Chapter 334
“I agree with Jim’s decision.”
Expulsion.
Charlotte stared at Nancy’s tear-streaked face, not feeling even a sliver of sympathy. Her words were flat, cold, and final.
She thought about what would have happened if things were reversed. If she hadn’t had the evidence to prove her innocence, who would have spoken up for her?
No one.
She had already given Nancy a chance.
If she let it go now, there would just be more girls like her more Charlottes-set up by Nancy, bullied without mercy, just like five years ago.
“Jim, Eleanor, I’m heading out.”
With that, Charlotte looked away and walked out of the office without another word or even a glance back.
Everyone watched her leave, stunned into silence, especially Jim and the grade head.
“Get this sorted out as soon as possible,” Jim said, rubbing his brow, looking exhausted. He turned to Baldie with a cold stare. “If some homeroom teachers can’t handle their jobs, replace them immediately.”
That was obviously for Ashley. Her hands curled into tight fists, her cheeks burning with shame. She wished she could disappear.
“Yes, sir,” Baldie mumbled, barely daring to breathe.
After leaving the principal’s office, Olivia wasted no time calling Steven and Elizabeth to share her results.
“Yeah, I did really well. There shouldn’t be any issues,” she said, her face bright with a big, happy smile that made her seem like a completely different person from the one who had looked so wronged and guilty just moments before.
“With these scores, I can go anywhere I want.”
She ended the call, then turned around and froze. Charlotte was there leaning against a stone wall, watching her with those perfect eyebrows raised, her expression impossible to read. ‘
The sight startled Olivia, but she quickly pulled herself together. She clutched her phone, forcing herself to smile and hide the guilt twisting in her stomach.
“Congrats on clearing your name. And congrats on being number one in the country, too.”
Charlotte just looked at her, cool and distant, her whole presence like a wall of ice.
Olivia waited, but when Charlotte
said nothing, she took a breath and
tried to walk past her. Even if
Charlotte suspected her, she had no
evidence There was nothing Charlotte could do.
She had barely taken a few steps before a sharp pain shot through her arm. Charlotte had grabbed her, her fingers digging in hard.
“Charlotte, what are you-”
Olivia looked up, her face cold, ready to demand an explanation. Before she could finish, Charlotte slapped her, hard. The blow sent Olivia’s head spinning, her ears ringing.
Before she could catch her breath, Charlotte yanked her up and slammed her against the wall, one hand closing tight around her neck.
Air vanished from Olivia’s lungs. Panic clawed at her chest as she realized she couldn’t breathe.
“Charlotte
She managed to tilt her head up, meeting Charlotte’s gaze. Her eyes were bloodshot and frightening, full of something dark and dangerous.
“Who do you think you’re fooling, playing this game, getting someone else to take the fall for you?”
Charlotte’s grip tightened, her
beautiful face like a mask of frost.
“Did
really think you could walk
away clean just by finding a
scapegoat?”
She had warned Nancy so many times, but Nancy was still as clueless as she had been years ago, letting Olivia use her for her own plans.
“Let… go Olivia gasped, struggling for air, her face bright red and desperate.
“You keep coming at me. Do you really think I won’t do something you’ll regret?” Charlotte’s voice was low and rough, her hand tightening around Olivia’s neck.