Chapter 5

Briskvale High sat at the pinnacle of local education,famous for having some of the toughest entrance requirements in the city.

Throughout its long and storied history, the school had never once accepted a transfer student, let alone welcomed someone who had once dropped out of school.

Gianna's place at Briskvale had been earned through relentless effort, bolstered by her family background and stellar track record.

Casting a sidelong glance at Grace, Gianna sneered to herself as she watched the girl quietly savor her soup.Did this orphan honestly believe she could just stroll into a place like Briskvale High?

Only the brightest and most ambitious students filled those halls, and nearly every graduate went on to attend a top university.

Admitting someone who once dropped out of school?That would be an outright scandal.

Surely, the school wouldn't risk its legacy.

"Aunt Julia..."' Gianna put on a show of concern. "I heard Grace didn't have the best grades back in her hometown..."

She let her words hang in the air, eyes glittering with barely disguised mockery.

Julia took her time serving Grace another bowl of soup,her smile warm and reassuring. "There's nothing to worry about. Rodger donated an entire building to the school. The principal believes every student deserves a fair chance, so Grace is welcome to join."

Although Gianna forced a worried expression, her jaw clenched tight. "I'm only looking out for Grace.We had another student once who bought his way in,but he could not keep up and ended up having a tough time. The pressure pushed him into depression."

The thought of anyone at school linking her to Grace made Gianna bristle with embarrassment. She would never allow Grace to attend the same school as her.

For a split second, Rodger's features grew thoughtful,a hint of concern surfacing.

He hadn't fully considered the challenges Grace might face.

When he looked over at Grace, her wide and innocent eyes were fixed on him. That sweet look tugged at his

heartstrings.

"Grace." Rodger spoke in a softer tone than usual."If you ever feel overwhelmed, we can look into other schools. I've made donations to plenty of them..."

Setting her spoon down with a quiet clink, Grace met his gaze. "There's no need to worry," she replied softly. "If you believe Briskvale High is the right place,then I'll go. And just so you know, I'm not as hopeless as everyone thinks."

Something warm bloomed in Rodger's chest. How did he end up with a daughter so sensible?

Whether she was brilliant or not meant little to him-the family's fortune could give her a life of comfort forever.

All he wanted was to shield her from disappointment and give her every chance to be happy.

Rodger looked at Grace with a gentleness rarely seen in him. "All your mom and I wish for is that you find happiness and fulfillment in your life."

That sort of gentleness was a side he reserved only for his wife and now for his daughter.

Across the table, Gianna's grip on her fork tightened so much her knuckles blanched.

In her mind, Rodger and Julia were too impulsive and naive.

Was Briskvale High their private place, letting in anyone they pleased as if it belonged to them? Such stupidity was hard to stomach.

Sooner or later, Gianna believed,reality would come crashing down on Grace the moment she set foot inside the school.

Schemes for making Grace's life miserable were already swirling in her mind.

"I believe I can handle it," Grace replied, a hint of calm resting on her face.

Rodger's eyes softened further as he retrieved a slim black card from his pocket. "Here, Grace. There's no limit on this card. Get yourself whatever you need."

The whole room seemed to pause, the air growing thick with shock.

All eyes settled on Rodger and Grace.

That card wasn't just a credit card-it was a black card,a symbol of privilege so rare that only a handful existed in the entire world. In the city, maybe two or three people possessed one.

Was Rodger truly thinking straight? Gianna nearly shattered her fork in disbelief, her anger boiling just beneath the surface.

To hand over such a symbol of status to a newly adopted girl felt unfathomable.

Dropping her gaze, Grace let her lashes flicker as she studied the card.

She recognized it immediately. A nearly identical one sat quietly at her purse.

Yet something in Rodger's expression made her accept it wvithout hesitation, her slender fingers curling around the card.

"Thank you, Dad." Her voice was soft, and she traced the edge of the card with delicate care.

Gianna watched, her jaw clenched tight, believing Grace was putting on a show.

Rodger, his face now softened with rare warmth,added quietly, "Let me know if you need anything else."

After a moment, he added, "Tomorrow, why don't you head out and pick up some new clothes?"

With a small nod, Grace slipped the card into her bag.

Across the table, Gianna glared at that simple bag,her

jealousy burning so hot she could hardly sit still.