Chapter 23
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I had been trying to reassure myself not to care about all this. Chloe could only resort to these tactics, even bringing Sixth Brother to school, and the likely outcome was that my grades would be canceled. But when I heard Jack ask about my results, I couldn’t help but feel upset.
As I was about to answer, someone called out to me, “Alice, the homeroom teacher wants you to come to her office.”
I bit my lip and said, “I need to go to the office. I’ll talk to you later.” After hanging up, I went straight to the homeroom teacher’s office.
Upon entering, I found Luke there; and the atmosphere was tense.
Luke spoke coldly, “Alice, I never thought you’d resort to cheating just to win. Do you understand what this means?”
I wasn’t surprised by his disbelief. My gaze was steady.“I didn’t cheat.” I wouldn’t admit to something I hadn’t done.
“Alice, the facts are right in front of you, and you’re still lying? Based on your usual grades and your behavior at home, there’s no way your scores could improve this much, and you had plenty of motive to cheat! Admit your mistake, and we’ll ask the school to lessen your punishment.”
I scoffed.“Do you think that’s evidence of me cheating?”
Luke stood up in anger.“Alice, look at yourself!”
The teacher, seeing Luke about to lose his temper, quickly intervened, “Speak to her calmly.”
Luke, exasperated, said to the teacher, “Sorry, but Alice’s cheating is just her rebelling against the family. Just like I said, make her write a letter of reflection and apologize publicly, and don’t give her a punishment.”
The teacher sighed. “That’s fine, I hope Alice can turn over a new leaf.” After all, we were about to graduate from high school, and carrying a punishment wasn’t exactly a badge of honor.
I looked down at the floor, my already cold heart sinking further. They had decided my fate in just a few words, and no one believed me.
“Alice, you’ve brought shame to the Welch family! How could you be such a morally bankrupt sister? I’m embarrassed just to say it!”
“Do I even want to be your sister?”
My features were delicate, my eyes dark and cold. I didn’t care anymore.
“Alice, say that again.” Luke glared at me, his face flushed with anger.
“Don’t yell at the student. You’ll scare her,” an elderly
walked in, looking kind.
The homeroom teacher quickly said, “Principal, what brings you here?”
it’s ca
causing quite a stir, so I came to see what’s going on.”
“I heard a senior student made significant progress but is being accused of cheating, and
Luke replied curtly, “Principal, there’s no need for an investigation. Alice cheated to get those good grades. If she won’t apologize and admit her mistake, just give her a punishment.”
I definitely needed a lesson. He had just pleaded with the teacher to avoid a punishment, but I wouldn’t accept it. Fine, he wouldn’t do anything for me anymore. I didn’t care anyway.
The principal looked kindly at me.“Actually, there’s a simple way to verify if you cheated. We can give you a new set of questions to complete under our supervision. Are you willing to accept the test?”
I looked at the principal. “I’ll accept. But I have a condition: if I prove I didn’t cheat, the ones who accused me should apologize publicly.”
Luke sneered, “Sure, let’s sue what kind of score you can get!”
The teacher gave me a test. I’ll start the timer.”
I sat down, picked up my pen, and began the test. The office was silent, everyone watching me. The teacher, sitting close by, was surprised by my mathematical reasoning. This test was harder than the monthly exam, and I was getting most of the answers correct!
Time ticked away. Chloe, curious about what was happening in the office, walked over and saw me working on the problems, instantly feeling a bad
premonition.
She went to Luke.“Luke, what are you doing? Is Alice retaking the test?”
Luke snorted.“Yes. She refuses to admit to cheating, so this time she’ll lose convincingly.”
Chloe rushed to my side, Alice, don’t be stubborn. We believe you. You don’t have to force yourself.”
I didn’t respond or acknowledge Chloe; I wouldn’t let this woman disrupt my focus. Seeing that I was unaffected, Chloe bit her lip and looked at Luke, Luke, Alice’s still angry with me.”
< Chapter 23
Luke was irritated.“Alice, Chloe’s talking to you. Can’t you hear?”
I looked up.“I’m taking a test. Can’t you see?”
Luke was speechless.“Chloe’s giving you a way out. Don’t mess this up!”
Mer
“Chloe, don’t disturb Alice while she’s taking the test. We can talk after she’s done.” The homeroom teacher couldn’t stand it anymore; he could clearly see I was doing well, and it was likely I hadn’t cheated.
Chloe, feeling frustrated, feigned innocence, “Teacher, I didn’t mean anything by it.” But she didn’t want me to prove my so–called strength. She couldn’t accept that I was better than her, and she wouldn’t allow it to happen.
Chloe watched skeptically; she didn’t believe I would do well. But seeing my recent changes made her feel inexplicably uneasy.
Time was up. The teacher collected the paper and quickly graded it with other teachers.
I sat calmly in my chair. Even seeing Chloe standing next to Sixth Brother Luke didn’t stir much emotion in me.
Indeed, when I didn’t care, I won’t get hurt.
The teacher announced excitedly,“The results are in.”
Chloe looked over, filled with malice, hoping I would do poorly.
Luke coldly remarked, “Teacher, if she did badly, don’t even mention it; it’d be too embarrassing.”
“No, Alice did extremely well! This test was harder than the monthly exam, and her score is even better!”
When I heard this, the tension in my heart finally eased. I smiled slightly.
Luke’s expression cracked as he grabbed the test paper to take a look; scores didn’t lie. I had indeed done well.
Chloe tiptoed to see the score, instantly feeling a surge of jealousy. When did I become this capable? It was impossible!
The principal smiled.“The truth is clear. Alice achieved this through her own efforts.”
The homeroom teacher nodded.“Alice has indeed been working hard lately.”
Luke’s expression shifted like a color palette, ultimately placing the test paper back on the desk, surprised that I really hadn’t cheated.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that I seemed a bit unfamiliar.
The principal cleared his throat,“Since the truth is clear, those who slandered Alice should apologize.”
Chloe’s face flushed with embarrassment.
