Chapter 18: Too Smart For School

The next day, Serenity took the twins to the Royal Elite Academy for an entrance interview.

This was the most prestigious kindergarten in New York. Only the children of senators, oil tycoons, and old money could attend.

In the waiting room, mothers dressed in Haute Couture were eyeing each other, comparing bags and jewelry.

Serenity sat in the corner, wearing a simple white dress. She looked too young to be a mother of five-year-olds.

"Mommy, this place is boring," Alex complained, holding a thick book titled 'Introduction to Astrophysics'. "Can we go home?"

"Be patient, Alex," Serenity smoothed his hair. "You need to go to school to make friends."

"I don't need friends who still count on their fingers," Alex grumbled.

Next to them, a chubby woman covered in gold jewelry scoffed loudly.

"Hmph. Reading Astrophysics? Stop pretending," the woman sneered at Serenity. "You parents these days force your kids to hold props just to impress the Dean. It's pathetic."

Serenity frowned but chose to ignore her.

But the woman didn't stop. She saw the pink diamond ring on Serenity's finger.

"Oh my, look at that ring. It's so big, it must be glass," the woman laughed, turning to her friends. "I bet she bought it from a street vendor to look rich. No real diamond is that pink."

"It's the Pink Star," Alex said coldly, not looking up from his book. "It was auctioned for 71 million dollars in Hong Kong last month. If you don't know jewelry, Mrs. Walrus, maybe you should read more."

"What? You called me a walrus?" The woman stood up, furious. "Where is your father, you rude little brat? Did he run away?"

Serenity stood up immediately, shielding Alex. "Watch your mouth."

"Or what? I am Mrs. Vanderbilt! My husband is on the school board!" The woman pointed her finger at Alex's nose. "I will have you kicked out before the interview even starts! Fatherless children like you don't belong here!"

"Who said they are fatherless?"

A chilling voice cut through the air.

The heavy doors swung open. Jackson Sterling walked in.

He was wearing a dark grey suit, radiating an aura of absolute power. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.

He walked straight to Serenity and wrapped his arm around her waist possessively.

"Honey, I'm late," he kissed Serenity's hair, then turned his predatory gaze to the fat woman. "Did you just threaten my son?"

Mrs. Vanderbilt's face turned white. She recognized him instantly. Everyone in New York recognized that face.

"M-Mr. Sterling?" she stuttered, shaking. "This... this is your son?"

"And she is my wife," Jackson lifted Serenity's hand, flashing the pink diamond. "And this 'glass' ring was a gift from me. Do you have a problem with my taste?"

"No! No! I didn't know!" The woman wanted to faint. "I'm so sorry!"

"Get out," Jackson said calmly. "I don't want my children going to school with the offspring of idiots. It might be contagious."

The woman grabbed her kid and fled the room, humiliated.

The other parents in the room were silent, looking at Serenity with fear and respect.

Just then, the Dean came out. "Mr. Sterling! Please, come in. We are ready for the assessment."

Inside the office.

The Dean took out a few cards with apples and bananas on them.

"Okay, little Alex," the Dean smiled condescendingly. "If I have three apples and I eat one, how many are left?"

Alex looked at the Dean, then at Jackson.

"Daddy, is he serious?" Alex asked.

Jackson suppressed a smile. "Answer the man, son."

Alex sighed. He took the Dean's tablet from the desk. His fingers flew across the screen.

"Sir, I noticed your school's security firewall is using an outdated encryption protocol. It took me thirty seconds to bypass it," Alex turned the screen around.

It showed the Dean's payroll information.

"And by the way, you gave yourself a bonus last month? Does the school board know?"

The Dean turned pale. He snatched the tablet back, sweating profusely.

"T-This... He is a prodigy! A genius!" The Dean looked at Jackson with terror and admiration. "Mr. Sterling, your son is accepted! He can skip grades! He can go straight to the 3rd grade!"

"What about Mia?" Jackson asked.

Mia was busy drawing on a piece of paper. She held it up. It was a picture of the Dean, but... wearing a dress.

"It's a masterpiece," Jackson nodded seriously. "My daughter is an artist. She is accepted too, right?"

"Of course! Of course!" The Dean wiped his sweat. "Whatever you say, Mr. Sterling!"

As they walked out of the school, Jackson looked at Alex.

"You hacked the school network?"

"It was open wide," Alex shrugged.

"Good job," Jackson smirked. "But next time, cover your tracks better. I saw you leave a digital footprint."

Serenity slapped Jackson's arm. "Don't encourage him! We are here to educate them, not to turn them into cyber-criminals!"

Jackson laughed, picking up Mia and holding Alex's hand.

"They are Sterlings, Serenity. They were born to rule."