Unmasking Mrs. Newton's Secret Identities novel Chapter 1276

"How did Helen do, Mr. Murdoch? How many mistakes did you find?" Hunter asked, his anxiety evident as he watched from the side.

He had already made up his mind—if Helen scored above 100, he would ensure she stayed in the specialized preparatory program, even if it meant opposing Edmund.

Edmund lowered his eyes, looking dejected. "She got a perfect score," he mumbled.

"A perfect score?" Hunter exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy. He quickly snatched the paper and began reviewing it eagerly. As he reached the final question, his smile grew even wider.

Helen had not only answered the last question correctly but had done so flawlessly.

There was no denying it—she was a genius.

Given time, Helen's achievements would undoubtedly surpass not only his own but everyone else's in the classroom.

"That's wonderful, Helen! I'm thrilled to announce that you can stay in the specialized preparatory program!" Hunter declared excitedly.

But, Mr. Reddick—" Edmund began, trying to stir up trouble.

"Mr. Murdoch, there's no need for further discussion," Hunter cut him off sharply. "If I recall correctly, you were the one who had the answer sheets last night.

"Given your attitude toward Helen, it seems quite possible that you might have tampered with hers. Would you like me to report this to Mr. Morrison right now and request a full investigation?"

Upon hearing this, Edmund grew flustered and quickly backpedaled. "What are you insinuating, Mr. Reddick? As a teacher, I would never be involved in such activities!

"I believe there's been a misunderstanding. Given Helen's impressive performance and exceptional learning abilities, she's clearly a standout student.

"We should not only keep her in the program but also consider assigning her additional responsibilities—maybe a leadership role or something along those lines."

Hunter rolled his eyes at Edmund's suggestion, clearly exasperated by his attempt to play the good guy.

Unfazed by Hunter's reaction, Edmund cleared his throat and turned to Helen with a forced smile. "Helen, would you be interested in assuming a leadership role in the class?"

"Mr. Murdoch, are you asking me for a favor?" Helen quipped, her hands clasped and her chin raised slightly.

Helen's lips curled into a smile. Spotting Tristan walking by, she called out, "Hey, Tristan."

"Yes, Helen, what's up?" Tristan asked casually as he came to a halt.

"Thank you for your help today, as well as for the last time," she said earnestly.

"You're welcome. It was no trouble at all."

An awkward silence hung between them as they stood facing each other.

Helen had caught fragments of her classmates' whispers. While she understood that youthful affection could be genuine and heartfelt, she knew she wasn't in a position to reciprocate those feelings.

Her mind raced as she tried to find a way to let Tristan down gently without hurting his feelings.

At the same time, she worried that she might be overanalyzing the situation; addressing it too soon could make things awkward for both of them.