The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1605

“Cheating?”

“Who cheated?”

A wave of confusion swept across the audience. Students whispered among themselves, eyes wide, none of them understanding what Karan meant.

This was an international competition. All of Eldoria was watching, and even Apex University was keeping an eye on every move.

Who would even dare to cheat here?

And now, in the final moments, Karan suddenly stood up, calling out cheating. Was this just her way to attack Shirley?

“What’s she even saying?”

Andrew caught on right away. It was obvious that Karan was trying to throw shade at Shirley.

Cheating? If Shirley was planning on cheating, would she really have spent all those sleepless nights studying and doing everything by the book?

“Relax.”

Charlotte stayed perfectly calm, her posture as laid-back as ever. She sat there, the brim of her cap shadowing an unreadable face. Her voice was cool and even. “Let her talk.”

“But…” Andrew clenched his fists, unable to look away from Shirley’s confused expression. His heart ached for her.

Shirley had never been dragged into anything like this before.

“She can handle it,” Charlotte said, switching the cross of her legs. She rested her left hand on her stomach and tapped the table lightly with her right, a half-smile on her lips. “Honestly, Andrew, you should worry about yourself.”

“Huh?”

Andrew froze, catching himself and snapping his eyes away, his mind spinning.

What was Charlotte even suggesting?

Stella figured it out before anyone else and gave Andrew a look full of sympathy.

He really did need to start caring about himself.

Because, soon enough, he wasn’t going to see Shirley for the next two or three years.

...

Up on stage.

“Karan, what did you just say?”

Hartley wondered if he’d heard wrong, his excitement making everything fuzzy. He hesitated for a few seconds, then tried again.

“Someone cheated.”

She’d already made up her mind to expose Shirley and whoever was behind her. No turning back now.

“What are you even talking about?” Shirley was lost.

What cheating? No one had gotten any questions early.

“The questions for the third round were written by Dr. Cole.”

Karan barely looked at Shirley, instead, she spoke slowly, her voice hard as stone. “You and Dr. Cole are close. You can’t just pretend that’s not true.”

Shirley’s confusion turned into ice at the mention of Charlotte. Her eyes were suddenly sharp. “Yes, we’re friends. So what?”

Was Karan trying to drag Charlotte down with her? Unbelievable.

“Glad you admit it,” Karan said, her smile icy, gaze sliding to Mr. Lane at the judges’ table, whose face had gone dark and heavy.

Their eyes met, and for a second, Karan tensed up, but she quickly steadied herself.

As far as she cared, she’d cut all ties with Mr. Lane the moment he supposedly helped Shirley cheat.

“And one more thing.” Karan found her composure, her eyes full of cold determination. “I saw it myself. Before the competition, Mr. Lane was teaching Shirley the experiment.”

Karan’s expression was full of venom, as if she wished Mr. Lane would just disappear. Mr. Lane could only sigh, shaking his head with disappointment and a bitter smile.