Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Carlisle gave Hilda a few gentle pats on the back. “You and Dad can breathe a sigh of relief now, can’t you?”
Gordon chuckled, passing Carlisle’s transcript to Fletcher with a grin. “Mr. Moore, please take a look at this for me. My son’s results are quite average, right?”
Fletcher took the score report and glanced at it, but the moment his eyes landed on the 1400 points, his body stiffened.
“1400? This… This is unbelievable!” Fletcher’s voice trembled as he stared at Carlisle in disbelief. Kelly had been scoring high marks for years, yet she had only managed 1225. How could Carlisle possibly have scored so high?
Just as Fletcher was about to say more, Gerard’s voice boomed from the window on the third floor of the hotel opposite. “Mr. Moore, everyone’s waiting for you!”
Fletcher forced a tight smile. “Okay, I’m coming!” he replied, then turned back to Carlisle, his disbelief still evident.
Hilda, noticing her family’s arrival, walked over with her head held high, her chest puffed out in pride. She was determined to show off her son’s success.
But Fletcher was still fixated on Carlisle. “You didn’t fake this, did you, Carlisle?” he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. He couldn’t believe that this quiet boy could achieve such a high score. His only explanation was that the transcript had been forged.
Before Carlisle could respond, Sarah, a classmate of his, stepped forward. “Excuse me, Sir. We watched the teacher hand out Carlisle’s score report. He didn’t forge it!”
“That’s right,” another student chimed in. “You shouldn’t accuse people without knowing the facts.”
“Some people can’t stand to see others succeed,” another added, their voices growing in unison.
Fletcher stood there, speechless, the weight of their words sinking in. His hands trembled as he held the transcript, and he finally forced a smile, returning the document to Gordon.
“I misspoke earlier, Gordon. Please don’t take it to heart,” he said, his voice shaky.
To make amends, Fletcher pulled a crisp 100-dollar bill from his pocket. “This is for your son,” he said, handing it to Gordon. Originally, the money was meant for Kelly, but now that Carlisle had qualified for Riverland University, Fletcher needed to repair his relationship with the family.
Gordon, ever the pragmatic man, shrugged with a smile. “What was it you said, Fletch? I don’t remember anymore,” he teased. He wasn’t one to hold grudges, especially with someone as influential as Fletcher, the head of the village.
Fletcher laughed and slapped Carlisle on the shoulder. “You’re a good kid, Carlisle. I’ve always known you were capable. You’ve made us all at Helios Village proud!” he said, his tone shifting from doubt to admiration.
In a village where poverty was common, the few students who managed to go to college were seen as a beacon of hope for everyone. They were the ones who could bring prosperity, and Carlisle had now become that symbol.
Just then, Gordon’s PHS phone rang. He answered it quickly. The caller introduced themselves as a reporter from Riverland TV Station, eager to interview Carlisle. After confirming, Gordon relayed their location.
Meanwhile, inside the hotel, the party was in full swing. Fifteen tables were packed with guests, all gathered to celebrate Gerard’s daughter Kelly, the pride of Helios Village for being the only one to qualify for college.
“Why isn’t Fletcher here yet?” someone murmured.
“He’s probably over there, congratulating Carlisle,” another villager added.
The whispers were loud enough for Maria to hear. She frowned and glanced at the time. “Why hasn’t Mr. Moore arrived?” she muttered.
Gerard, also looking impatient, finally said, “Kelly, go get Mr. Moore. We need him here to complete the celebration. He likes to be shown respect as village head.”
Kelly nodded obediently, standing up and walking out of the hotel. The villagers’ conversations grew louder, but the real drama was unfolding just across the street, where Carlisle’s victory was beginning to make waves that couldn’t be ignored.
