Chapter 53


    “Mirabe, spill the beans, girl Does your family own an oil field or something?” Jenna’s words dripped


    with jealousy. With a sly arch of her brow, Mirabe casually picked up her phone, unlocked it with a


    quick swipe of her thumb, and with Jenna watching, she nonchntly epted a tidy sum of ten grand


    from Delh and Shawn via Messenger. The sheer audacity of her movements was enough to leave


    anyone agape.


    Jenna’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God!” Oh, how she wanted to murder her desk–mate not only swipe


    every penny from her Messenger, but also hog her billionaire parents all to herself!


    “Ugh, it’s downright maddening topare yourself to others.” Jenna sighed dramatically, feigning


    sorrow. “Why can’t I have a pair of filthy–rich parents doting on their princess, huh?”


    Mirabe turned her head, flicking her bangs away from her forehead with a nonchnt grace. Her


    eyes sparkled with an enticing glint as she quipped, “You may not have tycoon parents, but there’s still


    a chance for you to be a tycoon mommy to some spoiled child.”


    Jenna choked on her ownughter and threw her a thumbs–up. Whoever said her desk–mate was just


    a pretty face must not have heard her razor–sharp wit.


    Mulling over the recent rumors, Jenna shifted closer to Mirabe. Her yful expression from moments


    before was reced by one of genuine concern. “Speaking of which, there’s some gossip going around


    about you. Have you heard?”


    Mirabe raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “What gossip?”


    After pondering for a brief moment, Jenna said, “Rumor has it that your grades are nothing to brag


    about, that you can’t even match up to the average Joe in ss, and that you got into this school


    through some backdoor shenanigans.”


    Parkside High School wasn’t like the neighboring Maple Academy; it was a ce for the true academic


    cream of the crop. The school’s rules were strict, and its principal was famously unbending and iron–


    fisted. The idea of someone sneaking in through the backdoor was practically unheard of at Parkside.


    However, the rumor about Mirabe’s using such means was now the scandalous exception,


    challenging the integrity of Parkside’s reputation. Rumors are often harmless, but when they attack the


    honor of an institution, they be a serious matter.


    Considering how Mirabe’s parents seemed to be showering her with money transfers daily, Jenna


    couldn’t help but suspect that there might be a kernel of truth to the whispers of nepotism.


    Of course, she’d rather not believe such gossip, especially since her desk–mate’s studious dedication


    was in for all to see.


    Mirabe, catching Jenna’s conflicted gaze, offered a sly smile and countered, “Do you believe it?”


    “Me? Of course not,” Jenna shook her head. “You’re always buried in books. You’re the quintessential


    bookworm. Anyone could be used of sneaking in, but you’re the least likely suspect.”


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Hearing Jenna’s assessment, Mirabe could only chuckle and shake her head at the girl’s Innocence.


    While Mirabe remained utterly unfazed and unconcerned, Jenna voiced her frustration, “How can you


    be so calm? Wouldn’t any normal person be upset about being bad–mouthed?”


    Mirabe gave her a contemtive look before replying in aid–back tone, “Rumors are squashed by


    the wise.”


    Jenna’s mouth twitched with annoyance. “That’s easy to say, but if this rumor keeps spreading, it could


    be a real headache. If those idiots take it to the principal, that would be a disaster.”


    After a pause, Jenna suddenly remembered something. Her eyes lit up as she faced Mirabe.


    “Actually, I might just have the perfect way to squash this rumor.”


    Mirabe’s eyebrow quirked in interest. “Oh?”