Chapter 16: Accepted by Royal Oaks
The following day.
At eight in the morning, Hugo’s family was having breakfast when his phone began to ring.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
Hugo had grown numb to answering calls from unknown numbers lately.
They were all responses from companies he had sent his resume to.
Without exception, the response was: “Sorry Mr. Reed, you do not meet our company’s hiring criteria.”
Hugo sighed and answered the call.
“May I speak with Zackary’s father, Zackary Reed?” The person on the other end of the line was extremely polite.
“I am. Who is this?” Hugo asked as he served Tina some food.
“I’m the assistant principal at Royal Oaks Kindergarten. I’m calling today to inform you that Zackary Reed has been admitted.”
Hugo paused, his hand holding the chopsticks froze, and he was stunned.
It took him a moment to ask in a trembling voice, “Who did you say you are?”
“I’m the assistant principal at Royal Oaks Kindergarten.” The person replied, still with a friendly and gentle demeanor.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Hugo’s mouth dropped open in shock and he suddenly stood up, excitedly saying, “Royal Oaks? Are you saying, my Zackary has been admitted?”
Jennie also stood up excitedly.
Tina simply lifted her eyes and continued to eat calmly.
Turning her head, she saw Zackary looking at her; she handed him a meat bun, softly saying, “Eat more, you’re too thin.”
Zackary smiled at her and obediently said, “Thank you, Tina.”
Meanwhile, Hugo, seeing Jennie’s excited gaze, put the phone on speaker.
Then the person on the line said, “Yes, we have reviewed your son’s file, and he meets our admission criteria. Do you accept our invitation?”
The assistant principal sounded quite helpless!
For anyone else, would they have to repeat themselves so many times?
But this was Zackary Reed!
The instruction had come down from above; they had to admit him.
So he had to be patient.
“Agree! Of course, I agree!” Hugo replied quickly, fearing the caller might change their mind, his voice doubling in volume.
“Then please stay at home today; I will arrange for someone to deliver the admission notice to your house,” the assistant finished, and the call was disconnected.
After the call, Jennie excitedly grabbed Hugo’s arm, slightly incoherent, “Hugo, is it true? Our Zackary… has been admitted to Royal Oaks?”
My goodness!
Royal Oaks!
That was a school money alone couldn’t buy into!
And connections were not enough either!
Previously, Elizabeth had tried to get Pinewood and Talon’s sons into Royal Oaks, pulling many strings, all in vain.
Recently, it was heard that Talon’s son had taken the Royal Oaks entrance exam again.
“It’s true!” Hugo felt as if he were dreaming; he had never imagined such good fortune would happen to his family.
“My goodness! Our Tina is a lucky child!” Jennie could hardly contain her joy, “Ever since Tina came back, not only have we been able to live in Pinkwater Ally, but Zackary has been admitted to Royal Oaks Kindergarten. Tina is our family’s lucky star.”
Jennie wished she could hug Tina and kiss her.
Tina, sensing her intent, thought: No! I don’t want to be kissed!
“Exactly! Tina is a lucky star!” Hugo said cheerfully, “That’s why we must not let Tina marry Jared, don’t let Jared wipe away Tina’s luck. We need to find someone equally fortunate for her so that her future will be ever brighter.”
Tina, “…”
What does being fortunate have to do with marrying Jared?
However, seeing their happiness, she didn’t interrupt.
In the afternoon.
At Moon Gate Estate.
Elizabeth sat at the head of the table, with Talon and Pinewood on either side.
Pinewood, frowning, asked, “What’s going on with Hugo? Why hasn’t there been any movement?”
Talon looked at Elizabeth, “It’s been three days now; we must hurry and get Hugo to agree, otherwise, this marriage deal is off.”
Elizabeth picked up a teacup beside her, her eyes aged and subdued, her expression grim.
Yesterday, she had received a call from the principal; the task she had instructed had failed.
Those three had been caught, and the principal and the teacher had been dismissed.
She was the mastermind and had to get those three out.
Fortunately, not many knew about this, so it had little impact on her.
But to her surprise, she didn’t know Tina was so skilled with computers, even able to recover already deleted surveillance footage.
Wasn’t she raised in Serenity Ridge?
It was said she hadn’t left the mountain in ten years and probably hadn’t gone to school, so who taught her about computers?
“Mother! Say something. The marriage contract with the Farrell family cannot fail,” Pinewood said anxiously, “Ever since Hugo refused to share the perfume formula, our business has plummeted. Now, only our old customers use our perfume. If we don’t attract new investments to develop new formulas soon, our company won’t survive.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and said in a deep voice, “What’s the hurry? Haven’t I taught you? To succeed, you must handle things steadily.”
She set down her teacup and said to Talon, “You have a decent relationship with Hugo; go find out what’s happening.”
“Hugo won’t even answer my calls now; how am I supposed to find out?” Talon replied, irritated.
He had called Hugo many times in the past few days, but Hugo had not responded.
He had tried everything, but there was no way to meet Hugo if Hugo refused to see him.
As the conversation ended, the butler walked in, “Madam, we’ve received a courier; they say it’s from Royal Oaks Kindergarten, delivering an admission notice.”
Upon hearing this, Talon immediately stood up, excitedly saying, “Royal Oaks Kindergarten? Did Bobby get in?”
Elizabeth also looked pleased, “Quickly, have them come in!”
The butler nodded and went out.
Moments later, he returned with two men in business suits.
As they entered, they presented their work IDs and said with a smile, “Hello, we are from Royal Oaks Kindergarten, here to deliver an admission notice.”
Elizabeth nodded with a smile.
The Royal Oaks Kindergarten was different indeed; their professional attitude set them apart from other schools.
No wonder countless people were desperate to get their children into Royal Oaks each year.
It made sense.
Talon hurried forward, “Is it for my child?”
“Yes,” one of the men replied, “May I ask if you are Mr. Hugo Reed? The principal instructed us to hand over the admission notice to you personally.”
Talon was taken aback, “I am Bobby Reed’s father. Why does the admission notice need to go to my brother?”
The man looked puzzled for a moment, then still smiling, said, “We have admitted Zackary Reed, so naturally, we must give the admission notice to his father.”
“What?”
Elizabeth, Pinewood, Amber, and Talon, who were sitting in the middle of the living room, all widened their eyes in disbelief at the two.