Two Reborn, One Throne novel Chapter 165

When Amber got back to the apartment, she didn't go straight to bed. Instead, she thoroughly scrubbed all of Xanthe's lunch containers and equipment.

Carter had called her earlier to say the tricycle was parked out front. He offered to come downstairs and help if it was too heavy for her.

Figuring she had already bothered him enough today, Amber politely declined and carried the empty containers upstairs herself.

After cleaning everything, she finally took a shower and went to sleep.

Missing the math exam meant that even if she got perfect scores in English and Science Composite, her ranking would inevitably drop. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to aim for perfection.

Joanne was probably thrilled right now. With Amber missing a test, Joanne wouldn't even care if Lucian scored perfectly on everything. As long as Amber wasn't the Valedictorian, Joanne would be laughing in her sleep.

Amber took a deep breath. She had to ace English and Science Composite.

The next morning.

Amber had just woken up and started brushing her teeth when she heard the front door unlock. She peeked out to see Arthur walking in with breakfast.

"Loretta went to the hospital to check on Xanthe, so I wasn't needed. I headed back. Here's breakfast. Eat up and get to your exams. I'll go sell the packed lunches at noon, and when you're done this afternoon, we'll go to the hospital together to relieve Loretta."

Amber was stunned. "You're not going to rest?"

"I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway," Arthur replied. "Better to stay busy so my mind doesn't wander."

Amber gave a soft 'oh.' As Arthur headed into his room, he glanced back at her one last time. Amber knew he was still wrestling with his emotions, but if he didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't push.

After eating breakfast, she double-checked her pencil case, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and headed to school.

As soon as she reached the gates, Vance Leavitt and Tillie Taylor interrogated her like a pair of detectives.

"Amber, what exactly happened yesterday afternoon? Why did you miss the exam? Why didn't your text explain anything? How were we supposed to not worry when you kept us completely in the dark?!"

Amber felt like they were going to shake her until her bones rattled.

"Stop, hold on. I already told you not to ask. Worrying wouldn't have solved anything. Vance, how did you do on the test yesterday afternoon?"

Vance's face instantly went pale. Tillie answered for him, "Him? When he saw you were missing, he was too busy looking for teachers. Even when Ms. Harper told him to focus on the test, he turned in a blank sheet."

"You can't blame me, but I'm not blaming you either, Amber..."

"I had a reason for missing the exam. But you were literally sitting in the room and you turned in a blank test? And you have the nerve to say it's not your fault? Tillie, grab him. He really thinks he's something, doesn't he? The College Entrance Exam is going to throw a million curveballs at you, and you just give up like that?"

"Don't you run! Get back here, I'm going to beat you to a pulp today!"

Just as Vance shielded his head and yelled for mercy, Joanne's gloating voice echoed from behind Amber.

"Amber, Vance was just worried sick about you. If you ask me, this is all your fault. You really don't understand men at all, do you?"

"Joanne, don't waste your breath on her. Valedictorian? Amber, you'll be lucky if you even make the top ten this time. Of course, this is just the fifth mock exam, not the real thing, but..." Lucian offered a terrifyingly cold smile. "I imagine Mr. Madison won't have an easy time explaining this to his board."

Amber didn't flinch. "Lucian, do you honestly think he's like you? A guy who needs someone else to wash his underwear for him? Mr. Madison earned his position through his own sheer competence."

"Amber!"

Amber immediately slapped a hand over her mouth. "Lucian, how long has it been since you brushed your teeth? Ugh, please tell me you don't treat your toothbrush the way you treat your underwear—wearing it inside out just to avoid washing it."

Tillie and Vance's eyes went wide. Joanne looked equally horrified. "Lucian..."

"Don't listen to her nonsense. She's just lashing out because she knows she lost her top rank."

Amber smiled. "Oh, is that so? Let's just say I'm making it up, then. But..." She gave Joanne a sweeping look. "Soon enough, you'll find out just how filthy Riverport High's perfect student really is."

With that, Amber grabbed Tillie and Vance and dragged them into the exam hall.

Lucian's fists clenched tightly. It was true—he would wear his underwear right-side out, then inside out, before finally throwing it away. Damn it, Amber.

Although Joanne was disgusted that his personal hygiene was just as messy as his private life, she ultimately didn't care. She was only using him for fun. Once the afternoon exams were over, she had a date with Miles Yates, the wealthy heir.

Did Lucian's hygiene matter to her?

Not at all! Once she got her hands on the scholarship money from his top rank, she was going to dump him anyway.