Katniss blinked her longshes and stammered, "My teacher is Brent Jenkins. Brent and the Hamilton family go way back."


    Cecilia had heard about this, so she believed it even more.


    Katniss hung around a bit longer before heading out.


    Still, Cecilia couldn''t shake the thought and decided to let Yasmin know that her dad wanted her to y mistress.


    Messing with the richest man''s marriage and family was just asking for trouble.


    Back at Golden Crest Estates, Katniss had dinner and then buried herself in her studies in her room.


    Time flew by, and it was alreadyte at night, but Maximilian hadn''te back yet. Katniss frowned and sent him a message: [Maximilian, aren''t you back yet? This is a critical time; you can''t overwork yourself. You need to rest well, or it will backfire.] Two minutester, Maximilian replied: [I know my limits. You go to sleep first.] Katniss wanted to say more but decided against it.


    That night, Katniss slept pretty well alone.


    During breakfast, Katniss got a call from Wesley.


    On the phone, Wesley sounded hesitant, so Katniss urged directly, "What''s up, Dad? Just say it."


    "Katniss, um, Oliver and ra have invited us to her engagement party," Wesley said, sounding a bit awkward.


    Hearing this, a mocking smile appeared on Katniss''s lips.


    Wesley and Oliver had been at odds for years, so this invitation must have been ra''s idea.


    ra''s little schemes were really not worth mentioning.


    Pressing her lips together, Katniss said, "Since she invited us, let''s go."


    It was about time to start preparing her "big gift."


    After breakfast, Katniss made some preparations and handed an envelope to Conrad, asking him to deliver it.


    Maximilian found out soon after but didn''t know what was in the envelope.


    He didn''t ask much and let Katniss do her thing.


    On Monday, when Katniss got out of the car at school, ra stopped her, with Ruby by her side.


    ra handed her another invitation.


    Katniss stared at her coldly, "Enough already?"


    "This invitation is for Wesley. Since you''re family now, help me give it to him," ra said seriously.


    Katniss threw it away, "We don''t need the Manners family''s invitation."


    "But without the invitation, you can''t get into a ce like the Starry Night Hotel," ra, biting her lip with worry, retorted.


    "That''s none of your concern. Worry about yourself," Katniss said, looking away. Ruby was so mad at Katniss''s arrogance that she jumped up and pointed at her, shouting, "Don''t be ungrateful! Do you know how many people at school want to attend ra''s engagement party but can''t? This invitation is hard toe by!" Seeing this, Conrad in the car was about to get out and teach Ruby a lesson. How dare she point at Katniss? He''d break her finger!


    Katniss noticed his movement and raised her hand to stop him.


    Turning to Ruby with a sardonic, yful gaze, she replied, "Well, you should pick it up and sell it."


    Ruby''s family wasn''t well-off. After entering college, she met ra, who was well-off and pampered, and had been sticking to her ever since, serving ra as her little follower.


    Hearing Katniss''s words, Ruby felt humiliated and red at her angrily, unable to utter a word.


    Katniss'' gaze shifted nonchntly from Ruby to ra. "How I got in is none of your business. Are you finished? Move aside."


    With that, she bumped ra''s shoulder and walked inside.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Ruby quicklyforted ra.


    "Forget it, I''ll deliver the invitation myself. Katniss was kicked out of her house, so it''s understandable she''s mad at me," ra raised her voice on purpose, making sure the surrounding students heard.Whispers of gossip spread like wildfire.


    Just then, the sound of a car starting made ra step back immediately.


    But it was toote; she got sshed with mud by Conrad.


    Ruby wasn''t spared either, and her carefully done makeup was ruined.


    "Oh my god! Do you even know how to drive?" Ruby screamed, heartbroken, wiping her clothes.


    These were clothes ra had given her, very expensive, something she couldn''t afford herself.


    ra''s face darkened, fury zing in her eyes.


    When Katniss walked into the ssroom, she heard everyone buzzing about how luxurious ra''s engagement party would be and how much the Manners family valued her.


    She was the center of everyone''s attention.


    They also talked about the scene outside the school gate.


    But the story had been blown way out of proportion, and in their version, Katniss was the viin.


    With a loud bang, Cecil suddenly mmed a thick book on the table. "Shut up! Can''t anyone get some sleep?"


    The ssroom suddenly fell silent.


    Katniss nced at Cecil, who had alreadyid back down to sleep.


    Daryl hadn''te to ss either. Katniss wanted to ask about his treatment but decided to sit behind Cecil.


    After taking out her books, Katniss poked Cecil with her pen.


    Cecil didn''t move.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Katniss frowned and kept poking. Cecil suddenly turned around, ring at Katniss with a dark expression, "Katniss, you better have a good reason."


    "This is a prescription for Daryl. He didn''te to ss today, so give it to him," Katniss said calmly.


    In a measured, deliberate motion, she ced the folded prescription on the table.


    Then Katniss started reading her book, not bothering with anything else. After all, it wasn''t her friend who was sick, so it was up to them.


    Staring at Katniss''s calm and bright face, Cecil, his expression icy, snatched the prescription and slumped back to sleep.


    That evening, Katniss returned to Golden Crest Estates after school and found Maximilian in the living room.


    He must have juste back, still in his suit, with a gloomy look and a faint aura of fatigue.


    Even without feeling his pulse, she could sense his unrest over several sleepless nights. Katniss frowned, "Maximilian, it''s time for acupuncture. Look at you, you must have been busy with work and not resting well."


    Maximilian cast a weary nce at her, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes, submitting to her treatment.


    "I''m fine," he rasped, his voice hoarse.


    Katniss checked him first, and sure enough, his condition had worsened. She quickly started the acupuncture.


    During the process, Katniss kept observing Maximilian''s expression. Seeing him gradually rx and fall asleep, she sighed in relief.


    After finishing the acupuncture, she delicately covered him with a nket and


    proceeded to the kitchen to prepare medicinal cuisine.


    An hourter, when the medicinal food was ready, Katniss came out to find Maximilian just waking up.


    He sat up quietly, pressing his temples, his face tense.


    "Maximilian, eat this. Let''s pause the rehab training tomorrow and resume the day after. You really can''t overwork yourself anymore." Katniss ced the medicinal food in front of him and couldn''t help but say more, "Extending the treatment time isn''t the worst. The worst is that it will make your condition worsen repeatedly. If it happens too often, your body won''t be able to take it."


    Maximilian regarded her with a faint smile, "You''re young, but quite naggy." Katniss couldn''t resist adding, "Especially when the patient won''t heed advice."