Chapter 4

The next day, a post on an anonymous message board caused a huge stir.

Mona had made a tearful post with a provocative title on it.

"My dormmate is clearly aware of my family's financial difficulties, yet she conspired with others to frame me for theft. I'm almost at my limit."

In the post, she painted herself as a pitiful student who had been ostracized by her entire dormitory.

On the other hand, she portrayed me as someone who was "incredibly manipulative and looked down on others just because she was well-off" and "spearheaded the exclusion of underprivileged students".

Every single word struck precisely where it hurt most.

The comments section quickly got behind her.

"What a scary dormmate. That's some major jealousy."

"Underprivileged students already have enough on their plate without being bullied on top of it. Has she no conscience?"

"I suggest that you report this directly to a school counselor. We can't let people like her continue to get away with this."

"Didn't someone previously accuse her of stealing things? Well, how the tables have turned."

Comments flooded in one after another.

I scrolled through them with steady fingers.

In my past life, she'd also first made me out to be a bully who constantly harassed her dormmate, just like this.

As a result, I became the target of public criticism while she became the poor victim the entire internet sympathized with.

Both June and Rosa saw the post.

They looked grim, but neither of them dared to speak up in my defense.

June asked me quietly, "Natalie, are you just going to let her write about you like that?"

I said nothing.

Rosa also scooted over and asked, "Why don't you explain yourself in the comments? If you allow this to continue, things won't look good for you."

I shook my head. "It's not the right time."

June cried out anxiously, "Then, how long are you going to wait? Are you just going to let her drag your name through the mud?"

While gazing at the folder labeled "Evidence" on my phone, I replied, "I'm waiting for her to wrap up her act. The more pitifully she cries and the higher she aims, the more humiliating it'll be when she eventually comes crashing back down."

June was too stunned to speak.

Rosa looked between me and my phone, eventually letting her words die on the tip of her tongue.

That afternoon, a school counselor named Sarah Lewis summoned me to her office.

Before I left to see her, June tugged on my arm and said, "Natalie, Ms. Lewis most likely wants to see you about the anonymous post."

I patted her hand and replied, "It's alright. I've got this."

Rosa leaned in to ask, "Do you want us to go with you? We can vouch for you."

I shook my head. "There's no need for that. Some things are better explained by oneself."

I walked out of the dormitory with my phone in hand.

Ms. Lewis closed the door, her expression solemn.

"Natalie, I believe you've seen the anonymous post. Mona's feeling down in the dumps right now. She reported to a counselor that you've been leading the online harassment against her. This situation reflects very poorly on our school, so we would like an explanation. Before that, please contact your parents."

I looked calmly at her and replied, "Ms. Lewis, I'd like to ask you to take a look at a few things first."

I handed her my phone.

First, I showed her the screenshot of Matthew's Instagram post where he showed off the lipstick. The lipstick's shade matched mine, and the post's date aligned with when I had lost it.

Then, I showed her the bank transfers Mona made to Matthew.

Ms. Lewis looked through the images one by one, her brows furrowing deeper with each one.

When she looked up and spoke to me, her tone was no longer as harsh as before.

"This evidence still cannot prove that she stole anything."

I nodded. "But I have a way to prove who exactly the liar and thief is between us."

Finally, I tapped on a video.

Just then, the sound of footsteps rang out from the doorway.

Mona had appeared in the office doorway at some point.

Her face was terribly pale, and she couldn't seem to say a single word.