As the realization dawns on Serena that Charlie had assisted her during Cornelius's attempt, her heart flutters with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. Lost in her thoughts, she misses a step on the stairs, her balance teetering precariously until a strong arm steadies her, preventing a potential fall. The comforting scent of toasted marshmallow and woods that surrounds Charlie only intensifies Serena's racing heart and deepening blush. She can't help but admire the gentle gesture, feeling a rush of warmth at Charlie's side.

"Careful there," Charlie's voice breaks through Serena's reverie, laced with a hint of smugness to maintain her character. "My hand's sore now. Keep your grip and watch your step next time."

"T-thank you," Serena stammers, her eyes lingering on the beautiful profile of the alpha behind her.

"Fix yourself up, and I'll swing by your room later for the schoolwork," Charlie calmly suggests, releasing Serena from her grasp.

"O-okay," Serena replies, her voice barely above a whisper as she tries to compose herself.

As Charlie walks away, Serena's mind races with conflicting emotions. "What's happening to me?" she silently questions herself, grappling with the unexpected flutter in her heart. "Maybe it's because of what just happened... But I can't afford to let my guard down with Charlie... Not now, not ever." Despite the warmth of Charlie's gesture, Serena knows all too well the complexities of their relationship, wary of letting her emotions cloud her judgment.

Back to Charlie… 

As Charlie sits down to tackle the assignment, her mind whirls with disbelief at the situation. A one-on-one tutoring session with Serena Sutherland, the same person who wants her gone? It's almost surreal. But amidst the chaos of her thoughts, Charlie can't shake the nagging worry: Did Serena notice her pheromones? The last thing she needs is for Serena to become even more suspicious of her.

Determined to maintain her facade, Charlie diligently completes the assignment, her mind racing with strategies to navigate the upcoming interaction with Serena. Once finished, she wastes no time in heading to Serena's room, knocking three times before entering.

"Come in," Serena's voice calls out, pulling Charlie into the room.

"Here, check this for me," Charlie says casually, placing the assignment on Serena's desk and settling onto the sofa beside her.

Serena examines the answers, her suspicion growing as she realizes that Charlie, who has always struggled academically, has produced flawless work. Not only are the answers correct, but Charlie's methods are advanced, far beyond what is typically taught in their classes. Serena's narrowed gaze fixes on Charlie, her tone cold as she questions her intentions.

"Hey... are you sure of this answer?" Serena asks, her voice tinged with suspicion.

"Of course! Why... is it wrong?" Charlie counters, a hint of challenge in her tone.

Charlie's confidence in her math skills is undeniable. She's not just proficient in the classroom; her talent has been recognized through numerous awards in real-world math competitions.

"So... tell me... you clearly didn’t need my help... so why... what’s your game, Vanderbilt?" Serena presses, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Caught off guard, Charlie's mind races to find an explanation. She was supposed to seek help, not breeze through the assignment with ease. Panic sets in as she realizes her mistake, cursing her own pride for refusing to appear anything less than capable.

It’s all because I don’t want to look stupid even for pretend so I ended up answering all the questions right → T.T

"Uhh... Well..." Charlie begins, scrambling for a plausible response, only to be saved by the timely interruption of Aunt Carol.

"Miss Charlie, your father is leaving and wants to see you out!" Aunt Carol's voice echoes from outside the door.

Relief floods through Charlie as she seizes the opportunity to escape the interrogation. 

Nice Timing, Brother! I’m saved! ^_^

“Oookkkkaay, Aunt Carol! I’m Coming!” Charlie happily said.

“Ciao, Ciao, Serena!” She said playfully.

Serena watched as Charlie hurried out the door, her gaze filled with confusion and uncertainty.

"Why... why did you suddenly change the subject when Uncle Cornelius released his pheromones?" Serena muttered to herself, her thoughts swirling with questions. "You're an Alpha too... you must have sensed it the moment he released them. But the way you emitted your pheromones... it wasn't hostile, it wasn't aggressive...it’s calm and it’s warm…  it's almost as if you wanted to keep me safe."

Charlie, I thought I had you figured out before... Your scheming, your dirty tricks... You've hurt me emotionally, and physically too. But just now, when I exposed your behavior of pretending not to know the answer to your homework... You didn't lash out at me and slapped me like you usually do... you just stayed silent.

Have you really changed? 

Serena pondered these questions, her heart heavy with doubt and a flicker of hope. Despite her suspicions, she couldn't shake the lingering feeling that perhaps there was more to Charlie Vanderbilt.

The morning dawned, and Serena found herself at school earlier than usual, a deliberate move to avoid breakfast with Charlie and sidestep any potential awkwardness during the car ride. Her leg injury had fully healed, allowing her to forgo walking or taking the bus to school.

She couldn't afford to depend on anyone, especially not Charlie.

Despite recent events suggesting a possible change in Charlie's demeanor, Serena remained cautious. She knew she needed to keep her distance, uncertain of when Charlie might turn against her again.

Meanwhile, Charlie followed her usual routine, being driven to school without any deviation.

Today marked the release of the placement test results at school. The class standings were prominently displayed on the bulletin board, each student's name accompanied by a number indicating their rank in the class.

"Sis Charlie! The placement test result is today! Let’s see our ranking!" Alice exclaimed as she and Leora approached Charlie, heading to the bulletin board together.

Alice and Leora weren't known for their academic prowess; they were more