Chapter 12  

Just after turning on the screen of the mobile phone and saying a few words, his voice suddenly rose a few octaves. “Mr. Ellison?”

“Mr. Ellison?” Everyone was surprised to hear the name.

Only Mr. Riddle Sr. and Damien had access to Mr. Ellison usually. Surprisingly, Mr. Ellison was calling Sean now. But no one dared to ask, only trying to listen in to what he was saying.

Sean stopped in his tracks and looked back at everyone, finally his gaze landing on Nicole. “Really? Thank you so much, Mr. Ellison.”

Everyone then looked over at Nicole in curiosity. Nicole took a sip of water and did not look surprised.

As soon as Sean hung up the phone, Gloria was the first to ask, “Sean, how did you get Mr. Ellison’s phone number?”

Sean regained his composure and sat back down at the table. “I don’t know Mr. Ellison’s phone number. It was he who called me.”

“What did Mr. Ellison say?” Mr. Riddle Sr. asked in a deep voice.

Sean looked at Mr. Riddle Sr. respectfully. “He asked Nicole to report to the high school of Royal Creek Institute tomorrow and said that he was glad to have Nicole coming to Royal Creek Institute.”

Sean was looking at Nicole with a hint of disbelief in his eyes when he said the last sentence.

While everyone was scratching their heads and in a heated debate about how to get Nicole into Royal Creek Institute, the unthinkable happened with Mr. Ellison calling and saying that he was happy that Nicole was going to Royal Creek Institute.

Karen could not be more surprised. “Sean, did you hear it correctly? Mr. Ellison invited Nicole to the high school of Royal Creek Institute?”

She had just denigrated and satirized Nicole because she did not want Nicole to enter Royal Creek Institute. Yet, she did not expect that Mr. Ellison’s call would be a slap in the face.

But Nicole was just a country girl. What made Mr. Ellison extend his invitation to her?

Ignoring Karen’s expression, Gloria turned to look at Nicole. “You know Mr. Ellison?”

She did not even believe her own question. But Mr. Ellison had said that he was glad to have Nicole studying at Royal Creek Institute. So he and Nicole must know each other.

Nicole did not hide the truth, saying, “We met once in Great Oak.”

It was only a brief encounter, but if not for Nicole’s help, Mr. Ellison would have died from a car explosion.

“Just met once?” Just met once, and Mr. Ellison remembered her and invited her to Royal Creek Institute? Things got even more unbelievable.

Sean seemed to have accepted this reality, but was still a little doubtful. “Even if you know Mr. Ellison, how did Ellison know you were going to enroll?”

Nicole looked sideways at Sean, her expression telling him it was a matter of course. “I called him when Dad and Mom said three days ago that they were going to send me to Royal Creek Institute.”

Nicole’s icy look exuded a bit of arrogance. It gave the impression that Mr. Ellison was at her beck and call.

“Mr. Ellison sent me an email invitation that day, but I still asked him to call today to inform my family, saving you all from worrying too much about me.” Nicole’s eyes swept over Karen and Damien.

Karen felt embarrassed and could not say a word.

Damien was shamefaced, too, as Nicole could enter Royal Creek Institute all by herself, yet he had just acted so reluctantly, which made him a complete joke.

Sean looked at the faces of his first uncle and wife, and his second aunt with a touch of triumph in his eyes. He then pretended to be puzzled and asked, “You are really naughty, Nicole; you actually have Mr. Ellison's phone number. Why didn’t you say it earlier? Second Aunt and First Uncle were beating their brains out trying to help you just now.”

Sean’s words once again poked at the self-esteem of the two, making their faces turn red and pale.

Nicole looked at Sean and played along. “I didn’t think Royal Creek Institute was a good choice, so I didn’t tell. But since First Uncle had to work so hard to help me get a place there, I thought I had better do it myself.”

Nicole stirred the milk tea in front of her, her attitude getting on Damien’s nerves. Every child of the Riddle family used to rely on his help to get them into Royal Creek Institute, not expecting that a brat would get him a slap in the face.

“Hahaha, well, you’re truly my granddaughter, so calm. You all elders are not as good as this child.” Mr. Riddle Sr. laughed and satirized all the elders. Everyone at the table dared not say a word.

Mr. Riddle Sr. could not describe how delighted he was. He took the lead and started eating. “Okay, since Nicole has settled her school matter, let us all eat now.”

Finding this the moment of saving face, everyone quickly dug in.

For the first time, Gloria could not describe how happy she was because for the first time, she could feel so proud in front of everyone.

“Cheers, Nicole.” She toasted her daughter. She and Daniel had been living under the shadow of the other brothers for years. It was the first time they felt so vindicated and proud.

Daniel could finally hold his head high, as his daughter was making them proud today.

Since then, no one dared to disrespect Gloria and Daniel, and Karen had also relented a lot.

After dinner, Mr. Riddle Sr. went upstairs. Feeling too embarrassed to stay, Damien followed Mr. Riddle Sr. upstairs and was back to his study room.

Dillon and Karen also got up. But before leaving, Dillon said to Daniel in embarrassment, “You know Karen has never minced her words. Please don’t mind.”