Chapter 131: The Campus Was Unusually Quiet During Winter Break

The campus was unusually quiet during winter break, with only a few senior classes still holding make-up sessions.

Clara Whitmore stood at the school gate as the security guard squinted at her. "Here to visit your teachers during the holidays?"

Before she could answer, he waved her in. "Go ahead. The seniors are in class—just keep it down."

Pressing her lips together, Clara walked silently onto the grounds.

She didn’t head toward the academic buildings. Instead, she wandered slowly across the empty sports field. Pale winter sunlight dappled the running track with shifting shadows.

At the honor display case, a familiar face made her pause.

The girl in the photo beamed with radiant confidence. Below it read: Clara Whitmore, Fairhaven Science Valedictorian, Admitted to Ashford University Biology Department.

A sudden gust of wind swirled dead leaves across the pavement as the sky darkened.

"Mr. Whitmore—"

The familiar voice made Clara turn. Her father approached with a stack of test papers in his arms.

"Happy New Year, Dr. Pierce." Daniel Whitmore smiled at the female teacher walking toward him.

"Back at school so early? No family obligations?" Dr. Pierce adjusted her glasses.

As Daniel began to respond, she suddenly lowered her voice. "Your Clara still isn’t coming home for the holidays, is she?"

"Actually—"

"Between you and me," Pierce interrupted, "that girl changed after moving to the capital. Won’t even acknowledge her own parents now."

Daniel’s smile froze.

"Top of her class, yet she insisted on chasing big-city dreams. And now? Rumor has it she’s..." Pierce trailed off meaningfully.

"Rumor has what?" Daniel’s voice turned icy.

"Oh, you know what people say about girls who..." Pierce gave an awkward laugh. "Never mind."

"Dr. Pierce." Daniel spoke each word with deliberate precision. "My daughter’s reputation is spotless. I’d appreciate you not spreading gossip."

"I was only trying to—"

"We don’t need that kind of concern." Daniel turned sharply and walked away, his stiff back radiating anger.

Pierce smirked. "Who’s he trying to fool? Everyone knows his daughter is some rich man’s—"

Her words died as she spotted Clara standing nearby. The professor’s face cycled through a series of horrified expressions.