Chapter 6 Did the Obelon Upbringing Teach You Nothing?

"Arabella, you and Regina go to the same school, and you both knew today was the entrance exam. She got bullied and you didn't care? You just stood there watching? Do you have a heart?" Justin looked up and snapped coldly.

Arabella found this almost funny. She shot back: "So you think I don't need to go to class, and the moment Regina shows up I'm supposed to be by her side 24/7? Or are you saying that a school like Summit Academy would just let a bunch of people come out during class hours to bully someone who isn't even a student there yet?"

The moment she said that, both of them fell silent.

She had a point, actually.

Sensing the mood shifting against her, Regina quickly started sobbing. "Justin, Easton, I wasn't bullied. It's my fault. I'm just not good enough, that's why I didn't pass the Summit Academy exam."

With that, her tears poured down like a dam had burst.

Arabella narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "Oh, so you're crying because you didn't get in. And how exactly does that have anything to do with me?"

"Does her not getting in make you happy? You're family. Regina failed the entrance exam and you can't even be bothered to help think of something?" Easton's voice rose as he spoke. He didn't understand how Arabella had turned into this person.

Arabella gave a small shrug. "Sorry, no. What does it matter to me whether she gets into Summit Academy or not? Besides, you can't reach something that's beyond your ability. Her not getting in makes perfect sense."

As her words landed, Regina's expression darkened.

Her hands balled into fists at her sides. She knew that if she let Arabella keep talking, not getting into Summit Academy would end up looking entirely like a problem with her own abilities.

"I'm just not cut out for Summit Academy. I think I should just go back to the countryside and keep studying there. I'll go pack my things now. Thank you all for taking care of me."

Just as Regina turned to leave, Winston spoke. "Regina, you're not going anywhere."

Rena had taken good care of their family and had raised them since they were little. They had real feelings for her. Now that she was gone, they had taken Regina in, and naturally they wanted to give her the best. Sending her back to the countryside to face her awful father was out of the question. Setting aside what they'd owe to Rena's memory, it simply wasn't the Obelon way.

And besides, Regina really was sweet and well-behaved.

Regina lowered her head, sobbing softly. "But I really do want to keep studying..."

"The Summit Academy exam is genuinely hard, and the school you went to before didn't have great resources. That's not your fault," Justin said gently.

"Exactly. Blame the gap in educational resources."

Arabella watched with cold eyes as they moved to Regina's side and patted her back to comfort her. She couldn't be bothered with this performance. She had known all along that everything Regina was doing was meant to show her one thing — that her brothers cared about Regina now. They were the ones protecting her.

"I wish I were as smart as Arabella," Regina said pitifully, her gaze drifting toward Arabella. "Then I wouldn't have embarrassed myself at the entrance exam."

Arabella blinked at the sudden mention of her name, and immediately sensed something off.

What was she up to now?

"Arabella has had access to a top-quality education since she was little, with the best resources around her. Of course her grades are good — that's no surprise. But Regina, the fact that you even showed up to take the entrance exam is impressive in itself. Don't be too hard on yourself. Failing one exam isn't the end of the world. If Summit Academy doesn't work out, there are plenty of other great schools." Easton jumped in quickly, and immediately pulled out his phone to search up options.

But none of those were what Regina wanted. What she wanted was the same thing Arabella had.

"But Easton, Summit Academy has the best educational resources. It's the one I've always dreamed of. If it's really too much trouble for me to get in, then I..."

"There's no trouble. If you want in, you'll get in," Winston said.

"Really? I can really go with Arabella?" Regina's head snapped up, her face lighting up. She hurried over to Winston with small, excited steps, making sure not to forget to drag her injured ankle as she walked.

Winston glanced up, and something in him softened as he met her bright, shining eyes.

"Yeah. You'll go in as an auditing student first. Once you've caught up with the coursework, you can sit the entrance exam again," Winston said evenly.

It was a reasonable arrangement — not against any rules, and nothing anyone could complain about.

Arabella raised an eyebrow slightly. Not a bad solution, she had to admit.

But if Regina actually enrolled, it would mean endless trouble for her.

The thought sent fragments of her past life flooding back all at once. She reached up and rubbed her aching temples.

"Thank you, Winston! If I get into Summit Academy, I'll study so hard!" Regina's excitement finally brought a small smile to everyone's faces.

Easton spoke up. "Since you'll both be at Summit Academy, Arabella can look after you going forward. You two could even be in the same class."

Before he'd even finished, Arabella said, "I'm in the advanced class."

Summit Academy's advanced class was famously a gathering place for top talent — only the best students in the entire city made it in.

And Regina, who couldn't even pass the entrance exam, going into the advanced class...

"Is Arabella saying my grades are too bad for me to belong in the advanced class?" Regina's held-back tears spilled over the moment she heard those words.

She lowered her head. "I know someone like me would be looked down on even just for being at the school. It makes sense that Arabella wouldn't want to be in the same class as me. I can go to a different class. I can even pretend I don't know her."

Arabella had only said one sentence. Regina had filled in all the rest herself.

The wounded yet understanding look she pulled off could have won her an acting award.

In that moment, Arabella finally understood how she had been fooled by that face in her past life.

"Arabella, that was out of line. Are you looking down on Regina's grades?" Easton snapped.

"Did the Obelon family's upbringing teach you nothing? Rena was so good to you. Now that she's gone, you're turning your nose up at her daughter?" Winston's voice was low and still as deep water, and when he spoke, it carried a piercing chill — as if his next words could freeze you solid.