Chapter 429
Chapter 429:
“How dare a student at Esaham University behave like this? Tampering with votes? Maybe we should see if her exam scores were tampered with too.”
“She was the highest scorer in the entrance exam, right? The funny thing is, I heard she’d never even set foot in a school before. How can someone like her be at the top? It always seemed off to me.”
“Such an overwhelming need to win. She made it into the best university, and now she’s trying to be the best at everything. If her character is compromised, who cares about her high marks?”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the votes for other Esaham University participants are fake too. We should investigate all of them—who knows what we might uncover.”
Suspicion began to spread like wildfire, extending from Fernanda to every Esaham University student involved in the beauty pageant.
Fernanda massaged her temples, overwhelmed not just by her own troubles but also by the weight of pulling other students into this chaos.
On social media, groups advocating for justice started calling for support to help the contestant in second place, hoping to rally more votes and challenge Fernanda. They wanted to prove that good would always triumph over wrongdoing.
Neal stood by the wall, quietly observing, his eyes fixed on Fernanda’s face. In her expression, he noticed no signs of worry or frustration. It gave him the sense that she was still in control of the situation.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, this gave him a sense of calm.
The group exited the building, heading toward the dormitory. As they walked, they encountered Gifford.
Spotting the concerned expressions on his three roommates’ faces, Gifford waved at them, instantly realizing they were worried about Fernanda.
He shared their concern. Although he wasn’t particularly close to Fernanda, he held a deep admiration for her.
Fernanda was not only academically exceptional but also a skilled gamer and remarkably composed for her age—qualities that Gifford truly respected.
On the bus, Gifford pulled out his phone and began scrolling through news articles about the incident. The harsh comments under the posts caught his attention. With a heavy sigh, he turned off his phone.
His thoughts were scattered, filled with countless questions. It wasn’t until the driver’s announcement snapped him back to reality that he realized the bus had already reached its final stop.
After stepping off the bus, he walked for about twenty minutes, eventually reaching a villa neighborhood on the edge of the city.
The security guards recognized Gifford, who visited every weekend. Knowing that he worked as a tutor for one of the families, they didn’t bother checking his access card this time and allowed him to enter without question.
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