Reborn, She's Back for Revenge novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The morning chaos at Sunspire High was in full swing. And then there was Kelvin Murphy, cutting through the crowd like he had his own personal spotlight.

Girls turned as he passed, their whispers trailing after him like a wake. Larry Larson might have been the untouchable genius with a tongue sharp enough to flay paint from lockers, but Kelvin? Kelvin was approachable.

All easy smiles and broad shoulders, tossing out casual “mornings” like they cost him nothing. And now he was stopping right in front of Edith.

Edith barely remembered why she’d ever crushed on him in her previous life. A decade of suffering in a hospital bed had sanded away whatever fleeting infatuation she’d once had. No hatred lingered–just a dry amusement at the girl she’d once been.

She tucked the thought away and let her lips curl into something softer, sweeter.

‘Last time I flirted for a quest, she mused, the system gave me Super Hearing. Overnight, I knew every whispered secret in the halls- who liked who, who’d already been rejected, who was faking it. Let’s see what today’s prize is.

“Kelvin,” she chirped, not an ounce of guilt in her voice, “that white shirt really suits you. And the new haircut? Sharp.”

Kelvin blinked, momentarily derailed. ‘First, she calls me cute, now this–does Edith Lovett actually have a thing for me?‘

System: [Mission complete. Reward: A true heiress sees all. Super Vision unlocked.]

Edith’s smile turned genuine. Super Hearing yesterday, Super Vision today. If running into Kelvin kept dropping these kinds of perks, she’d happily play the heartless quest–grinder.

She tossed him another saccharine grin. “See you in class.

“Wait.” His ears pinked. He cleared his throat. “Larry’s out today. He asked me to cover your tutoring session. Just wanted to check- where are we picking up? I’ll prep during lunch.”

Edith opened her mouth to shut him down. Compliments were one thing;

an hour alone in the library was another.

Then a sleek black town car glided to the curb. Edith’s gaze flicked past Kelvin’s shoulder–Hallie stepped out, her eyes locking onto them like a missile acquiring its target.

Edith’s lips curved.

In her previous life, Hallie had nursed a quiet crush on K

Kelvin, Back then, the Murphys had been a tier below the Lovetts, so Hallie waited–until Kelvin built his own startup, and suddenly looked like the perfect plus–one on red carpets.

Hallie had chased him hard. Publicly, they dated. Privately, he’d kept texting Edith. In her previous life, she had actually believed his “It’s complicated” excuses.

‘Pathetic, Edith thought. ‘If he wanted to, he would. The System’s probably training me to weaponize his ego–poetic justice for past- me’s naivety.

As Hallie drew near, Edith sighed dramatically. “I’ve been stuck on basic trig identities for days. You’d really sacrifice a whole study period for me? I’d hate to be a burden-”

Hallie’s smile froze. ‘After Larry, that shameless Edith is moving in on Kelvin now?”

“Larry’s my best friend,” Kelvin said gently. “Helping you isn’t a burden-”

“Kelvin!” Hallie’s screech could shatter champagne flutes. She fake–coughed. “Aren’t you prepping for the AMC12? First place means automatic Ivy League consideration.”

Edith bit her lip like a guilty Disney princess. “Oh no–I’d never forgive myself if I ruined your shot.” She walked into the hallway crowd before he could respond.

Kelvin stared after her, a strange ache blooming behind his ribs. Two conversations, and already he hated the idea of disappointing her.

Hallie gnawed her bottom lip. “I think… I pissed Edith off. I just really want you to crush that competition. You deserve Harvard.”

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“Not your fault,” Kelvin said, still gentle. “Let’s head to class.”

They walked shoulder–to–shoulder under the colonnade, Hallie’s “accidental” brushes against his sleeve. “I was up all night stuck on this one proof…” She pulled out a pink Kate Spade notebook and batted her lashes. “Save me?”

“Told you Kelvin’s whipped for Hallie,” one girl whispered.

Her friend nodded. “He’s nice to everyone, but she’s the only girl who gets that smile.”

A boy chimed in, “Statistically, their pairing makes sense. She’s great in piano competitions, and he is always in the top three in tests.”

The crowd dispersed, leaving whispers trailing behind them. “They’d have such pretty babies.”

*****

Edith had spent the whole morning buried in textbooks. After lunch, she cut across the quad to the music hall.

Hallie was already inside, perched on the piano bench beside Kerrie like she owned the place.

“Edith! There you are.” Kerrie motioned her over, voice bright with teacher–cheer. “Hallie has a free period. She’s volunteered to give you a crash course on basic fingering.”

Hallie’s smile froze like a buffering Netflix stream. Yesterday, Ms. Clark treated Edith like a transfer student. Now she’s handing her to me like some charity case? As if this bitch deserves my time.

But she would never say this out loud. She just smiled sweetly. “I’m hardly a teacher, but I’m happy to stumble through the basics together.”

Kerrie beamed. A student with Hallie’s résumé who stayed humble? The sky was the limit. She scurried off to queue up accompaniment tracks, leaving the stepsisters alone at the piano.

Edith’s fingers hovered over the keys. She hated admitting it, even to herself, but Hallie could play. In her previous life, those Chopin nocturnes had been Hallie’s golden ticket into every old–money salon.

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