The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 668

“Honestly, I’m just as curious. How did you find the mouse’s heart so quickly?”

Letty had been a researcher for years, and even with all that training, it always took her a while to pinpoint the right spot. Hollis’s question made the whole room freeze. Was he really asking Charlotte for advice?

“And the way you handled the scalpel… it feels so much like…” Hollis broke off mid-sentence, frowning as if he’d just realized something but then shook his head. No way. Charlotte’s technique reminded him of Asclepius, the legendary forensic expert everyone in medicine idolized. But that was impossible. Even he couldn’t get close to someone like that, so how could Charlotte possibly know them? He was probably just imagining things.

Charlotte answered in her usual calm way. “It was simple. I just went with my gut.”

Her gut? Hollis blinked, then a slow grin appeared on his face. In medicine, a good sense of touch meant everything.

“Everyone, Letty is part of our team and she did great, but the results speak for themselves,” Hollis said, raising his voice so everyone could hear. “I think first place should go to Charlotte.”

Wait, what?

Letty’s eyes went wide, her smile vanishing in an instant. First place was going to Charlotte?

The students in the audience erupted, all talking at once. Kingswood University was finally getting its moment of glory.

But before anyone could really soak that in, Hollis turned to Charlotte, his voice gentle. “Would you like to join The Cabinda Medical Branch?”

The whole auditorium went silent, everyone frozen in shock.

“I heard The Cabinda Medical Branch comes to these competitions every year to scout for talented students,” someone whispered. The last time had been five years ago when Letty was chosen as a sophomore. Since then, nothing. Most people figured it was just a rumor. No one expected them to pick Charlotte.

Letty’s face, already pale, grew even darker. Hollis had actually offered Charlotte a spot? That meant Charlotte would replace her and become the youngest member ever. Just the thought made Letty’s stomach twist.

“Charlotte, you don’t have any reason to turn this down, do you?” Hollis asked again, sounding completely sure of himself.

Everyone waited, barely breathing, expecting Charlotte to say yes. After all, she’d ended up at Kingswood because of a mistake on her application and wound up in a so-so traditional medicine program. Now she had a shot at The Cabinda Medical Branch. Of course she’d jump at it.

“The Cabinda Medical Branch?” Charlotte’s lips curled in a faint smile. Her voice stayed steady. “Thanks, but I’m going to have to pass.”

The entire room went silent, every eye locked on her in disbelief.