Chapter 31: Let’s See How You Handle This

Chapter 31: Let's See How You Handle This

"What else could it be! This student is simply outrageous!" Lisa Liang glared at Emma angrily.

"Oh, Emma Roberts, it's you again..." Zachary Brown looked at the girl in the corner helplessly, trying to smooth things over. "Ms. Liang, don't be so angry. This girl might have done something wrong, but kids this age often try to stand out with their appearance."

Lisa's face was deadly serious, "Mr. Brown! This isn't about her appearance anymore! We have a major problem! The exam questions were leaked! This girl had the audacity to get the test questions!"

Zachary was stunned, his face serious, "Ms. Liang, you can't say things like that! Our exam questions are top secret. How could they be leaked? And if they were, how did she get a zero in math? That logic doesn't hold."

Lisa scoffed and handed all of Emma's exam papers and the ranking list to Zachary, "Mr. Brown, take a look at this!"

Zachary quickly flipped through the papers and was equally shocked, "Hey, Emma Roberts, this is your fault! Why is it that you scored so high in everything except my math?"

He thought she had zero in every subject, but Emma had near-perfect scores in everything except math, and she was ranked first in the class! Being first in class with a zero in math was quite a feat.

Seeing Zachary's tone, Lisa's face darkened, "Mr. Brown, do you believe me now!"

Zachary rubbed his chin, not saying a word. Such scores were unbelievable for Emma, who always came last.

"The expulsion notice has been issued, and now this mess happens. Keeping this student in school will only tarnish Clearwater High's reputation!" Lisa's eyes shot daggers at Emma, "Emma Roberts! Come with me to the disciplinary office! I'm telling you, expulsion won't be the only consequence now!"

Leaked exam questions involved a wide range of issues!

"Holy crap! Who knew! This ugly freak even got the test questions!"

"She deserves it for keeping the questions to herself!"

"Such a fool, didn't even pretend by getting a few wrong answers, making it so obvious!"

"This freak is done for now!"

In the corner by the window, a boy moved the book covering his face, frowning as he looked at the girl beside him. Despite the escalation, the girl's expression remained unchanged, her demeanor calm, even containing a hint of mockery as she looked at Lisa.

Everyone said Emma Roberts was an idiot, and he thought so too. If she really got the test questions, she could have kept it hidden and not been caught.

"Idiot! Let's see how you handle this!"

Hearing the boy's disdainful snort, Emma lazily glanced at him, her star-like eyes glimmering, "Don't worry, I'll crush your score easily this time!"

Aiden Xie was momentarily dazed by the light in those eyes, but when he realized what she said, his face darkened.

---

Emma followed Lisa Liang to the disciplinary office. As they walked, the whispers of other students followed them like a cloud of doubt and suspicion. Emma kept her head high, refusing to let their words break her spirit. She knew the truth and was determined to prove it.

Upon entering the office, Principal Smith looked up from his desk, surprised to see Emma and Lisa. "Ms. Liang, what is the meaning of this?"

"Principal Smith, I have strong reasons to believe that Emma Roberts cheated on her exams. Her scores are too perfect, and I suspect she had access to the test questions beforehand," Lisa explained, her voice tinged with indignation.

Principal Smith's brow furrowed as he looked at Emma. "Emma, is there any truth to these accusations?"

Emma met his gaze calmly. "No, Principal Smith. I studied hard for these exams. I did not cheat."

Lisa Liang interjected, "Her scores are too high! It's impossible for her to have improved this much in such a short time!"

Principal Smith held up a hand to silence her. "Lisa, we need concrete evidence before making such serious accusations. Emma, I'll need to review your test papers and speak with your teachers."

Emma nodded. "I understand, Principal Smith. Please do. I'm confident in my abilities and my innocence."

Principal Smith turned to Lisa. "Ms. Liang, gather all the exam papers and bring them here. We will conduct a thorough review."

As Lisa left to gather the papers, Principal Smith looked at Emma. "You must understand, Emma, that these are serious accusations. If you did cheat, the consequences will be severe."

Emma's eyes were unwavering. "I understand, Principal Smith. I have nothing to hide."

Lisa returned with the papers, and the review process began. Principal Smith scrutinized each paper, checking for any signs of cheating. Hours passed as he meticulously went through every detail.

Finally, he looked up, his expression thoughtful. "Emma, your answers are consistent with your previous work. There is no evidence of cheating here."

Lisa Liang was visibly frustrated. "But Principal Smith, her scores..."

Principal Smith shook his head. "Improvement is not a crime, Ms. Liang. Emma, you are free to go. We will continue to monitor this situation, but for now, you are cleared of any wrongdoing."

Emma nodded respectfully and left the office, feeling a mixture of relief and resolve. The battle was far from over, but she had won this round. She walked back to class, her head held high, determined to continue proving herself through hard work and perseverance.

As she re-entered the classroom, the whispers quieted, and all eyes turned to her. Emma took her seat, her confidence unshaken. She would not let baseless accusations deter her from her goals. Emma Roberts was here to stay, and she was ready to face any challenges that came her way.