A Bet and a Challenge

"How outrageous! Get her down from there," the principal fumed, his face red with anger.

Director Wang immediately led two teachers over, but two boys stood firmly on the steps, blocking their way.

The students below whistled and many eyes turned to Zuri, leaving them unsure of who was truly innocent in this situation.

Seeing that her goal was achieved, Natalie prepared to continue humiliating Zuri, but suddenly found that her microphone had been cut off.

At that moment, a clear conversation began to play over the school's PA system.

"I'm sorry."

The voice was unmistakably Natalie's, full of previous fervor.

"What did you say? I didn't hear you."

"I'm sorry."

"So you are apologizing," came Zuri's voice.

"Alright, I've apologized."

This exchange was repeated over and over.

Each "I'm sorry" echoed like a curse, ringing through the ears of every student and teacher.

Every single "I'm sorry" was like a slap in the face, each one landing hard on Natalie's cheeks.

Her face swelled with embarrassment as laughter erupted from the crowd, their derisive voices filling the air.

Natalie's face turned crimson with shame. The mocking voices felt like sharp knives, stabbing at her pride, leaving her mortified and wishing she could disappear.

"Hahaha, this is hilarious."

"She was just boasting about not apologizing, and now we hear her apologizing repeatedly. This is too funny."

"Natalie thought she could make fools of us, but she's the one ending up as the clown."

"Someone who vows revenge behind your back and then quietly apologizes? If I were her, I'd never show my face again."

Every mocking voice, every scornful word, drilled into her ears.

Unable to bear it any longer, Natalie fled the stage, covering her face as she dashed through the crowd.

Saira and her friends glared at Zuri before running after Natalie.

Principal Fang's face turned a vivid green with rage.

"Go to the broadcast room and find out who's behind this. Get it cut off immediately."

The teachers hurried to comply, while the students were abuzz with excitement.

Azura gave Zuri a thumbs-up, her face full of admiration. "That was amazing! How did you do it?"

Zuri just calmly took out her phone, tapped a few times, and the broadcast stopped. The teachers who had rushed to the broadcast room were left standing in stunned silence when they heard the sudden silence.

When they opened the door, the student who was supposed to be on duty was missing, later found in the restroom with an upset stomach.

"Arthur, your fiancée is quite formidable," one of the boys said, "Isn't it tough dealing with her?"

Arthur shot him an irritated look. "She's not my fiancée."

"Oh, are you dissatisfied with her? Or have you fallen for Saira instead?"

"I think she's way prettier than Saira. You're lucky to have upgraded to a more beautiful fiancée, yet you're still unhappy?" The other boy was baffled.

Arthur sneered.

"What's the use of beauty? A woman who grew up in a slum in the West End, who knows how clean she is. I have no interest in marrying damaged goods."

As Zuri and Azura passed by and overheard their conversation, they shared a knowing, disdainful smile.

To hear them talk, you'd think they believed every woman was theirs for the taking.

They must really think they're money, beloved by all.

"Some people need to take a good look in the mirror and see what they really are. Not every woman likes you," Azura taunted.

Arthur and his friends were startled to see the two girls standing behind them.

Zuri's cold gaze fell on Arthur's overly self-assured, narcissistic face.

In her past life, he had looked down on her, but too cowardly to defy his family and break off the engagement, he teamed up with Saira and Damian to ruin her reputation.

A man like Arthur, whom Saira cherished as a treasure, was worth less to her than the stray dog outside the school gate.

"Being a narcissist is a disease. Get treatment early," Zuri said coolly as she walked away.

Azura gave Arthur and his friends a dismissive hand gesture.

Arthur's face darkened with anger.

What an ill-mannered woman! No matter how pretty she is, she's not fit to be his fiancée.

Ever since that day when Azura saw Zuri manipulate the school's broadcast with just a few taps on her phone, she had been sticking to Zuri like glue, constantly trailing behind her.

Everyone had gotten used to seeing Azura around whenever they had a break.

Azura chased away the student sitting in front of Zuri, took his seat, and rested her chin on the back of the chair, her smoky eyes watching Zuri intently.

"Tomorrow is the preliminary exam. I heard you made a bet with Samara and her gang. Do you have the confidence to win?"

Zuri continued working through her practice problems, ignoring her.

Azura didn't seem to mind.

"I've heard that Samara and her group are planning to get back at you for Natalie. They're all geared up for this exam."

After that broadcast incident, Natalie had been recovering at home, absent from school. Saira had been dutifully visiting her every day. Things had been peaceful, with no new tricks from them aimed at Zuri.

Shaina and Nyla, sitting nearby and eavesdropping, exchanged gleeful glances.

Shaina whispered, "Farida and Colin are both in the top ten in our grade. And she, with her 280 marks, dares to compete with them? She's really overestimating herself."

"Not overestimating, she's just clueless," Nyla corrected.

They giggled softly.

In the noisy classroom, their low whispers didn't escape Azura's sharp ears. She was about to get up when Zuri's slender, fair hand gently held her wrist.

"No need."

"Aren't you angry at them?"

"What do you think?" Zuri's eyes sparkled with a smile as she looked at her.

Those clear, smiling eyes reminded Azura of how Zuri had watched Natalie from the sidelines during the assembly.

As the exams on Thursday and Friday concluded, everyone was keenly awaiting the results of Zuri's bet with Samara and her friends.

Someone even started a betting pool on the school forum, with 99.9% betting on Samara's group winning, and only two bets on Zuri.

"Who do you think those two who bet on Zuri are?" someone asked in the forum, stirring things up.

Replies came in quickly.

"Isn't it obvious? It's definitely Azura and Zuri themselves."

"How pathetic, betting on themselves."

"Betting on her is a sure loss. Who's dumb enough to bet? Not like we're swimming in money."

Just as everyone was getting into a mocking frenzy, a user named "king" jumped in.

"I made that bet! Not convinced?"

Azura's account was well-known, but this "king" account was a new player.

This arrogant tone instantly incited the prideful students of Windsor.