Rebirth: A Second chance at life-Chapter 91: A Bet!

In the meantime, at Principal Harris’s office, Aurora stood tall, her arms crossed loosely as her gaze swept coldly over everyone present.

A quiet smirk played at her lips as she spoke, her voice smooth yet cutting through the thick atmosphere like a blade. "You can check the CCTV if you think I cheated."

The room fell silent. The teachers stared at her, momentarily stunned.

Was this really Aurora? The same girl they’d dismissed as foolish, incompetent, and hopeless?

Her voice had been direct, her posture unyielding. Not a trace of fear or hesitation clung to her. Her confidence unsettled them, making them wonder if they’d misjudged her all along.

Among them, a flicker of doubt began to take root. Could it be possible? Could Aurora have truly answered those questions herself? Could they have overlooked a hidden genius?

Raya, watching the shift in the room, felt a cold knot twist in her stomach. But as quickly as it came, she steeled herself, refusing to let the atmosphere slip from her control.

She scoffed loudly, cutting through the silence. "Well, isn’t this interesting? First you’re rumored to have ties with older men, and now you magically get perfect scores in every subject after failing miserably last session and dropping out?"

Her eyes gleamed with malice as she glanced sideways toward Principal Harris. "Who knows? Maybe you had... insider help."

The implication hung heavy in the air, poisoning the room with discomfort. Everyone understood what she was insinuating.

A tense silence followed. Even those who had been skeptical of Aurora’s intelligence frowned. This was going too far. They’d known Harris for years, worked under his leadership, and trusted his integrity. Accusing him of such a thing...

Julie, an liberal arts teacher known for her fairness, was the first to break the tension.

"Raya," she said sharply, "if you’re accusing Aurora of cheating, that’s one thing. But to suggest Principal Harris was involved? That’s slander."

Others murmured their agreement, nodding solemnly. Even those who had disapproved of Aurora couldn’t support such an accusation.

Robin, the science teacher, who had reviewed Aurora’s test paper multiple times, finally spoke up. "I checked her paper myself.

The methods she used, the logic she applied—they were brilliant. Unmatched. It’s highly unlikely she cheated."

He had wanted to defend Aurora earlier but had felt cornered by the others. After all, he was just a teacher with no strong background, working under a contractual job and constantly struggling to keep his position—how could he protect Aurora?

The guilt weighed heavily on him, but this slander had crossed a line, and he couldn’t stay silent any longer.

Even if it cost him his job, he had to speak up. "Ms. Williams, you cannot slander a student like that," he said firmly. "Maybe she’s changed. Maybe she’s worked very hard."

Principal Harris’s gaze darkened, his fists curling atop the desk as a deep scowl pulled at his features. With a sharp thud, his coffee cup crashed to the floor, spilling its contents in a dark puddle across the tiles. "What exactly are you implying, Ms. Williams?" he growled. "Be careful with your words, or I’ll sue you for slander."

But Raya only tilted her head with a smirk. "Did I say it was you? I didn’t name anyone, did I?" Her arrogance dripped like venom, but her heart was pounding unevenly beneath her chest. Something about the atmosphere had shifted.

Suddenly, a cool voice rang out again, slicing through the tension like a sudden breeze. "How are you so sure I cheated? Or used any underhanded methods?"

Aurora’s question was simple, yet carried an unmistakable weight. Raya sneered, refusing to back down. "Hmph. Proof? Your past scores are proof enough. A fool can’t become a genius overnight."

Aurora’s smirk widened. "If you’re so sure," she said, "why don’t we test it now? Right here. Right in front of everyone. But on one condition."

A hush fell over the room as Aurora straightened her posture, her eyes gleaming with an unfamiliar fire.

"If I pass—no, if I excel—you’ll kneel in the schoolyard and declare you’re unworthy of being a teacher. And you’ll apologize to me and Principal Harris. Do you accept?"

The words struck the room like lightning. Gasps echoed. Teachers exchanged looks of shock. Was she serious?

Raya’s lips parted in shock. Her pride warred violently with the unease curling in her stomach. That gaze... that terrifying, unwavering gaze...

It sent a shiver racing down her spine. But backing down wasn’t an option. Not now. Not in front of everyone. She forced a scoff.

"If you could cheat once, you could cheat again," she snapped, though her voice faltered slightly. "How can we trust this?"

Her voice lacked conviction, and she knew it. The absurdity of her words wasn’t lost on anyone.

Aurora’s expression remained cool, unreadable. "Simple. I’ll take the test here, under your watchful eyes. You pick the questions. You set the paper. And I’ll solve them in front of you all. No one can claim I had the answers beforehand."

I’d love to see how I could possibly cheat like that... or wait—don’t tell me you don’t trust them either?"

The teachers froze. This girl wasn’t simply confident—she was challenging the very system that had condemned her.

Raya’s expression twisted as the others turned toward her, their faces darkened not at Aurora, but at her.

Initially, when Aurora made her bold wager, many thought she was simply arrogant, setting herself up for public humiliation.

But now, faced with her calm, measured proposal, doubts began to creep in. Robin and Lewis exchanged hopeful glances.

They’d seen the brilliance etched in her answer sheets. They couldn’t ignore it any longer.

"Fine," said Harris, his voice rough. "Fifteen minutes. Each of you, prepare a set of questions. We’ll test her."

Within fifteen minutes, the teachers compiled a formidable set of papers, drawing questions from advanced materials, some even at university level.

They handed them to Aurora, setting a strict two-hour time limit.

The Principal’s office was spacious, its walls lined with shelves of trophies and certificates. The teachers positioned themselves strategically around the room, ensuring no corner was out of sight.

Aurora sat calmly at the center, her pen poised. When the papers were handed to her, she skimmed through them, her lips curling faintly as if amused. Then, without hesitation, she began writing.

Raya watched from the corner, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Let’s see how long this act lasts, she thought bitterly.

The room was tense. The scratch of Aurora’s pen filled the silence. She never once raised her head, never paused to ponder. Her strokes were steady, confident, fluid.