Chapter 194
Meanwhile, at the Douglas Estate, the atmosphere was completely different from the Wipere Villa.
Valencia emerged from the kitchen holding a platter of cut fruit. Seeing Dahlia sitting on the sofa with a smile on her face, she casually asked, "What's got you so happy?"
Dahlia looked up and turned her phone screen toward Valencia, her tone light but not boastful. "Mom, the results are out. I got 109 points."
Valencia's hand holding the fruit platter paused mid-air. She quickly walked over, bent down, and peered at the screen.
Her eyes lit up. She set down the platter and patted Dahlia's shoulder lightly. "109 points? That high? Doesn't that mean… you're first in the nation?"
Dahlia lowered her head slightly, her smile fading into something more modest. "It's not certain yet. What if there's someone with a higher score…"
"How could there be anyone higher than you?" Valencia interrupted, her tone as certain as if she were stating a fact. "You've been in the best schools since you were little. You've had top-tier tutors. With 109 points, that score would've easily secured first place in previous years. Dahlia, you've really brought honor to the Douglas family."
Her gaze carried genuine pride. "You truly are our Douglas family daughter—just as exceptional as your sister. I need to reward you properly. You've always wanted that gemstone jewelry set. I'll have someone deliver it in a few days."
Dahlia looked up, meeting Valencia's smiling eyes. The stone that had been lodged in her chest finally settled.
She smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Mom."
At that moment, near the garden beds in the backyard, two servants were trimming the hedges.
The older one, Clea, had worked for the Douglas family for over a decade and had always been loyal to Dahlia.
The younger one, Zola, had only been with the Douglas family for less than a year and was closer to Lucinda's driver.
Clea's pruning shears didn't stop moving as she spoke, her voice just loud enough for the person beside her to hear. "Ms. Douglas scored 109 points. You heard, didn't you? I always said true talent can't be hidden. Ms. Douglas grew up in the Douglas family and received the best education. How could she be compared to someone who came back halfway? Some people—even if they're biological—came from small places. Their foundation is what it is. No matter how hard they try, they'll never catch up. From now on, who's higher and who's lower in the Douglas family is pretty obvious, isn't it?"
Zola's shears paused. She looked up at Clea and finally couldn't hold back. "Clea, you can't say it like that. Everyone's seen what Ms. Wipere has done at the company these past few days. The results aren't even all out yet. How can you decide who's higher and who's lower?"
Clea let out a laugh, a dismissive edge to it. "Can company work compare to research? Do you even know what level that exam is? What could a school from a small town possibly teach? You're still young. You don't understand these things."
The two went back and forth when suddenly, the side door at the end of the garden was pushed open.
Lucinda stood in the doorway, holding a glass of warm water, leaning against the doorframe. Her gaze landed lightly on them.
The entire backyard went silent, as if someone had hit the mute button.
Clea's pruning shears froze mid-air, still poised to cut.
Zola's gardening trowel stopped as well. She straightened up and opened her mouth. "Ms. Wipere…"
Lucinda didn't step forward. Her gaze swept over Clea's face, then landed on Zola's.
Clea was the first to recover. She set down the shears and forced an unnatural smile onto her face. "Ms. Wipere, what brings you out here? We were just… just talking about the garden beds…"
Her voice was much quieter than before, the tail end of her sentence wavering.
Lucinda didn't respond. She simply asked, "Who were you saying got first place?"
The air went still for a moment.
Clea's lips moved, and she answered instinctively. "It was… it was Ms. Douglas…"
She paused, then added, "Ms. Wipere, please don't take it too hard. When it comes to exams, Ms. Douglas has always had a… a better foundation since she was young…"
She stopped mid-sentence because Lucinda glanced at her.
It was a light glance, but for some reason, Clea felt a chill run down her spine. The rest of her words stuck in her throat.
Lucinda withdrew her gaze. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly. Then she turned, pushed open the side door to the main building, and walked inside.
The courtyard remained silent for several seconds.
Clea let out a long breath. Her shears finally came down.
She muttered under her breath, "Ms. Wipere's expression just now… what was that supposed to mean? Like she didn't even care."
A young servant nearby leaned in, her voice even lower. "Maybe… she knows she can't compete and didn't want to hear it?"
The group exchanged glances but said nothing more.
The atmosphere in the living room was lively when the butler's voice came from the foyer. "Mr. Douglas, Mrs. Douglas, guests from the National Academy of Sciences have arrived. They say they've come specifically to visit."
Valencia's eyes lit up. She stood and smoothed her clothing. "Please, show them in."
Liam entered the living room with several researchers. Valencia warmly greeted them. "Mr. Orsini, thank you all for coming such a long way. Please, sit. Zane, bring tea."
Liam gave a slight bow, his demeanor polite. "Mrs. Douglas, pardon the intrusion. We came today to discuss a potential collaboration with a young lady from the Douglas family."
Dahlia's hand, holding her teacup, paused slightly, but she quickly composed herself.
A collaboration?
Had they come specifically for her?
At the thought, a surge of excitement stirred in Dahlia's chest.
She set down her teacup, stood, and gave Liam a polite nod, her posture graceful and poised. "Mr. Orsini, hello. I'm Dahlia Douglas. The exam results just came out. Thank you and the other teachers for coming in person."
Liam glanced at her, his tone courteous. "Ms. Douglas, your results are indeed excellent. We've seen them. However—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the living room as if searching for something.
"The person we're here to see today is the candidate who placed first nationwide in this research exam. According to our information, first place went to Ms. Lucinda Wipere. May I ask if she's here?"
The air in the living room thinned, as if someone had gently sucked it away.
Dahlia's smile was still on her face, but the curve of her lips froze at a visible rate.
Valencia's mouth opened slightly. Then she suddenly covered it with her hand, her eyes instantly brightening.
She turned toward the staircase, her voice unable to suppress her excitement. "Cindy—she got first place? First in the nation? 109 points? No, wait—higher than 109?"
Liam nodded, his tone carrying genuine respect. "Ms. Wipere scored a perfect score. Her problem-solving approach and solutions were unanimously recognized by our review panel as textbook-level quality."
After he finished speaking, the living room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Dahlia's fingers, hanging at her sides, slowly clenched into fists.
Her lips still held that polite curve, but the edges of her smile had begun to stiffen.
She'd just said she wanted to "show Mom and Dad that I can bring honor to the family too." Now those words came back like a boomerang, striking her squarely.
Valencia didn't notice her expression. She had already turned and taken two steps toward the staircase before stopping. She looked back at Liam, her voice brimming with uncontainable joy. "Mr. Orsini, please sit for a moment. I'll go get Cindy right away."