Gazing intently at nervous faces in front of her, the principal finally let go of the shock and amazement in her heart.
Giving Sarina a last glance of admiration, she smiled brightly as she spoke the words everyone had been waiting to hear from the second Sarina returned back in the office.
"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Rowan. Not only had Sarina passed all the tests but had even aced them brilliantly."
As soon as the principal finished speaking, the entire office burst into thunderous claps of the teachers including Ms Shelly who was looking at Sarina with nothing but admiration in her eyes.
All her earlier resentment seemed to have vanished into thin air as she looked at Sarina in shock and amazement.
Sarina obviously felt the change in the gaze of Ms Shelly, successfully changing her earler opinion on Ms Shelly.
Clara and Adrian, on the other hand, were pleasantly astonished. Both had their eyes and mouth wide open as they glanced at their eldest daughter in shock.
'Sarina actually achieved it. Our daughter is the best.'
Both of them thought; tears glistering like stars in their eyes as tehy looked at Sarina with love and pride.
It wasn't that they didn't trust Sarina's abilities. As someone who had seen first hand how much efforts Sarina had put in achieving this, they knew the Sarina was truly capable of achieving this.
They had really hoped Sarina to succeed from the bottom of their hearts.
But when it really had happened, they seemed unable to react for a minute.
The twins on the other hand didn't have such complicated thoughts. To them, Sarina passing the exams was already a sure thing. They had no doubt in their elder sister's abilities.
"Ahhhhh! Congratulations sister. We knew you could do it." The twins happily exclaimed as they excitedly hugged Sarina from both sides.
"Thank you buddies." Sarina said, chuckling happily as she put her arms around the two minions holding her and lovingly pecking their forehead.
Feeling the peck, the twins beamed even mor brightly as the three siblings continued to feel the joy of the moment.
Looking at the loving bond between the siblings, Clara and Adrian also smiled. Nothing could make any parent happier than watching the strong bond between their children.
In a time where sibling's rivalry and hate were too common, their children's strong connection gave them the peace everyone yearned for.
Deeply affected by the powerful emotions of her family, even Sarina's own eyes welled up in tears as the realization of much hurt and pain they would have felt when she had left them alone in her previous life came to mind.
Despite the fact that she wasn't their biological daughter, they had still accepted and loved her deeply from the bottom of their hearts.
'I am sorry mom and dad. I had really caused you a terrible pain in my previous life. I am such an awful daughter. I promise, in this life, not only will never leave your side but I will also make sure that everyone who had caused you and our family any pain, I will destroy them completely. In this life, I will make you both proud'
Sarina firmly thought as she wiped away her tears; her eyes blazing with resolution and a fire that could destroy anything that came in between her goals.
Gazing at the principal and teachers who were observing the family of five with great interest, Sarina let go of the twins and stepped forward; deliberately cleared her throat loudly to bring everyone's attention back to the present.
"Principal ma'am, since I have passed all the exams, shouldn't someone fulfil her part of the bet?" Sarina playfully reminded while giving a mischievous glance to Ms Shelly on the side.
Even though she had seen the change in Ms Shelly's expressions when she had returned, that absolutely didn't mean Sarina will let this matter slide just like that.
Others may had forgotten it but for Sarina, anyone who dared to insult her parents will have to pay the price for it, no matter who the other person is.
And sure enough, as soon as everyone registered Sarina's words, their gaze shifted collectively towards the calmly smiling Ms Shelly standing at the side.
They all finally remembered the bet between Sarina and her.
"No one has forgotten it dear. Ms Shelly, don't you have just to say to student Sarina?"
Caught off-guard, the principal, feeling embarrassed, cleared her throat and looked at Ms Shelly; reminding and urging her to apologize.
Ms Shelly lips twitched in amusement as she looked at the varied expression on everyone's face in the office.
Not wasting any more time, she calmly walked towards visibly nervous Adrian and Clara.
"Mr and Mrs Rowan, I apologize from the bottom of my heart for my earlier words against Sarina. I admit I was wrong for underestimating her abilities and even more wrong for questioning her upbringing."
Bowing her head, Ms Shelly sincerely apologized. Her words genuine and without any hypocrisy as she admitted her mistake.
Not waiting for their reply, she turned to face the teachers standing on the other side and bowed her head once again in shame.
"I also want to apologize to all of you. I forgot that as teachers, our job is to motivate and trust our students. In my arrogance, I neglected and disregarded the main principal of a teacher."
Ms Shelly exclaimed, her words filled with guilt and shame for everything she had previously said against them.
Everyone in the office were completely taken aback by Ms Shelly's heartfelt apology. Especially the teachers who felt their pride return to them even more majestically.
After all, to them, their job as teachers were the biggest source of pride for them. Someone, especially another teacher on that wounding that pride wasn't something they could accept just like that.
In fact, given her earlier behavior, none of them had any expectations from her but it was quite clear at the moment that they had judged her very early.
Even Sarina herself had never expected Ms Shelly to apologize and that to with such sincerity.
'It seems I really shouldn't judge anyone in the very first meeting. There really are all types of people in the world'
Aria thought as felt her impression on Ms Shelly change as she let go off the prejudice she had been holding against her.
Though not everyone can accept Ms Shelly's apology with the same peace of mind. For Adrian and Clara, teachers are someone they respect and look up to from the bottom of their heart.
To them, having a teacher apologize to them like this wasn't something they were accustomed to.
"Ms Shelly please, you don't have to apologize like this. We didn't take any of your words to heart."
Clara anxiously said, feeling very embarrassed to see Ms shelly bow down to them.
Ms Shelly however didn't agree with them on that.
"Mrs Rowan, apologizing doesn't make anyone small. In fact, I am actually very glad to get a chance to meet a genius like your daughter in my life."
Ms Shelly genuinely said; her eyes shinning brightly as she looked Sarina with undisguised admiration.
To her, Sarina was like an unpolished diamond waiting to be discovered and shine brighter than ever.
"Principal ma'am, as per the bet earlier, I will definitely donate a library to the school after Sarina's name. However, I have a small request if you allow it."
Not wasting anymore time, Ms Shelly faced the principal and exclaimed. Her tone almost pleading as she tried to ask for a request.
"What request?"
The principal doubtfully asked as she wondered about the sudden request. She really hoped Ms Shelly wouldn't make any unreasonable demands that the school can't fulfil.
After all, the library was very important to the school and now that she had the chance to achieve it, she obviously didn't want to let it go just like.
Thankfully, Ms Shelly's next words made all those unnecessary thoughts disappear completely as looked at her in astonishment.
"I want to join this school as the homeroom teacher of Sarina's class. Not only will I cover for entire fees of this grade but also promise to make sure that by the time of high school national examination, the entire country will know her name."
Ms Shelly confidently said; her words surprising everyone in the office including Sarina herself. She never expected the situation to turn around like this.
But she also knew how true her words were. Getting such a chance, she obviously didn't want to let it slip away.
'Let's see what the principal says about it. If the situation really went against my ideas, I will intervene.'
Sarina though as she decided to keep quiet for the moment.
The principal, though surprised, didn't agree to it just like that. After all, given Sarina's result just now, she had no doubt that there was a very high probability that will be the top scorer of the high school national examination.
A third-tier city student becoming the top scorer of the high school national examination!!!!
What kind of concept was that.
She definitely had to make sure that nothing goes wrong during this time.
Given Ms Shelly's background, the principal had no doubt that she was truly capable of achieving what she just said but she still had to be sure about it.
Thinking about everything in detail, the principal probed;
"And how do you plan to that Ms Shelly?"
Ms Shelly obviously didn't mind the extra questions. She also of course realized the importance and depth of this matter.
"You should know my family background. Not only can I create more opportunities for her but can even give her platform that this way out of this school's reach. You can rest assured that student Sarina will be in safe hands."