Chapter 262

Even the usually indifferent Trevor could not help but look twice. ‘If she had this kind of talent all along, why bother with those stunts before?’ he thought. ‘Guess you never really know your potential until you’re pushed.’

Carmen had not expected to score so high on the SAT–she cried out in excitement. Daxton immediately swept her into a hug and exclaimed, “Carmen, you’re incredible!”

Alice’s face flushed with excitement. “And that’s with Carmen only putting in effort toward the end. If she’d taken it seriously from the start, she might’ve been this year’s top art student!”

Alice wasted no time spreading the good news to her social circle, expecting nothing but admiration and envy. But things did not go quite as she had imagined.

“Alice, this is your daughter, Aubree, right?”

The person on the other end sent over a news link. Alice did not even have to open it–the headline alone was enough to sting her eyes.

“One–Year Stunning Comeback: Rithol High School prodigy Aubree Miller scores 1570 on the SAT and ranks 3rd in Rithol City’s STEM standings.”

Aubree was not valedictorian, but that headline drew more attention than the article about the actual valedictorian.

Aubree’s name was already well–known in Rithol City. At just 18, Aubree had launched her own business and, in just one year, built a fortune worth tens of millions–a staggering feat.

With a near–perfect SAT score, Aubree had added another remarkable achievement to her record. Considering she had only switched to full–time academics a year ago, even a score of 1200 would have been commendable.

Not only did Alice see the news on her phone, but the same notification popped up on Carmen’s computer screen.

The once joyous atmosphere evaporated in an instant, plunging the entire room into stunned silence.

Carmen could not believe her eyes–third in the entire state! Aubree was not even the top scorer, yet she shone brighter than the one who was! ‘Aubree only studied for a year–how on earth did she do this?’ Carmen thought in disbelief.

Her expression grew tense as she hurriedly clicked open the article. “Maybe it’s just someone with the same name,” she murmured, clinging to that last bit of hope.

As Carmen scrolled further down, her expression turned cold the moment she saw the photo–Aubree standing outside the exam hall, radiant and carefree, beaming as she held a bouquet of flowers.

Suddenly, more breaking news alerts popped up.

“Shocking! The third–highest scorer is also the only high schooler in history to place in the International Mathematics Competition!”

“From arts to academics in just one year–Aubree Miller’s stunning comeback!”

“Perfect scores in Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology–her only weakness, Odionlandian, kept her from the valedictorian title.”

“The third–place’s perfect–score essay, A Fleeting Dream of a Lifetime, has been released. Experts praised it as a haunting glimpse into the soul of someone reborn from despair.”

The four of them stood in the room, stunned into silence as they read the news. They could not believe their eyes–this was really Aubree!

‘Had she started with academic subjects from the very beginning, just how astonishing would her achievements have been?’ they thought.

Even though Aubree ranked third, the valedictorian was only two points ahead of her. And to think she had only been studying for a year–yet in that same year, she also founded Bree Technology!

Gone were the days when Bree Technology had to beg for funding. The company now had a firm foothold in Rithol City’s digital media industry— and even nationwide. Plenty of people were lining up, throwing money Aubree’s way just for a chance to work with her.

Aubree was an extraordinary individual–so remarkable that she seemed almost otherworldly.

“Aubree… Having that kind of score?” Even Daxton was visibly shocked. He had always been an exceptional student himself, but back then, his SAT results had only placed him in the top five in the entire state. He was the top achiever in the family, yet here was Aubree, who had only studied for a single year, effortlessly outshining him.

Trevor looked away awkwardly. ‘Is Aubree really that capable?’ he wondered.

Alice’s eyes widened in shock–she could not bring herself to accept that Aubree had actually achieved such outstanding SAT results.

Carmen clenched her fists tightly, digging her nails into her palms to resist the urge to smash her laptop. “Aubree… She actually scored that high?” she said.

Beneath Carmen’s envious facade, she was seething–she longed to rip Aubree apart. I already have such a high score, yet Aubree still manages to steal my thunder! Carmen fumed inwardly.

Alice’s phone started ringing off the hook–everyone was calling to confirm if the third–place prodigy who had only studied for a year was really from their family.