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Chapter 5
I wheeled my suitcase over, taking my time walking to the boarding stairs.
The captain hurried over to greet me, bowing slightly, his tone incredibly respectful: “Miss Sinclair, everything’s ready for departure. Your father specifically asked me to make sure you get proper rest during the flight.”
I nodded: “Thank you, Captain Miller. Sorry for the trouble.”
Every word of that conversation drifted clearly into the ears of those two behind me.
Derek’s face had gone beyond what you could call “ugly“-it was the kind of ghostly pale you get when your entire worldview gets violently shattered.
His mouth was hanging open, eyes bulging, like he was seeing me for the first time in his life.
Kira was even more spectacular–that carefully made–up face showed nothing but undisguised shock and twisted jealousy.
She stared at the plane, then at me, her fingers unconsciously clutching at the hem of her expensive coat.
“Quinn! What… what the hell is going on?”
Derek finally found his shaking voice and rushed forward a few steps, almost slamming into the barrier.
“That plane… they called you Miss Sinclair? Who… who are you really?”
He was completely incoherent, had so many questions he didn’t know where to start.
Dlooked down at him from where I stood, taking in that absolutely ridiculous panic and disbelief on his face.
Just minutes ago, he’d been lecturing me about being shallow, delusional, and making up lies.
And now?
It’s exactly what you’re looking at.”
My tone was completely neutral: “As for who I am, you don’t deserve to know.”
let my gaze settle calmly on his face and said quietly:
“Oh, and here’s a heads up. That Beacon Scholarship you’ve been getting for three years straight? As of this month,
it’s been terminated.”
Derek went rigid, his pupils contracting sharply.
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She Slandered Me to Millions (cue the Lake Tears Live!) But Her Viral Performance? All My Courtroom Evidencel
21.6
Traperb
It was like he’d been struck by invisible lightning–completely paralyzed.
You can’t make that call! Who do you think you are?! That’s funding from Beacon Industries, what does that have to
to with you! You’re just some regular student, you really think you’re hot shit now?”
Cira had one hand clamped over her mouth, the other unconsciously gripping Derek’s arm.
This is impossible… there’s no way you have that kind of power…”
They obviously thought my announcement was some kind of pathetic threat or delusional fantasy.
didn’t spare them another glance.
turned around and boarded the plane.
Everything on the ground quickly shrank away and finally disappeared entirely.
pulled out my phone and texted my dad:
Dad, I’m airborne. All good.]
Almost instantly, my father’s satellite phone rang.
Sweetheart.”
Dad’s voice came through the earpiece.
I had my assistant handle the scholarship situation.”
Also.”
He paused, and his voice took on that tone that brooked no argument.
From now on, stay away from people like that–the ones with ulterior motives, no class, who panic and call my office demanding explanations when things don’t go their way.”
He’s beneath you.”
Derek had actually panicked and called to ask about it.
Too bad all he would get was a form letter notification, and maybe a warning about overstepping boundaries with
is inquiries.
‘Got it, thanks Dad.”
The holiday passed peacefully and comfortably–being home was so warm it almost made me forget all the unpleasantness.
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She Slandered Me to Millions (Cue the Fake Tours Hirol) But Hond
Cuidence!
21C
Chapter 5
Kira’s Instagram had gone completely silent. Someone who used to post seven or eight stories a day now had a feed that was totally blank.
Derek was even worse–hadn’t sent me a single message. The silence was unsettling.
When the holiday ended, I took the family car back to campus. The second I walked through the gates, I could sense something was off.
