Chapter 3

Stephanie's pov.

Caroline didn't wake up.

Not before she was rushed onto the stretcher.

Not before the ambulance disappeared into the night like it was never here.

Rough hands grabbed me, holding me tight. The school security officers.

“Move” he growled.

I refused to take a step. My face turned to the back and my eyes roamed about, my head processing everything again.

The broken glasses…… the blood….. the screams….. and the way Ryan had looked at me when he found Caroline. My head snapped when heels clicked against the ground and I looked up to see the dean approach.

My stomach twisted.

My blood ran cold.

“You're in trouble.” My wolf groaned.

Yes, I know.

One of the security guards looked at the dean and asked; “Should we send her to the cops?”

The dean didn't look away from me for a second. She stayed silent for some seconds before she spoke. “No. My office”

Then she turned to the crowd. “The gala is over. Everyone go home”

None of them moved immediately but stared at me as I was being dragged away.

~Dean’s Office~

The room was locked. I've tried opening it a few times but it didn't open. Eventually, I became exhausted and ended back into one of the seats in the office, waiting for anything that could be my salvation.

It's been over an hour since I was brought here, but the dean haven't shown her face ever since.

My hands clenched tightly and everything flashed into my head in seconds.

But why did she do that?

Why did Caroline have to go that far?

My thoughts were disrupted when the door finally opened, revealing the dean. But behind her……

I stood up in shock. “Mom?” My voice was croaked, lips parted in disbelief.

Mom didn't respond. She settled down beside me, her gaze fixed on the dean.

“Your daughter stabbed the only daughter of the Ashford family” The dean said. “Thankfully, they are not pressing charges yet, but she won't be able to escape punishment”

“I didn't stab her” My voice was firm, loud enough for the both of them to hear. “She did that to herself”

The dean tilted her head slightly.

“Stabbed herself?” She raised an eyebrow. “In front of a crowd?”

“Yes!” I replied sharply. “She—”

“Enough!” The dean snapped.

“It’s impossible, Steph. Lying won't get you out of this” she added.

Even the dean was not willing to believe me. She didn't let me explain, her mind was already set to believe what she wanted it to believe. The fact that I stabbed Caroline and not the other way around.

“The scandal is everywhere, Steph.” The Dean's voice darkened. “You can't get out of this unscathed”

This was unfair.

I didn't do anything to her.

Mom's voice rose. “What happens to her now?”

“Bring her back tomorrow. By then, her punishment would have been concluded” The dean leaned back and faced me. “Don't run overnight. You won't be able to anyways, not after you harmed the Ashford’s daughter”

I swallowed at her words and a minute later, I was outside, heading back home with Mom and Ellen who would be crashing at my place tonight to comfort me.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back.

~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, I found myself seated in front of the Dean's desk once again, Mom seated beside me.

“Please…. Can they forgive her just this once?” Mom's face was laced with panic and her lips trembled as she stared across the Dean's desk, directly into her eyes.

I turned my face to the sides and rolled my eyes, releasing a sigh. My insides boiled with anger, seeing Mom beg the dean all because of me.

“Mom!” I turned to her and cautioned. “Just stop, okay?”

We had been here for a while, my sentence had already been decided. And guess what? I got suspended for the whole summer.

Suspension for the whole summer means missing final year entirely. That's an extra year for me.

Since the moment we got here, Mom has been begging the dean who wasn't ready to help our situation.

“She’s never going to listen to you” I said calmly to her. Her face snapped to me, her eyes shooting daggers. “Just shut your mouth, Stephanie!”

Mom turned back to the dean and leaned forward.

“Please,” she pleaded. “She’s in her final year. A suspension like that can —” Mom couldn't finish her words because the dean interrupted.

“Ruin her academic progression” The Dean finished her sentence smoothly.

“She should consider herself lucky” She remarked. “The Ashfords’ are not making you pay for damages”

“Please…..” Mom pleaded desperately. “There should be another way”

The Dean's voice cut through sharply. “There isn't”

“The Ashfords' are the number one donor of this institution. I'll say your daughter really messed with the wrong person” she said.

I scoffed though my lips trembled. “How much do they pay you to speak so high of their name?”

The words rolled out before I could stop them, so I simply couldn't help it.

Mom's head snapped to me instantly. “Stephanie!”

The dean heard.

A small smile appeared on her lips. “Enough to make sure my generations don't end up like you”

My jaws clenched and I wanted to reply but Mom grabbed the suspension letter and stood up.

“Thank you. We'll take our leave now” She headed towards the door without delay. I stood up reluctantly and followed behind her.

Just as we reached the door, the Dean's voice stopped us again. I turned slightly and she was still seated calmly, like she had all the time in the world.

“If she reflects on her actions” Her eyes darted between Mom and I. “And offer a proper apology to Caroline and her family….”

“…her sentence could be reduced.” She announced smoothly.

My fingers curled slightly beside me but I let her continue.

“If she's fortunate, the sentence might not take effect at all,” she added.

Mom exhaled and her face relaxed, relief surging through her for the first time since we got here.

“Thank you” she smiled. “We appreciate it”

She bowed slightly to the dean then turned to me. “Let's go”

The Dean's last words had relieved Mom but if there's one thing I knew for sure, it was the fact that I won't apologize to Caroline Ashford.

Never.