Chapter 7
My voice was monotone.“Understood.” But I didn’t intend to comply.
With a blank expression, I walked out of the villa, looking up at the sky, forcing back my tears. I thought that living my life again would mean I wouldn’t feel sad anymore. But hearing Caleb’s words just now made my heart ache like a needle prick.
I remembered when I was sick as a child, Noah stayed by my side all night, and Caleb told me jokes to coax me into taking my medicine. Later, because Chloe was delicate, my brothers always gave her priority. Now, I had to endure my illnesses alone.
I swallowed the bitterness in my throat, got into the car, and closed my eyes to rest. Just a little longer; there were less than a hundred days left.
Once I arrived at school, I headed straight to the senior classroom. As soon as I walked in, the previously noisy classroom fell silent. News of my tirade had spread like wildfire. Everyone was questioning whether I had lost my mind.
“I wonder what got into Alice. She’s completely given up,” a student whispered.
“I think she’s just stopped pretending now that her reputation is ruined. That’s the real Alice,” another chimed in.
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I heard the whispers around me but didn’t care. I dropped my backpack and laid my head down on the desk to sleep. The entire morning passed with me in slumber.
After school let out for lunch, Chloe entered the classroom. With an IV drip in hand, her appearance instantly drew sympathy and concern from her
classmates.
I frowned and shifted my position to continue sleeping.
Before long, someone pounded on my desk. I lifted my head, my eyes sharp and filled with anger. I saw Chloe standing in front of me, flanked by her little minions, who looked impatient.
I squinted. These two were Chloe’s followers, notorious for spreading rumors and bullying me, even fabricating evidence to complain to my brothers.
Chloe spoke softly.“Alice, what do you want for lunch? Let me get it for you. Don’t be angry, okay?”
I replied coldly.“No need.”
Minion One shot back angrily.“Alice, don’t push your luck! Chloe’s a patient!”
“Exactly, you should take care of Chloe at school! She’s sick because of you!”
Chloe weakly coughed. “Please don’t say that; I can take care of myself. I’ve always been independent. Don’t say anything else, you’ll upset her.”
“Chloe, you’re too kind. That’s why you get bullied.”
I felt my patience wearing thin and stood up, ready to leave the classroom. Just as I stepped out, Chloe suddenly rushed over, causing the IV stand to topple over.
Chloe fell onto the broken glass. What a truly remarkable coincidence.
The classroom erupted into chaos, and my head throbbed from the noise. Just as I opened my mouth to say something, everything went black, and I
fainted.
When I came to, the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils. Was this the school infirmary?
“Temperature 102.4 degrees. Holding on for so long? Are you trying to experience human high temperatures?”
I turned my head and saw a tall, slender man in a white coat, wearing a mask, with an icy demeanor. I remembered him; he was the new school doctor, handsome enough to attract the attention of many girls, but with a particularly sharp tongue.
He didn’t stay long before leaving.
I sat up, feeling much better. The IV had done its job.
I lowered my eyelids.“Can I leave now?”
“Wait for your family. I don’t want to be responsible if you die on the way,” Dr. Jack’s voice was nonchalant.
My voice was hoarse.“I have no family.”
As soon as I said that, Caleb’s anxious voice echoed from outside. “Chloe, are you alright? How did you get hurt so badly?”
“Caleb, it’s just a minor scrape. Don’t blame Alice. It was my fault for being clumsy and knocking over the IV stand.”
Minion One chimed in. That’s not how it went down! Chloe went to help Alice get lunch, but Alice refused and then deliberately tripped her. We all saw
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Minion Two echoed. “Exactly! Chloe is sick, yet she was still thinking about Alice not eating. And Alice pushed her down like that!”
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Upon hearing this, Caleb’s anger flared up. His voice, strained with rage, boomed. “Where’s Alice? Get out here! How dare you let Chloe get you lunch?”
