Chapter 316

The "Sleeping Beauty" facade was all a deception.

Her supposed lack of education? Another carefully crafted illusion.

Harrison Whitmore wasn't just brilliant—she was the prodigy everyone had been whispering about.

The mysterious genius freshman the entire academic world had been buzzing over? It was her all along.

"I can't believe the genius is this breathtaking! She looks like she stepped out of a Renaissance painting—brains and beauty in one perfect package."

"My pulse just went haywire!"

Isabella's nails dug crescent moons into her palms. This couldn't be happening. The Harrison she'd spent years belittling—this same girl—was the academic phenom that had fueled her bitter envy.

Victoria sat frozen, struggling to process the scene. She'd personally exiled Harrison to that backwater village. How was she now standing center stage?

"Either sit down or get escorted out," snapped an impatient voice behind them. "You're blocking the view of our keynote speaker."

Flushing scarlet, Victoria yanked Isabella's sleeve. "For heaven's sake, sit!"

Isabella collapsed into her seat, her palms stinging from how hard she'd clenched them.

Spotlights bathed Harrison in golden light as she approached the podium. The moment she introduced herself, the auditorium erupted in thunderous applause.

Every eye remained glued to her—the way the lights caught the gold flecks in her hazel eyes, the effortless grace of her movements. She was magnetic.

Harrison's lips curved into a knowing smile. "It's an honor to address such distinguished minds today. My presentation will explore..."

Her voice—clear as crystal—carried effortlessly through the hall. Each insight more groundbreaking than the last. When she concluded, the standing ovation lasted three full minutes.

Afterwards, Nathaniel found her amidst the crowd.

Julian had already arrived, proudly introducing Harrison to Nobel laureates and Fortune 500 CEOs. Spotting Nathaniel, Julian beamed. "Ah, Mr. Falcon! Meet Harrison Whitmore—your most exceptional junior."

Harrison turned slightly. Moonlight eyes met his. "Mr. Falcon," she extended her hand, the ghost of a challenge in her smile, "let's start over. I'm Harrison Whitmore."

The blue lanyard around her neck displayed her Westfield ID—a sixteen-year-old Harrison in master's regalia, all wide-eyed innocence and quiet brilliance.

Nathaniel's gaze traveled from the photo to the woman before him—the same one who'd haunted his thoughts for months.

Here, in this glittering sea of elites, she was finally revealing her truth.

The girl who'd rejected his LinkedIn request.

The enigma who'd claimed to dislike him on principle.

His equal in every way.

Nathaniel took her hand, his thumb brushing her knuckles. "Why keep me in the dark?" he murmured.

Harrison's answering smile held centuries of secrets. "You never looked closely enough to see me, Nathaniel. I've always known exactly who you are."

She'd crossed oceans and shattered glass ceilings to stand here.

The tragedy? He'd been blind to her all along.