Chapter 64

"Hah, just wait till you find out!"

Nathan Prescott puffed out his chest proudly. "Do you know Cambridge University? Olivia studied astrophysics there - their most challenging program. Her research paper even won first prize in the Starburst Competition!"

"Wow, you're truly exceptional, Olivia!"

The crowd gazed at Victoria Sinclair with admiration. Their reaction wasn't exaggerated - it was rare for someone born into privilege to excel academically. An astrophysics prodigy was genuinely impressive.

Victoria gave a modest smile. "It's not that I'm special. I just chose a topic the judges favored."

"Stop being so humble! Own your achievements!"

Nathan shoved his hands in his pockets, shooting Vivian Lockhart a condescending look. "Do you even know what astrophysics is? I doubt a sheltered housewife like you has ever heard of it."

Vivian chuckled, swirling her orange juice without rising to the bait.

She turned to Victoria. "Was your winning paper titled 'The Celestial Crown - On the Interplay Between the Sr Emissive Layer and Troposphere'?"

Victoria's smile faltered. Shock flashed across her face. "That's correct. Have you... read it? Do you study astrophysics?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Nathan scoffed. "She's a homemaker who reads cookbooks. There's no way she could comprehend advanced academic work."

Ethan Blackwood finally spoke, his voice calm but cutting. "Actually, she can."

The crowd gasped.

Ethan took a deliberate sip of wine before continuing. "Because she was one of the five anonymous judges for the Starburst Competition."

"What?!"

Jaws dropped. Eyeballs nearly popped from sockets.

Victoria looked utterly shaken. "You're... the mysterious MISS-C judge?"

"It's ancient history. Nothing worth mentioning."

Vivian shot Ethan a questioning glance. How did he know about this carefully guarded secret?

"Coincidentally," Ethan continued, a smirk playing on his lips, "my wife also graduated top of her class in electromagnetic wave theory. Though honestly, such skills are rather... mundane."

The humblebrag hung in the air.

Silence descended.

"You're incredible," Dominic Harrington murmured, looking at Vivian with newfound respect. He'd always known Ethan wouldn't marry someone ordinary.

Victoria lowered her head, frustration simmering beneath her perfect facade. For once, she wasn't the star.

Nathan, realizing his blunder had backfired, scrambled to recover. "Academic achievements mean nothing! Olivia's a polymath - far superior to some bookworm. If you can beat her at anything else, I'll kneel before you!"

Vivian sighed internally. 'When will this end?'

Undeterred, Nathan pulled out his phone challengingly. "I dare you to take yours out!"