News of Alaricka’s top-scorer victory had spread through the Argent’s villa. Though everyone avoided mentioning the name around Rose, she inevitably overheard servants discussing it.

Academic excellence always reshapes public perception dramatically.

Under the McIntosh Piano Competition hashtag, dormant for months, new posts surfaced thanks to Alarieka’s feat:

“Tsk. Told you Alarieka was framed. After all that hate, she’s thriving AND aced the national exam? Some faces must sting!”

“Requesting tutorials: 1. How Rose stops being fake innocent. 2. How Rose quits targeting younger girls. 3. How Rose’s fans gain basic logic.”

“Seriously, Alarieka dropped that savage statement while drowning in hate. Now she’s national top scorer? Ultimate life winner. Textbook female lead – I’m stanning.”

“Alarieka’s lapdogs make zero sense. Maybe it’s just a namesake? A clout-chaser like her nailing those scores? Don’t celebrate yet – someone’s getting humiliated soon.”

“Tsk. Smell that? Pure jealousy. Clueless much?”

“Capital TV has already released the report on Alarieka Huston. Go check it out, mind you. Later, you’ll need to apply more ointment to your face–after all, it’s quite swollen.”

The room blazed with light as Roschelle Whitaker leaned against the headboard, her swollen belly prominent. Clutching her phone with trembling hands, her pupils shook.

Chapter 36

Though months had passed since the McIntosh Piano Competition, she remained haunted, compulsively searching online discussions. This battle against Alaricka Huston had been her most humiliating moment.

Online sentiment had never favored her. Despite fans defending her, disruptive comments always surfaced. Roschelle suspected Alarieka hired trolls–who else would speak for her?

Today, opening a trending topic, she froze. Alarieka was this year’s National Exam Top Scorer.

Exceptional students commanded respect. As news spread, praise flooded Alarieka’s topic.

Alarieka? Top scorer?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

Clarissa Argent took the same exam. She’d returned wailing about impossible questions, predicting low scores. When results came, Clarissa failed even the undergraduate cutoff. Humiliated, Wallace Argent silenced her results and enrolled her abroad immediately.

Given the exam’s difficulty and Alarieka’s academic history, such high scores were inconceivable. How could Alarieka possess such intellect?

It must be fake. Or a namesake.

Roschelle cautiously tapped a video link. Capital TV footage filled her screen.

There stood Alarieka beside a handsome young man outside bustling exam halls. Serene features softened her face, pale pink lips curved slightly as she listened to reporters. Hearing the young man’s answer, her eyes flared with anger–far more animated than during her time at the Argent villa. After brief replies, both walked away.

The scene anchor, impeccably dressed and articulate, cut to an interview. "The young woman is this year’s National Exam Top Scorer, Alarieka Huston. Scoring 734 points–twenty above the runner-up–she’s been accepted into Ivy League universities‘ computer science program…”

It was real.

Unbelievably real.

Alarieka had left. Roschelle dismissed her as irrelevant, focusing solely on building a future with Kieran and their child. Kieran never mentioned her since her departure.

Alarieka posed no threat.

Yet the internet overflowed with admiration for Alarieka. Her sudden fame resurrected past scandals–their shared history now blazed across public consciousness again.

But this time was different. Because of Alarieka’s identity as the National Exam Top Scorer, public opinion began shifting in her favor. Under related hashtags, netizens were posting:

“My God, National Exam Top Scorer Alarieka Huston is actually the same Alarieka! They’re the same person!”

“Holy shit, I was wrong. I’ve got a genius bias–I believe top scorers are absolutely good people. Sorry Alarieka, I regret it. I shouldn’t have cursed at you. Please, can I have your study notes?”

“God, who knew there’d be a plot twist? Honestly, I always thought Alarieka was some high school bully with terrible grades. I was wrong – totally looked down on you.”