up in person, not letting me go was out of the question.

No matter how reluctant he was, Principal Miller had to grit his teeth and sign.

"Now that's more like it! Don't worry about the little girl not adjusting. I'll make sure she has the best environment to get top scores!"

"This prized student you couldn't keep at Washington High, Lincoln High is very happy to accept!"

Principal Carter laughed heartily, grabbing the transfer form and trying to lead me away. But just as he stepped out of the office, Mr. Davis called out:

"Wait!"

Mr. Davis seemed to have remembered something, a sudden look of triumph appearing on his face.

"For her to transfer, the school letting her go isn't enough. Her legal guardian must also agree."

"Her legal guardian must be present and sign before this transfer is officially valid!"

Mr. Davis looked at me with sheer amusement, acting as if he had grabbed my lifeline, completely carried away by his own smugness.

"Davis, don't give me that bullshit!"

Principal Carter was furious. If they weren't in a school, he'd probably have grabbed Mr. Davis by the collar without hesitation.

"Everyone knows Maya is an orphan. Aren't you afraid of getting struck by lightning for saying something like that?!"

"Miller, how is a guy like this a teacher? Does Washington High even care?!"

Principal Miller shot a glance at Mr. Davis. On one hand, he despised Mr. Davis's actions; on the other, it was clear he really didn't want to lose a top student like me.

As long as he could keep a top student, who cares about looking shameless!

"Carter, Maya's situation is indeed very special. Our school took a huge risk accepting her back then."

"Transferring schools must follow procedure. How about this."

Principal Miller cleared his throat: "Why not give us some time? With everything that happened today, Maya's emotions are probably unstable. I'll make time to consult with the Board of Education and come up with a solution. What do you think?"

Principal Miller was clearly stalling for time, ideally until college applications opened. Then, even if I wanted to transfer, I'd be out of luck and forced to stay here under their control.

Old ginger is definitely spicier! These old geezers are digging deeper and deeper holes!

"You!"

Principal Carter's cheek twitched with anger, but since he was on their turf and my situation was indeed unique, he could only try to think of another way.

"Maya, why don't you head back to class for now? We shouldn't delay your studies!"

Principal Miller looked at me with a triumphant smile.

He must have thought my transfer was officially dead in the water.

But... he was overthinking it!

"Principal Miller, it really doesn't have to be that complicated."

The corners of my mouth curled up into a smile, and right in front of him, I pulled out my phone:

"It's just missing a guardian's signature, right? Calling my parents over will only take about ten minutes."

"It's no trouble at all!"

With that, ignoring their increasingly shocked and horrified expressions, I dialed the number saved as "Dad."

He answered almost immediately. After I briefly explained the situation, he didn't hesitate for a second and said he was on his way.

Mr. Davis's mouth twitched, his face dark. He was the first to snap out of the shock, a look of disdain appearing on his face:

"Maya, you didn't just hire actors to fool us, did you!"

I didn't answer, just smiled silently at him.

About ten minutes later, a middle-aged man in a suit walked into the office.

Seeing the man's face, which bore a striking resemblance to mine, the disdain on Mr. Davis's face instantly turned to panic.

Principal Miller literally stood up from his chair. But it wasn't out of shock; it was out of fear.

"Mr. Sterling!"

Principal Miller looked in disbelief at the man standing beside me, his voice even trembling slightly.

But he quickly recovered.

"Mr. Sterling... Maya is your—"

"My biological daughter!"

Mr. Sterling's voice was incredibly authoritative. After all, he was a self-made billionaire who built his empire from scratch; his aura was nothing like that of a normal person.

Principal Miller's face went pale, and Mr. Davis's expression was equally unreadable.

After all, who didn't know Mr. Sterling? He was the richest man in the city, and not long ago, he had donated money to set up a scholarship at the school.

At the time, Mr. Davis had been part of the welcoming committee with the principal.

"So, what exactly is going on here?"

Mr. Sterling looked at me, his eyes revealing worry and deep affection.

And so, in front of everyone, I recounted everything that had just happened, down to the last detail. I also helpfully explained to the group how my family and I had reunited.

"I still have to thank the school for giving me the opportunity to participate in the competition. Otherwise, my parents wouldn't have seen the article about me in the newspaper and found me."

I smiled sweetly at Principal Miller and Mr. Davis, expressing my gratitude, but the smile didn't reach my eyes.

Although the original novel didn't go into detail about this part, the host's memories clearly recorded the entire process of reuniting with her billionaire parents.

The reason the host didn't reveal she had reunited with her billionaire parents was because she was used to her previously low-key life.

Furthermore, her parents felt immensely guilty for losing her in the first place. They wanted to respect her wishes and didn't want the news to affect her studies. They planned to throw a grand coming-of-age party after she finished the SATs to announce the return of their beloved daughter.

Unfortunately, in the original novel, the host never made it to that day. Because of the overwhelming cyberbullying instigated by the female lead, she developed depression and died by suicide, swallowing pills.

"So, in a place I couldn't see, this is how your school treated my daughter, is it?"

After hearing everything, Mr. Sterling's face turned frighteningly dark. He looked at Mr. Davis as if he wanted to murder him right then and there!

He shielded me behind him, slammed his hand hard onto the principal's desk, and, furious to the core, roared:

"I, Robert Sterling, owed my daughter for eighteen years! I finally get the chance to find her, and I haven't even had the time to spoil her yet. Where do you get the nerve to say those things to her!"

"The Sterling family isn't short on money. Whatever Maya owes the school, I'll pay back every last cent. From now on, my daughter owes you absolutely nothing."

"She's Robert Sterling's daughter. She can go wherever she wants. Let's see who dares to stop her!"

Hearing this, Principal Carter couldn't help but look thrilled. Seizing the moment, he slid the transfer application toward Mr. Sterling. Watching Mr. Sterling sign it without a second thought, his smile was so wide his face practically bloomed.

He patted my shoulder in praise: "Like father, like daughter! You and your dad have the exact same no-nonsense, decisive personality!"

"Great! I love it!"

Lol!

I have to admit, I'm loving this face-slapping moment too!

The tables had turned again, bringing joy to some and despair to others.

Principal Miller slumped in his chair, looking utterly defeated.

He lost a top student and offended Mr. Sterling. Now, the investment they had discussed earlier was surely going down the drain!

With a cold snort, Mr. Sterling took my hand and walked out of the principal's office.