Chapter 311

The Global Scholars Forum had finally commenced, capturing the attention of academia's elite.

Rosalind rose at dawn, already preparing for the momentous day. She tugged at Harrison's sleeve.

"Harrison, come with me. We're going somewhere special."

"Where? Everyone's heading to the Global Scholars Forum today. I heard Nathaniel and that prodigy girl are meeting for the first time," Harrison chattered excitedly.

A knowing smile curved Harrison's lips. "Exactly. That's precisely where we're going."

Harrison's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the prestigious venue. The atmosphere buzzed with intellectual energy as scholars from various disciplines mingled.

Harrison immediately recognized several faces in the crowd. Arabella stood surrounded by her Willowridge University classmates.

After Julian's humiliating public confession days prior, Arabella had used her father's connections to secure an invitation.

Her classmates fawned over her, their flattery restoring her wounded pride. Arabella walked with renewed confidence, a smug smile plastered across her face.

Harrison also spotted Isabella, Victoria, and Penelope from the Whitmore clan - practically the entire family had come to witness the prodigy's debut.

Isabella's sharp eyes found Harrison in the crowd. "Harrison? What are you doing here?"

Penelope's haughty gaze swept over Harrison with disdain. "This is the Global Scholars Forum. A sixteen-year-old dropout has no business here. Are you trying to disgrace the Whitmore name?"

Margaret's voice cut like ice. "Harrison, leave immediately! This event requires an invitation. Do you even have one?"

Harrison met their stares with calm defiance. "No, I don't."

The expected answer drew no reaction from the Whitmores. They'd have been more shocked if Harrison possessed an invitation.

Victoria crossed her arms. "Save yourself the embarrassment and leave before security escorts you out."

Arabella sauntered over with her entourage. "Well, if it isn't Willowridge University's Sleeping Beauty," she sneered.

Her classmates erupted in laughter. "The Sleeping Beauty actually woke up for the Global Scholars Forum? How amusing."

Arabella draped her arms around Isabella and Penelope. "Meet Harrison, our resident Sleeping Beauty. Also a Whitmore, though unlike Penelope here - an Ivy League postdoc - or Isabella, a top university graduate, Harrison's claim to fame is napping through lectures."

The Willowridge students howled with laughter.

"Aren't you embarrassed, Harrison?"

"Go back to bed, Sleeping Beauty. You're making a fool of yourself."

The taunts continued, but Harrison remained unshaken, her smile never wavering.

Rosalind's temper flared. This was beyond cruel!

She pointed accusingly at Margaret and Victoria. "Are you really family? As her grandmother and mother, you lead the charge in bullying her? I'm starting to doubt Harrison's even related to you!"

Harrison had long grown accustomed to this treatment. Family meant nothing when treated like an outsider in her own home.

Margaret's expression flickered when Rosalind questioned Harrison's parentage.

Though biologically Benjamin's daughter, Harrison would never hold the place in Margaret's heart that Isabella occupied.