Chapter 250 Are the Windsor Family's Children All Geniuses?
"Throwing out accusations without knowing the facts? That's pretty low, don't you think?" Catherine's voice rang out, clear and confident, cutting through the classroom chatter.
Catherine saw right through Lyra's game and knew she wasn't even worth the effort. She wasn't just there to keep a promise to Elodie about attending college; she had her own plans.
Lyra, who prided herself on her education, felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment at Catherine's blunt words. "But someone online said she was your sister. They can't just make that up, right?"
Catherine shot Lyra a withering look, her eyes full of disdain. She thought, 'People online think she's my sister? Seriously? Esme and Clara are both older than me. They just play the 'little sister' card to seem more fragile. Truth is, I don't have any younger sisters.'
"If I said I was your dad, would you believe that?" Catherine retorted.
Lyra was left speechless.
The class erupted in laughter, making Lyra's face burn even more. "Then why don't you clear it up? If it's a misunderstanding, you should set the record straight!"
"If I said I was your dad, how would you prove me wrong?" Catherine shot back.
Lyra was dumbfounded, thinking, 'It's so ridiculous; no one would believe it anyway. Trying to explain it would just make things worse.'
The laughter around them grew louder. "If Catherine joined the debate team, we'd definitely win nationals this year!"
Lyra's face twisted in anger, but with the teacher entering the room, she had no choice but to sit down.
The first class was on the basics of jewelry design. The young, stylish teacher wore a sleek dress and a white blazer, showcasing various pieces of jewelry for the students to admire. "I'm Gabriella Gray, your instructor for this course. Since your advisor is on maternity leave and the new one hasn't started yet, I'll be filling in for now."
Gabriella's eyes scanned the room, lingering a bit longer on Catherine. Catherine wondered if it was because of the online gossip or the violin performance from the day before.
After class, Gabriella gave the first assignment. "Submit your design drafts after class. Here's my email."
Jewelry design required a good grasp of drawing skills and an eye for detail. Many students had already prepared their assignments.
Gabriella's gaze landed on Catherine in the back row. "Catherine Windsor, can you come to my office?"
"Sure."
Seeing Catherine get called to Gabriella's office, Lyra and a few other girls snickered, thinking Gabriella was going to give Catherine a hard time.
Lyra and her friends trailed behind, hoping to eavesdrop.
They figured the online rumors had tarnished the school's reputation, and if Gabriella scolded Catherine, it would be a spectacle.
In the office, Gabriella took a sip of water before turning her attention to Catherine. Catherine stood tall, her face bare of makeup yet more striking than any jewel, her calm and indifferent gaze unsettling.
Gabriella smiled. "Relax, I'm not here to grill you. I called you in for two reasons. First, about your request to skip some courses. What's the deal with that?"
"No big reason. Those classes are just a waste of time for me," Catherine replied. She had a ton on her plate, from managing Windsor Family businesses to handling matters for the Galactic Aurora Collective and border tasks. Schoolwork just didn't fit in.
Gabriella was a bit taken aback. She expected some elaborate excuse, not just a blunt dismissal. "What about physical education? That's still important."
Catherine handed over some documents. "I'm a Level 2 skier in Stellara. PE is pointless for me; the school teachers can't teach me anything new."
Along with the certificate were several jewelry design drafts, casually sketched by Catherine in her downtime.
Gabriella's eyes widened. She thought, 'These designs are incredible! They detail the gemstones, craftsmanship, and cuts perfectly. If followed, these pieces would be stunning!'
"Catherine, did you draw all these yourself?" Gabriella asked, amazed.
"Just something I did when I was bored. Since you called me in, I might miss some professional classes."
The drafts showed that Catherine had already mastered what textbooks could teach.
Gabriella hesitated, shocked by Catherine's talent. She wondered, 'Are all Windsor kids this gifted?'
Catherine stayed calm. "You can decide my participation grade. I'll be there for the finals, but I can't promise regular attendance."
At Imperial University, participation was only 30% of the grade. Even if she missed all of it, she wouldn't fail.
Gabriella frowned. "But with your talent, you'd easily get a scholarship if you attend. Don't you want that?"
"No need. Let someone who really needs it have it," Catherine said. Scholarships didn't interest her; she knew other students needed the money more.
Seeing Gabriella's hesitation, Catherine asked, "Is it not allowed?"
If it wasn't, she'd just skip classes when necessary.
Gabriella waved her hand. "Just have Charles come in to sign an application. He asked me to look out for you. I didn't expect his sister to be a jewelry design prodigy. These drafts are amazing!"
"You know Charles?"
"We were PhD classmates. The second reason I called you is to thank you for giving my sister a chance. She asked me to teach you well when she heard you were coming here."
It seemed Catherine's skills were beyond Gabriella's teaching.
"Who's your sister?" Catherine asked.
"Odette Gray, your gallery employee. She couldn't stop praising you," Gabriella said.
Seeing the photo on Gabriella's phone, Catherine remembered Odette, the intern who had been promoted last month.
"But I'm curious, what are you planning to do with all the time you'll save from skipping classes?" Gabriella asked.
Catherine needed a solid reason for the exemptions. "Managing companies. I have over a dozen under my name that need my attention."
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