The Uninvited Surprise

Aveline's banquet was nothing short of a presidential inauguration—every elite in Crownridge seemed to have shown up.

She wore a custom gown stitched with gold thread, radiating pure elegance and authority.

Yet, despite being the center of attention, she seemed restless, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for someone—me.

As the evening dragged on and I still hadn't appeared, she couldn't help asking, "Why isn't Miles here?"

"His mother's sick, isn't she? He's probably taking care of her," one of the top students replied.

Ever since losing the chance to be Aveline's fiance, these top students had let themselves go, each one noticeably rounder than before.

A flicker of unease passed across Aveline's face. She suddenly remembered my close relationship with the principal.

Dropping Caspian's hand, she strode toward Tobias Duskwood. "Mr. Duskwood, I invited Miles. Why isn't he here?"

Tobias' expression was unreadable. He pulled out a folder, opening it to reveal a copy of my acceptance letter.

Aveline took it, confused, and then froze.

Briarwood University. Full scholarship.

Her eyes widened. She finally realized I had been serious about leaving the country.

"Miles may have stumbled on the exam, but back in his sophomore year, he recorded an act of bravery. He saved a girl from jumping into the river. Combine that with good scores during last few years, and he earned an offer from Briarwood University. And Briarwood ranks even higher than Crownridge University."

The principal spoke of me with a hint of pride, as if that ten-million-dollar loss had never even happened.

Aveline clutched the acceptance letter, stunned for a moment, then, humiliated and enraged, shredded the copy into pieces. "Who gave him permission to go abroad? Was this approved by me? This has to be fake! Mr. Duskwood, are you in on this with Miles to trick me?"

The room fell utterly silent. Everyone stared as Aveline lost her composure at her own banquet.

Evander Sage, her father, frowned and scolded gently, "Aveline! What are you doing?"

Caspian came running, out of breath. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he wrapped her in his arms, trying to soothe her. "Aveline, what's wrong? Who upset you?"

Aveline crouched to the floor, clutching her belly. The shock was so intense that it triggered a physiological stomachache.

She didn't understand. Reborn into this life, she knew that in the last life, I was vain and selfish, that I had ruined her and Caspian's chance at happiness. Yet now, the thought of me leaving Crownridge struck her with such anguish.

Caspian noticed the torn fragments of the acceptance letter on the floor. He grabbed a few pieces and realized I had truly been accepted to Briarwood University. His face flushed with anger.

"Did Miles pull some trick behind our backs? My scores aren't even enough to get into Briarwood University. He scored three points less than me. How is that possible?"

Aveline stood abruptly, her gaze locking on Caspian with sudden intensity. "You will not speak of Miles that way!"

Without another word, she strode out, ignoring the guests gathered for her celebration. As she exited the hotel, she nearly collided with a sharply dressed man exuding a hint of streetwise confidence.

He held out an invitation. "Ms. Sage, this is an invitation to the banquet of Ms. Lark's fiance, Miles Arden. It's at the Padley Hotel tonight at eight. Don't miss it."

"Did you just say fiance?"