The Genius Ex-Wife’s Revenge Portfolio novel Chapter 320

The day of the big Summit Academic Forum was finally here, and everyone was buzzing about it. Ella was up before the sun, practically bouncing with energy. She tugged Lilly out of bed. “Come on, Lilly, let’s go have some fun.”

“Where are we even going?” Lilly yawned. “Almost all our classmates are at the forum. I heard Mr. Harmon and that genius girl are showing up together for the first time.” She leaned in, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Ella just grinned. “That’s where we’re headed.”

Lilly stared at her, completely thrown. “Wait, seriously?”

Thirty minutes later, they made it to the venue. The place was packed. Academic elites from all over had shown up, and the energy was electric.

Scanning the crowd, Ella spotted a lot of familiar faces. Sarah was there with her friends from Central College. A few days ago, Lucas had asked Sarah out in front of everyone and it had kind of turned into a joke. To protect her dignity, Sarah had pulled some family strings and scored an invitation to the forum. Now, everyone in her group was treating her like royalty, and Sarah was soaking it in, grinning like she owned the place.

Ella also noticed Grandma Jill, along with Jessa, Rachel, Maureen and Ruby. The whole extended family had come out for the event, just like they promised, all to catch a glimpse of the famous genius girl.

Jessa was the first to notice Ella. “Ella, what are you doing here?”

Maureen looked her up and down, her voice dripping with disdain. “This is the Summit Academic Forum. You dropped out of school at sixteen. Are you here to embarrass the Irvine family?”

Grandma Jill didn’t even try to hide her irritation. “Ella, you need to leave. You can’t get in without an invitation. Do you even have one?”

Ella’s eyes stayed calm and clear as she looked at them. She shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

Not a single person from the Irvine family looked surprised. Honestly, they would’ve been more shocked if she did have one.

The insults kept coming, but Ella just stood there, smiling at all of them, completely unfazed.

Lilly was way less chill about it. She pointed straight at Grandma Jill and Rachel, her voice trembling with anger. “Are you really her family? You’re her grandma, her mom. And you’re the ones picking on her? Sometimes I wonder if Ella is even really your own.”

Honestly, Ella was used to it. Having family was pretty much the same as having none at all. She always felt like she was on her own.

Is Ella even really your own?

For a split second, something flashed in Grandma Jill’s eyes. Sure, Ella was her eldest son Jon’s daughter. But in her heart, there was only ever room for Jessa.