Chapter 33

Emma’s classmate replied, “She does have a nice name. It’s Kate Johnson!”

“Kate,” Emma murmured the name silently. She quickly remembered Kate Johnson from her past life; the name frequently appeared in Troin City’s media and social circles. The Johnson and Hall families were acquainted. Emma recalled hearing that the Johnsons, for three generations, had lived abroad, and their only daughter, Kate, had enjoyed a privileged upbringing, becoming a renowned socialite in Troin City.

“How could someone like her, who’s never been a teacher or done anything remotely similar in my past life, want to teach at our school?” Emma wondered aloud, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.

“You know her?” a shocked classmate exclaimed.

“I’ve seen her, but I don’t know her personally,” Emma replied lightly, her casual tone allaying any suspicion.

Meanwhile, at the Icovine Estate, Liam received some unsettling news.

Levi reported, “Mr. Hall, we’ve discovered something.”

“Speak,” Liam commanded. In his antique study, bathed in warm afternoon sunlight, he sat still and composed, like a sculpted figure.

Levi continued, “The woman in those photos is indeed Mrs. Hall. However, it’s not what we initially suspected. Those pictures are from a kidnapping Mrs. Hall experienced in the countryside a few years ago. Security in her village was lax, and criminal activity was prevalent. Fortunately, Mrs. Hall escaped unharmed.”

“Who was responsible?” Liam asked, his initial suspicion of Emma replaced by pity and anger towards her attackers. He hadn’t expected such a traumatic event in her past.

“Identifying the original perpetrators is proving difficult,” Levi explained. “The police have no record of the incident; it seems the villagers resolved the matter themselves. However, it’s peculiar that these photos, which should have been destroyed long ago, have resurfaced. Someone has clearly been holding onto them, plotting against Mrs. Hall.”

From the photos to the cameras used, Liam, like Emma, suspected the same person—Aria. “Find out what Emma’s half-sister has been doing lately, and investigate the Wilson family.”

“Mr. Hall, you suspect…,” Levi asked tentatively.

“Yes,” Liam confirmed.

“Understood. I’ll look into this thoroughly,” Levi replied.

The thought of Emma, years younger, enduring such an ordeal, filled Liam with sadness. “Destroy all negative news about Emma once you have the facts.”

“Yes, Mr. Hall.”

Chapter 11 (partial text)

…Emma was changing in the locker room after gym class when she heard a group of students excitedly chattering and rushing down the hallway:

“Yes, yes, yes, and her sixty-thousand-dollar Hall diamond bracelet is really sparkling!”

“Wow, the life of a rich lady is really different. That bracelet costs more than our two years’ salaries!”

After the group dispersed, Emma glanced at the class schedule. Their next class was art.

Humph, Kate, let’s see what your purpose is in attending our school, Emma thought.

“I’ve reviewed everyone’s homework, and it’s all quite thorough, but…” Kate said, her gaze meaningfully fixed on Emma, who sat some distance away. Kate, as Emma had imagined, appeared four or five years older, around twenty-five. Amidst the students, her tailored white suit and luxurious jewelry made her look sophisticated and subtly ostentatious. Her wavy brown hair, slim figure, and confident demeanor set her apart from typical internet celebrities, though her makeup was similar.

“Emma, may I see your homework?” Kate asked.

A girl in front of Emma whispered, “Emma, you’re in trouble! Miss Johnson seems kind, but this morning a girl from another class was reprimanded and cried.”

Another student chimed in, “Seriously?”

“Yes, I heard it from a friend. Miss Johnson is very strict on papers, and her questions are incredibly tricky. If you can’t answer, she’ll make you rewrite it and deduct ten points at the end of the semester.”

Just as everyone anxiously awaited Emma’s response, she calmly walked to the front.

Chapter 32 (partial text)

In fact, Kate suspected Emma of plagiarism, but found no evidence online. She suspected ghostwriting.

The students murmured amongst themselves.

“Is Kate a devil? Our papers were due last week; everyone cited over thirty sources. Who could remember them all?”

“Yeah, she’s nitpicking!”

“Could Emma really be Liam’s…”

Emma, with her exceptional hearing, caught every word. Kate, a lifelong piano student, also possessed keen hearing. She silently memorized the names of the gossiping students, planning to address them later. She fixed a cold stare on Emma.

Emma met her gaze calmly. “My paper focuses on the Eastern elements in Rafael Harmon’s work, referencing key journals like Art Exploration, Beauty and Time, The Art Newspaper…” She proceeded to flawlessly list over ten journals, articles, and authors, both foreign and domestic, mirroring her paper’s content.