Just like the monthly exams before.
Elena had tricked her twice.
Sarah’s face darkened.
How could she be so stupid?
How had she fallen for it again?
“Sarah? What’s wrong?”
Zayden looked at her, frowning.
Sarah clenched her fists, barely keeping her anger in check.
So Elena knew all along that she was using her. And this was how she decided to retaliate?
Fine. If that’s how she wanted it, then Elena better not expect peace at school ever again.
…
On the bus ride back…
Sarah and Zayden were the last ones to get on.
Elena sat near the back, gazing cheerfully out the window like even the view had gotten prettier.
At the front, the homeroom teacher waved Sarah over. “Sarah, the school has high hopes for your results. Winning an award in this competition could add points to your SAT. It’s a huge honor. How do you think you did?”
Sarah’s face paled with every word.
“I know your last exam didn’t go well, but before this competition, you swore you’d make it up to us. You told me yourself this time wouldn’t be a repeat. You wouldn’t disappoint me… right?”
Sarah’s throat tightened. She couldn’t get a word out.
She had been so sure Elena would help her.
That’s why she’d boldly promised her teacher that everything would go smoothly.
But now?
Elena hadn’t lifted a finger.
And her own performance had been a disaster-worse than her last monthly exam.
If the teacher found out, her reputation would be shattered.
“I… actually, I…”
Before she could finish, Zayden stepped in. “Even if Sarah didn’t do that well, it’s okay. I’m confident I’ll place.”
The teacher’s eyes lit up with relief.
As long as one of her students placed, whether it was Sarah or Zayden, she’d still earn recognition.
“Good, good. Just getting a spot in the city math competition will be a major boost for your SAT score.”
From the back of the bus, Elena quietly listened to the conversation up front.
Zayden wasn’t wrong.
In her previous life, he had won an award in this exact competition.
But so what?
Next year, when the SAT rolls around, the Holt family would be completely bankrupt.
No amount of bonus points could change that.
As she was spacing out, a gleaming check suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Elena blinked at it. “What’s this?”
Nolan answered with two calm words. “A check.”
Three black lines of speechless frustration formed across Elena’s forehead.
Of course she knew it was a check.
She meant-what for?
Nolan replied evenly, “Eighty million. That’s the most I can give you right now.”
Elena froze. “You…”
“Forget about the Gray Corp loan. You don’t have the background. Even Colton can’t push it through. This eighty million-I’m lending it to you, personally. Take it.”
He placed the check into her hand like it was nothing more than scratch paper.
“You’re not… making me sign a contract or anything?”
“Hm?”
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll just take the money and run?”
“Try it.”
“…Right.”
Elena quietly tucked the check away.
She wasn’t planning to run. And now that the funds were in place, everything else would fall into line.
…
“What? You want to buy masks?”
Henry stared at her in disbelief.
It was almost New Year’s-who in their right mind was trying to buy masks now?
Most mask manufacturers were going bankrupt. Offloading old stock before the year ended was already a struggle, let alone finding someone crazy enough to buy in bulk.
“Yes,” Elena replied. “And I need a large quantity. Do you have any leads?”
“My family’s factory produces them. We’ve got a batch in stock, actually. I know a few other factories too. How much are you looking to spend?”
“Thirty million.”
“Thirty million… pieces?”
“Thirty million yuan.”
Hearing that, Henry looked like she’d lost her mind.
The mask business had been in the dumps for years. Nobody wore them anymore. Selling even 100,000 a year was considered good.
But thirty million yuan worth of inventory?
That was insane.
“Elena, look, I know you just broke ties with your family and must be strapped for cash. And I get that you want to start a business-but masks? You’ll lose everything.”
Elena knew there was no convincing others to stockpile masks right now. They’d just think she was a lunatic.
So she made something up.
“I went to church the other day,” she said solemnly. “On the way back, God sent me a dream. Told me to buy masks. I feel like it’s a sign. Just humor me-help me get in touch with some sellers.”
“…Alright then. My family’s batch is just sitting there. If no one buys it before the holidays, it’ll just sit in storage until next year. The factory might even have to lay off workers. If you’re buying, I should be thanking you.”
Henry gave her a string of contact numbers. “This is our factory’s info. We’ve got a decent-sized inventory. I’ll tell the manager to sell it to you. If you want more, I can hook you up with other suppliers too.”
Elena accepted the list.
She didn’t plan on buying everything from Henry’s family-too much, and the Foster family might take a hit next year.
As the weekend approached, she tracked down several mask suppliers desperate to clear stock before heading home for the holidays. She bought out their entire inventory at bargain prices.
She also cleared out warehouses of now-unpopular miracle cold medicine-buying everything she could get her hands on.
With Nolan’s help, she purchased a large warehouse on the outskirts of town to store the medicine and masks.
By the time it was all settled, the year was nearly over.
…
Then came the release of the math competition results.
Elena was summoned to the office, where the homeroom teacher greeted her with a beaming smile.
“I really didn’t expect you to do so well!” she said, handing over a certificate.
It was a first-place award.
Based on her scores, Elena had ranked second in the entire city-earning a top-tier award in the competition.
Nolan and Zayden had also received first-place prizes.
“Excellent work. I knew you had it in you.”
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