Chapter 31: Class Celebrity

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Class Celebrity

Vera Xavier was something of a celebrity in her class due to her terrible grades, so all the teachers remembered her.

Cooper glanced at her. "Since you’re back, focus on your studies. Stop thinking about those devious shortcuts all day."

Vera knew "devious shortcuts" was Cooper’s way of referring to her previous plan to get married. She nodded hurriedly and said to him, "Please come in, sir!"

Cooper found her polite and pushed open the half-closed door. Vera saw several classmates covering their faces, unable to look. Then, a bucket of water dumped all over Cooper, drenching him from head to toe.

Cooper was in a complete daze. He shot a glare across the classroom, and every single student collectively played dead.

"Hah!" Cooper sneered. "Good for you! All of you! Today, every student in this class, with the exception of Vera Xavier, will copy the entire senior year English textbook!"

Cara Preston chimed in at the perfect moment. "Sister, if you knew there was water above the door, why didn’t you warn Mr. Cooper?"

Her comment immediately earned Vera an angry glare from Cooper.

Vera said in a small voice, "I just came back from Mr. Taylor’s office. How could I possibly have known you all would place a bucket of water over the door?"

She feigned surprise as she continued, "Cara, you didn’t put that water there, did you? Mr. Cooper can be strict, but he’s a good teacher. How could you do something like that?"

As soon as she finished, she covered her mouth, as if she’d said something she shouldn’t have.

Cooper shot Cara Preston a cold glare. Her face went pale. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but Cooper had already spoken. "Cara Preston, report to the dean’s office after school."

Cara Preston looked completely aggrieved, but she didn’t dare to disobey Cooper’s command. He was the deputy class advisor; she would not risk defying him.

Cooper went back to change his clothes. Juliana Taylor swapped periods with him, so they would have Literature first and English second.

Because of the bucket incident, the entire class—everyone except Vera Xavier—was punished. This only made them resent her more. The moment she stepped into the doorway, every student glared at her.

She, however, simply walked back to her seat as if nothing had happened.

When Juliana Taylor came in to start the class, Elise Langdon stood up. "Mr. Taylor, I don’t want to be classmates with Vera Xavier—"

Juliana Taylor glanced at her, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Vera Xavier has committed no obvious transgression, so the school will not be expelling her for now. The principal and I just discussed it and we’ve decided to give her one final chance. If she gets the same scores as before on this week’s diagnostic exam, she will be expelled immediately. But until that exam, she is still a member of this class. Anyone who doesn’t wish to be her classmate may choose to withdraw from the school. I won’t force you."

Elise Langdon instantly deflated like a popped balloon and obediently sat back down, not daring to voice any further opinions.

Vera’s heart warmed at Juliana Taylor’s words. ’This is the most she can do to protect me,’ she thought. ’I absolutely cannot let her down on this diagnostic exam.’

’In her past life, she hadn’t known much about Juliana Taylor, other than that she was a strict but good teacher. This time, however, she was gaining a much deeper understanding of her.’

When class ended, Cara Preston marched up to Vera’s desk. "Sister, how could you say that in front of Mr. Cooper? Are you trying to set me up?"

Vera wanted to laugh out loud at her words. ’Set Cara Preston up? Pfft!’