Chapter 3

"Where's the proof?"

I didn't hold back this time and simply questioned Miranda on the spot. "Did anyone actually see me bullying or attacking you in school?"

She'd purposely chosen a secluded corner with no surveillance cameras, a spot where no one else would have walked by. Of course, she wouldn't be able to produce any witnesses to back her up.

"Miranda wouldn't be complaining about you—"

Ms. Dickson started lecturing me again even though Miranda was beginning to stammer and stutter without being able to provide any evidence.

I retorted, "If you continue slandering me like that, I will not hesitate to expose how you gaslit us before the SATs online and force the government education bureau to investigate."

My words left her completely speechless. Given her personality, she would want to immediately nip any negative scandals that might cost her a promotion in the bud. I knew that she would never want me to get the bureau involved and affect her evaluation.

Since Miranda couldn't produce any evidence against me and she'd always had a consistently poor reputation, the other teachers in the office began giving her strange, disapproving looks.

"What is the meaning of this, Miranda? Coming up with a lie like that right before the SATs? Have you ever stopped to think whether you'd be able to face the consequences?" Ms. Dickson chided, suddenly flying into a rage and slamming her hand on the table.

Miranda flinched and lowered her head, grabbing at the hem of her uniform.

"If you continue doing this and it affects Sierra's performance on the SATs, I'm never going to let you off the hook, not even if your parents beg me to! Kindly focus the rest of your energy into actually studying during these last few days before the exam and learn properly from Sierra when she tutors you."

As she walked out of the office, Miranda seemed to have realized that Ms. Dickson wasn't going to take her side anymore, so she just left quickly without giving me another glance.

A short while later, a familiar figure appeared before me. As expected, it was my boyfriend, Trevor Coffey.

"Sierra, I've been hearing some rumors lately…"

His voice sounded a little shaky and uncertain, like he was still struggling to form a sentence. His hesitant attitude made me want to laugh out loud.

He had already been seeing Miranda behind my back and begun conspiring with her a long time ago. And yet, he was still trying to act affectionate with me.

If I hadn't actually seen the two of them being all lovey-dovey with each other on the news after the SATs in my past life, I probably would've been touched by his "concern" and "affection" toward me now.

However, since I knew exactly where he heard the "rumors" from, I just replied emotionlessly, "That's right. I've been acting like a class bully."

Trevor was very shocked when he heard that. He gripped my shoulders tightly and asked urgently, "Sierra! What did Miranda ever do to you? Why did you do such a thing to her?"

I scoffed. He'd just fallen right into my trap.

I frowned and began twirling my hair in my fingers, looking frustrated. His stupidity was making me want to roll my eyes.

Instead, I asked in a mocking tone, "I only said that I was a class bully. Did I specifically mention who my target was?"

Trevor's expression immediately grew flustered. He began avoiding my eyes, not daring to look at me.

"Sierra… I… Did you hear about some other rumor? I just… I just saw Mimi walking past in a huff… I thought that you might have had a misunderstanding with her… I promise that there's absolutely nothing going on between me and her!"

Mimi?

I scoffed at how affectionately he referred to her, not feeling the least bit amused. Then, without waiting for him to explain any further, I splashed the water in the bottle in my hand all over his face and said, "Let's break up."