Joanne was stunned, but she still hid behind Elias. She timidly looked at Talia, who was kneeling in front of her. "Joanne, I was wrong. I made things difficult for you. I was stupid, and I got jealous of you. I thought people would notice me when I put you down. However, I didn't get that when I bullied you. On the contrary, I became a horrible and wicked person…"I know that my wickedness caused you great harm. I regret it very much. I was inhumane. Please forgive me!" Talia hit her head against the floor repeatedly and made loud noises. Elias cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Since you've learned your mistakes, you should turn yourself in to the cops. You've broken the law and should be punished legally!" "I know. I've already done that. I'll be locked up in jail very soon. Maybe I won't come back to school or learn anything. My life is ruined from the moment I harmed Joanne!" Talia kneeled on the floor and cried profusely. She wasn't merely acting. Instead, a true r
Renee whispered a melancholic comment.Though an excellent student who was a genius in science and hacking, she wasn't well-versed in art. Hence, she had no idea about the artistic elements in Joanne's painting. She simply couldn't understand it. She found the painting horrible and guessed that Joanne was mentally ill."It's her protection. It's where she feels safe,"Stefan chimed in darkly. He sympathized with Joanne.People who had experienced darkness probably understood how charming it was. They would feel safe with it.Joanne led a miserable life from a young age. She had undergone a lot of horrible torture. It was very difficult to see her survive until now."It's like what happened in the novels. People who had experienced hardships would turn bad and become a demon. They rely on the darkness for power. If not, they can't protect or support themselves."In a way, Joanne had turned bad. Her heart and world were full of darkness. However, she was different from those wic
Many years ago, Joanne was still a naive, young woman. She was filled with hope.Elias walked to the window. At the moment, Joanne was painting attentively in the sunlight. Automatically, she seemed to have returned to the year that was most painful for her. "Are you done?" Elias asked Joanne softly. "Here you are, Mr. Jimenez." Joanne turned around. At the sight of Elias, she smiled sincerely and brightly. Elias could be considered the only light for Joanne during her painful school days when she was bullied."Look at my drawing. Is there anything I need to improve on? I've been working on it for a long time, but I feel something is lacking." Joanne pointed at her drawing and hoped that Elias could give her some guidance. Elias looked at the drawing and became tense. He swallowed as if he were frightened. "What's the matter, Mr. Jimenez?" Joanne blinked naively. "Did I do a bad job? I'm sorry, Mr. Jimenez. I'm not talented. I'm not suitable to draw. I'll tear it up now
"Mr. Jimenez, I was wrong. And I was punished, too. Save me, please!" Talia begged. At the sight of Elias, Talia behaved like she had seen a savior. She cried profusely while begging Elias to save her. She knew that the others respected Elias. As long as he said the word, she could be saved. "So what? You were arrogant and reckless. You bullied and harmed a lot of people. Now, you're just reaping what you've sown!"Elias had always disliked Talia; she had not only bullied Joanne, but also targeted another young woman. That poor girl went crazy and transferred to another school.It seemed Joanne dropped out of school not just because of her family, but also because of Talia's pressure on her."Mr. Jimenez, I know I'm a bad person. Just let the cops have me. I'll admit to whatever I committed. But please…" Talia trembled, looking at Quinton and the others in fear. "Please don't let them have me! I'm scared!" Quinton and Renee looked fierce and scary, but Stefan looked handsome
"Mr. Jimenez."Joanne had been resisting conversing with others. But at the sight of Elias, she looked better. She even greeted Elias with a soft voice.Renee heard that and was surprised. She held her breath, for fear that a small action would startle Joanne. When Elias noticed Joanne's careful action, he knew something was wrong with her. Worry and pity gripped him. He asked softly, "Joanne, you don't look well. What happened?""Mr. Jimenez, I want to draw. Can you teach me how to draw?"Joanne ignored Elias' question. Instead, she looked gloomily at a drawing board nearby.Elias was stunned, then hurriedly nodded. "Of course. You loved coming here to see me and to draw in the past. Your level was higher than your classmates. I've always admired you, and I'd hang your paintings on the wall. Many of your juniors loved them, too!"He led Joanne to a position near the window. He pointed at a drawing board and said, "Do you remember this place? You loved sitting here to draw in
Elijah must have told the staff member Stefan's identity in just a few words.After that, the staff member was very accommodating, regardless of the requests that Stefan made.They decided to take Joanne to the studio before they came up with other solutions.Firstly, the studio was quiet. Joanne using it wouldn't affect the students much. Secondly, she relied on the studio for support. She would probably feel more relaxed there. Although the school was old and a little shabby, the art studio was meticulously cared for. It was situated on the first floor. When the sunlight shone into the studio, every ray of it could be seen on the floor.Many students' paintings were hung on the wall, which were the students' exhibits over the year. Most of them were sketches and oil paintings. The staff member led them into the studio. A middle-aged man with grey temples, who was wearing a sweater, was sitting in the studio and drawing. When the man heard the noise, he put his pencil down a