Chapter 58: Oscar Owes Amber a Little Gold Man
In the broadcast room, the announcement played over and over again, causing Amber and Elena to wish they could find a hole to crawl into out of shame and anger.
At school, it was normal to be criticized during a full assembly with a brief mention, but never had anyone been continuously announced over the broadcast like today. The announcement was like the loudspeakers in a rural village, ensuring that every ear heard.
What was worse, Tina had only requested Mr. Stiller to issue a broadcasted reprimand, but he had unexpectedly summoned them to the principal’s office, leaving them uncertain of what awaited them.
The exams were approaching, and even a slight negative record could affect their future!
Amber clenched her hands so tightly that her sharp nails dug into her flesh without her feeling any pain, her delicate face contorted with fury.
After taking several deep breaths to suppress her anger, she managed a forced smile and said, “Tina, we’re family. Do you have to go this far? I know you dislike me because dad adopted me and you feel I’ve stolen the happiness that should have been yours, but I never thought of contending with you.”
“I’ve been yielding to you since you returned, but why can’t you let me be?” Amber’s tears flowed on command, her sobbing appearance eliciting a protective urge in others.
Tina glanced at her dismissively and said coldly, “Please call me Miss Reed! You don’t like it? I don’t mind calling the principal again.”
Tina was uninterested in Amber’s performance, which was worthy of an acting career that could win her an Oscar. Such tricks were to be put away in her presence.
She turned and walked out with Velma, stopping after a few steps to add, with a chill in her voice, “Amber! How you scheme against the Reeds is your business, but if you dare target Mr. and Mrs. Reed, I’ll make sure you truly understand who I am.”
With that, she left without looking back, her footsteps resounding as she went.
Albert and Hendrik, along with the other 22D students, immediately followed her.
“Miss Reed, aren’t you eating?” Albert said with an apologetic face, “The line was too long, and we didn’t manage to get food.”
“Please go out to eat,” Tina suggested, with the cake from the buffet Velma mentioned on her mind.
“Alright!” The students of 22D celebrated.
After they left, the remaining students in the cafeteria were at a loss.
As for the broadcast announcement, no one seemed to have heard it.
Upon realizing that Tina was the teacher of 22D, everyone was stunned into silence.
After a while, someone exclaimed, “My God, the Lead Teacher of 22D is a girl almost our age? And she’s got 22D under her thumb?”
“Exactly! I saw Albert lining up for food, and I thought I was seeing things.”
“Miss Reed is amazing, isn’t she? How does she manage to make those devils behave?”
The surrounding discussions were filled with admiration for Tina.
Amber, hearing all this, felt incredibly humiliated.
These students used to stand up for her, but today, despite her hints, not one spoke on her behalf. Now, they even admired Tina.
“I think Miss Reed is extraordinary. Not only has she managed 22D well, but she’s also got Mr. Stiller speaking on her behalf. It was supposed to be just a reprimand for Amber and Elena, but Mr. Stiller took them to his office instead.”
“Didn’t you hear Miss Reed and Amber’s conversation? Miss Reed is the daughter of the Reed family. I heard from my mom a few days ago that they had found their daughter who was lost for ten years. And Miss Reed is prettier than Amber.”
“I think there’s something unusual here. Amber said Miss Reed was targeting her, but it was Amber who approached her first.”
Amber’s face turned pale at these words.
These flip-floppers!
They used to grovel when they needed her, but now they immediately changed their attitude seeing Tina as a teacher.
Amber turned to Elena, looking aggrieved, “Elena, I didn’t expect this. I just wanted to greet Tina, but she probably really doesn’t like me.”
Elena, called to the principal’s office for no reason and already furious at Tina, couldn’t help but retort when she heard the students blaming Amber, “What do you know? Tina has been troubling Amber since she returned. She just can’t stand Amber being better than her.”
The students fell silent.
Elena continued to defend Amber, “She became a teacher through connections. Go and ask around; who doesn’t know she grew up in the countryside? She hasn’t left the mountains for ten years. How could she have gone to school?”
“Who are22D’s students? Don’t you know them? She must be tougher than them if she’s got them in line, which means things can only get worse with her in charge. Having someone like her in the school is a slap in our face. Besides, honestly, can you say you’re willing to call someone who never went to school a teacher?”
The students were stirred.
Indeed!
Tina never went to school, yet she became a teacher through backdoor influence. Although she could discipline the students of 22D, she was still a teacher at their school.
As teachers, they were obliged to greet Tina respectfully. They were not like the 22D students; respecting teachers was a fundamental courtesy.
But the idea of having such a person as a teacher was, frankly, unacceptable.
“Elena, stop it. I think my sister probably just thinks being a teacher is fun. She’ll lose interest in a few days and quit,” Amber interjected.
Upon hearing this, some students grew discontented, “Being a teacher is fun? What does she think this school is? This is a place for learning, not for her amusement.”
“Yeah! It’s not so critical for Grade 9 or Grade 10, but Grade 11 is crucial. We have exams in three months; we can’t be affected by her.”
“No way! I’m going to tell my parents to talk to Mr. Stiller. We can’t have someone like that as a teacher. If she messes up my studies and I can’t get into college, I’m ruined.”
“Exactly, I’m also going to talk to my parents! We can’t keep someone like that in the school!”
As the mood among the students rose, Amber’s smile grew more triumphant.
“Oh, Tina! You’re not quite up to par with me in this fight.”
“I can’t wait to see how the Farrell family copes with the pressure those parents will put on Mr. Stiller.”
Just as everyone was getting ready to eat, a student burst into the cafeteria, exclaiming excitedly, “Quick, check the news, Professor Lininger’s bringing his team to teach at our school!”
“What!” The students were stunned, “Professor Lininger is the most authoritative professor in Kongham University’s Department of Physics. His students are all exceptionally talented geniuses.”
“More importantly, Professor Lininger is coming with his team, all of whom are professors in different subjects.”
“What are we waiting for? Let’s call our parents right away to pressure Mr. Stiller to get rid of Miss Reed. We can’t let Professor Lininger discover we have such a teacher.”
Thus, the students sprang into action.
Amber’s smile brightened even more.
Even fate seemed to be on her side.