Chapter 14 I'm Embarrassed for Her
Emily hadn't expected Sophia to tear off the mask in front of everyone openly, so she decided to drop all pretenses, too.
Looking down at Sophia imperiously, she commanded, "Go buy me a bottle of water."
She deliberately flaunted the luxury watch on her wrist. "AquaPure brand, I can't stand the taste of anything else."
The air fell dead silent for several seconds before Amelia burst out laughing, "Isn't she embarrassed? I'm embarrassed for her."
The class erupted in laughter. In their two-plus years at Silver Fir Academy, this was the first time they'd witnessed such a vulgar performance.
They'd been in the same class as Sophia since middle school. Sophia possessed business talent, financial resources, and influential connections. Who among them didn't have some project or venture connected to her?
As they liked to say, if you couldn't become Sophia's business partner, she'd inevitably become your biggest commercial rival down the road.
As for Emily? She was just an empty trophy with a title, lacking any ability to create value while delusionally believing she deserved the right to control everything, pathetically stupid.
The laughter felt like slaps across Emily's face, making her cheeks burn with humiliation.
"Sophia, you think these losers defending you give you something to be smug about! Don't forget that the Smith family is Emerald City's top elite family. Now that the Smith family doesn't want you, you'll forever be a failure! Forever beneath my feet!"
Sophia methodically capped her pen and closed her folder. "You're just frustrated that you want to fit in here but can't, so you're taking your anger out on me."
She looked up, her gaze calm as still water, "They choose to be friends with me because I'd never try to prove my worth by ordering people to buy me water."
Emily trembled with rage, "You! I'm the Smith family's real heiress!"
Sophia chuckled softly, "Do you know that AquaPure water was exposed for heavy metal contamination last year?"
Emily's eyes froze, her face instantly flushing red.
"Oh, and..." Sophia glanced at the watch on Emily's wrist as if suddenly remembering something, smiling sweetly, "That watch you're wearing is last season's discontinued model, and your bag has a scratch on the left side. The Smith family isn't short on money. Next time, buy from authorized dealers so you don't get scammed."
"Sophia!" The naked humiliation finally pushed Emily over the edge. In her fury, she grabbed Sophia's printed economics paper from the desk and tore it to shreds.
She screamed, "What bullshit, first place! A broke pauper thinking she can make a comeback!"
After cursing Sophia, she whirled around to glare at the people surrounding her, "And you idiots, you'd better recognize reality! I'm the Smith family's only heiress. Cross me and you cross the Smith family. I'll make sure you all go bankrupt!"
The crowd remained calm, showing no anger or annoyance, too lazy to even argue with Emily.
But Sophia's eyes darkened almost imperceptibly. She glanced at the shredded paper on the floor and reminded coolly, "You made the mess—remember to clean it up."
It felt like punching cotton. This sensation left Emily feeling utterly defeated, shame overwhelming her.
In her burning rage, she raised her hand to slap Sophia's face, "Bitch!"
Amelia quickly grabbed Emily's wrist. Sophia remained serenely seated, wearing a gentle smile that felt like a spring breeze.
In this classroom, Emily's chances of laying a finger on Sophia were pure fantasy.
"What's going on here!" An angry shout came from the doorway. Everyone turned to see Elara striding in.
Elara glanced at the scattered paper fragments, then at Emily's hand still raised high in Amelia's grip. His voice turned cold, "Amelia, let go."
Amelia released Emily. Elara fixed Emily with a furious stare, "I don't care what your background is. At Silver Fir Academy, you're just a student! This isn't a place where you can act like a tyrant. Focus your energy on studying. Our class has maintained first place in the grade rankings, and I won't allow anyone to drag us down!"
After being thoroughly scolded, Emily shot Elara a resentful glare and ran out the door.
'Damn it! Everyone is helping that little bitch Sophia! Just because she has slightly better grades, even the teachers take her side!'
'Just wait and see—none of these families could compare to the Smith family. Sooner or later, I'll make them all disappear!'
That afternoon, the equestrian and golf assessments were conducted school-wide.
Silver Fir Academy catered to the children of elite families, so the student body was much smaller than ordinary high schools.
The senior class started with equestrian first, with students from all five classes gathering together in matching riding attire.
Sophia stood by the stables, grooming the mane of a pure black Arabian horse.
"Celestial's in good form today," Amelia said, walking over while glancing toward Emily, who was selecting a horse in the distance. "Want to guess which one she'll pick?"
Sophia didn't look up, "As long as it's not Seraphina."
Before she'd finished speaking, Emily's shrill voice carried over, "I want this black one!"
The riding instructor looked troubled. "Emily, Seraphina has a fierce temperament, not suitable for beginners."
"I want to try anyway. Maybe I can handle her?" Emily stared proudly at the black horse before her, imagining how magnificent she'd look galloping across the field.
The instructor tried to dissuade her, but Sophia had already put down her brush and walked over. Seraphina seemed to recognize her, pawing the ground with her front hooves as Sophia approached.
"Emily, you should be careful if you want to ride Seraphina," Sophia warned kindly, maintaining a safe distance.
"Shut up!" Emily whirled around, eyes blazing with fury. "Who asked for fake concern from a fraud like you?!"
Sophia watched her for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed softly, "Fine, if you want to ride her, go ahead and try."
She stepped back and made a gesture of invitation.
Emily's eyes flashed with triumphant satisfaction as she eagerly stepped into the stirrup.
"Ahhhh—"
Seraphina suddenly reared up on her hind legs. Emily, not yet properly seated, was thrown off and landed ungracefully in the mud, her carefully styled hair now covered with grass and dirt.