Chapter 161: Rapid Footsteps Echoed from the Second-floor Hallway

Rapid footsteps echoed from the second-floor hallway. Everyone followed the commotion to Clara Whitmore's door.

Tessa Carver sat slumped on the floor, two designer handbags scattered beside her. When the crowd poured in, she immediately let out a dramatic wail, kicking her legs wildly.

A perfect image of a vulgar shrew.

"Tessa!" Denise Carver rushed forward. "Get up, the floor is cold—"

"No! Not until Clara apologizes!" Tessa jutted her chin defiantly.

Clara crossed her arms with a cold smile. "The floor's clean. Sit there as long as you like."

"You—"

Denise's expression darkened. "Apologize for what? Explain yourself."

"She hit me!" Tessa pointed to a red mark on her arm.

Denise whirled around. "Clara, how could you lay hands on her?"

"My apologies, Aunt Denise." Clara spoke leisurely. "I heard noises in my walk-in closet and thought it was a burglar." She glanced at the bags on the floor. "Though I wonder why Tessa was rummaging through my wardrobe?"

Denise froze. "She—she was probably just curious..."

"Do normal people sneak into others' closets?" Clara arched a brow.

Denise shot her daughter a sharp glare. Tessa shrank back.

"Just a misunderstanding," Helen Whitmore interjected with a conciliatory smile. "Let's all go downstairs—"

A ringing phone cut her off. Daniel Whitmore picked up his daughter's phone and accidentally hit speakerphone.

"Clara! Did you check your scores? Did you get into Ashford University?" Sloane Bennett's bright voice exploded through the room.

The air turned to ice.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" The voice continued.

Clara swiftly took the phone. "Checking now."

After hanging up, every eye locked onto her. Even Tessa forgot her theatrics.

"Ch-check what scores?" Daniel's voice trembled.

"Graduate school entrance exam."

"You took the GRE?" Helen's eyes widened.

"Yes."

Denise scoffed. "Aren't you too old for grad school?"

"Aunt Denise," Clara smiled, "the age limit is forty."

"Why suddenly—"

"Had free time."

Denise choked on her words.

"Scores come out today?" Diane Harrow glanced at the laptop on the desk. "Tessa, stop this. Let Clara check her results."

Tessa's eyes gleamed as she brushed off her skirt and stood. "Since we're checking scores, let's all watch. My dear cousin must've aced it."

Her inner sneer was palpable. Ashford University grad school? In your dreams.