“Alright. I’m over the moon that everyone could make it. Now that you’re all here, remember to stay


    safe and take good care of yourselves–that’s what’s most important, Mrs. Thompson said with a hint of


    sadness in her voice. “I just want to watch you kids grow up, get married start families, and find


    happiness.”


    “Mrs. Thompson, I’m afraid Foebe is being a bit disrespectful. She’s married, yet she can’t even bring


    her husband to call,” sneered the girl I had previously snapped at.


    I walked over to Mrs. Thompson with due respect. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Thompson. My husband isn’t well,


    and this kind of social gathering isn’t really suited for him.”


    “Not well? He’s a dimwit, that’s what it is,” the girl rolled her eyes in disdain.


    “Eloise, give it a rest,” James intervened, trying to keep things fair since we were here to see our old


    teacher.


    “We’ve heard the gossip, Foebe. That you married some idiot for his money and that he’s no good to


    you. There are even whispers of him having a violent streak, like some kind of felon.” another


    ssmate chimed in, loud enough for everyone to hear.


    I nced at the duo, then over at Coraline, with a raised eyebrow. “The Langley family is considered


    aristocracy in Sea City. Spreading rumors like that…”


    “Enough. Mrs. Thompson said with a warm smile directed at me. “Foebe is a good kid. She’s bound to


    find a husband who will adore her.”


    “Foebe, you’ve changed a lot. You’ve finally… finally be stronger and braver,” she said, her eyes


    reddening as she patted the back of my hand.


    I nodded in response.“Mrs. Thompson, I’ll take good care of myself. You don’t need to worry.”


    Mrs. Thompson nodded with relief. “Good, good. Seeing all of you doing well puts my mind at


    ease.”


    “Mrs. Thompson, this is my boyfriend, Oscar. You’ve never taught him, but I’m sure you’ve heard of


    him,” Coraline said proudly, introducing Oscar.


    Oscar was the valedictorian of Foebe’s high school. Although not the top student in the state. he was


    known for his academic excellence.


    The teachers all ha


    heard of Oscar, acknowledging him as a genius.


    “Ah, yes, the boy who was always top of the ss,” Mrs. Thompson beamed, her memory of good


    students still sharp.


    “While Coraline is dating the top of her ss, Foebe ended up with an idiot, haha…”


    I listened to their ridicule in silence.


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    “She’s an idiot, too. Didn’t even get into college. Isn’t marrying an idiot just perfect for her?”


    “Even though my husband couldn’t make it, let me introduce him. His name is Caleb Langley, and he


    was the top of the ‘Genius ss‘ in Sea City, He was fast–tracked through education and finished


    college in his teens–a true prodigy,” I didn’t hold back. Before Caleb’s incident, he was indeed


    extraordinary.


    James looked taken aback, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes. Although he was good at hiding. it,


    Lcaught a glimpse of something in his gaze.


    He must know Colin, aka Caleb Langley.


    Mrs. Thompson was surprised. “Genius ss? Very few from Sea City make it in there.”


    “I remember that year the Sea City Double–Genius Welfare House got its name because it produced


    not one, but two geniuses! Both entered the Genius ss and put that ce on the map. After that,


    plenty of wealthy folks came looking to adopt, hoping to catch some of that genius for themselves,”


    someone said, nostalgic.


    Indeed, the emergence of two prodigies from a single welfare house turned the abandoned children


    there into hotmodities among the affluent.


    Those wealthy patrons certainly understood the value of a genius.


    I kept an eye on James, more convinced than ever that he knew something.


    Seeing herself upstaged by me, Coraline quickly spoke up, “So, your husband is that brilliant? Then


    how did he suddenly be an idiot? And what’s this about violent tendencies?”


    “Idiot? Not quite. He’s just more innocent in nature, not two–faced like some people’s partners. It’s a


    shame that someone who was first in ss turned out to be such a scumbag.” I crossed my arms and


    gave Coraline a challenging look. “I still have the photos and videos from when I caught you two red–


    handed. Want me to share them.


    Coraline’s face paled, and she trembled with rage.


    Oscar was even more infuriated, pointing at me as heshed out, “Foebe, don’t you get too cocky. Do


    you really think just because you married some lunatic, you can do whatever you want?”


    “Lunatics aren’t legally liable to murder,” came azy voice tinged with a hint of madness from the


    doorway. Colin leaned against the frame, having appeared at some point unnoticed.