Riley understood their concerns.
But she wouldn't belittle herself. She had complete confidence in teaching the students.
President Langford was clearly conflicted. He couldn't just send Riley to teach the incoming students—not like this. But at the same time, he couldn't offend Parkstone University either.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"How about this," he said carefully. "Director Sutherland will assign you a class first. Once the students are more familiar with you, we'll have you step in as a guest lecturer for the entire Year 16 finance program. What do you think?"
Riley nodded. She had no objections.
She was only here out of respect for her mentor. If they didn't want her teaching right away, she wouldn't force it.
At least she could report back with a clear conscience.
Director Sutherland flipped through the class list for Year 16, then looked up.
"Professor Prime, how about you take Class Seven for finance? You'll be both their advisor and instructor."
Riley was speechless.
But she didn't dwell on it. She simply nodded. "No problem. However, I do have one small request. Due to personal reasons, I'd like to teach Class Seven online for now. I'll meet them in person later."
No way I'm showing up in public like this.
I had just married Adrian and I'm supposed to be a "fool".
I'm not going to risk exposing myself in front of a lecture hall full of students.
She expected resistance.
Instead, both Director Sutherland and President Langford agreed immediately.
A little too quickly.
Riley blinked, feeling oddly uneasy.
Why do I feel like they're plotting something?
***
After she left, President Langford turned to Director Sutherland.
"Are you sure about assigning her to Class Seven? What if she reports this back to Parkstone and accuses us of deceiving her?"
Everyone knew that Class Seven was group of disastrous students.
Imperial University might be prestigious, a pipeline for top talent—but it also attracted powerful families who forced their less capable children in through connections.
Most of the students in Class Seven were exactly that.
Spoiled heirs.
Rich troublemakers.
They skipped classes, got into fights, disrespected instructors—there was no shortage of incidents.
Word had already spread across the university.
Not a single instructor was willing to take that class.
Every other class had been assigned.
Only Class Seven remained—
No advisor. No instructor.
And now, Director Sutherland had handed that mess to Riley.
If she complained to Parkstone, it could damage future collaborations of the two institutions.
***
Felicia pushed her way into Year 16, Finance Class 1, arms weighed down with bags that threatened to slip at any moment.
The moment she stepped inside, she froze.
She was late.
Standing at the back door, she became the center of attention—every student and the instructor turning to look at her.
"I—"
She barely opened her mouth before the instructor, holding a microphone, cut her off.
"You there—the late student. You must be Felicia, the transfer student from Centralia University, here on probation, correct?"
The moment those words landed—
A wave of murmurs spread across the room.
"Oh—"
Some students smirked.
Others looked openly amused.
Imperial University had never officially accepted "trial students".
Everyone knew what that meant.
She got in through connections.
And Felicia, dressed up carefully to stand out, only made things worse.
To them—
She looked even more ridiculous.