Chapter 54
I sat up in bed, my body sore but my mind clear.
Before Arman could take another step toward me, the two men stationed at my door–warriors sent
by Ethan–blocked his path, holding him back.
He glared at them, then turned his eyes to me, bloodshot with anger. “She’ll never get into the school
now. You’ve destroyed her chances!”
I leaned back against the pillows, feeling the corners of my lips tug into a smile. “What a pity,” I said, my voice laced with sarcasm. “She didn’t even finish her song, and now everyone knows about your little plan to break my legs. Linda won’t be going to that prestigious school after all.”
Arman’s face twitched, his fury barely contained. I could see his hands trembling with the urge to lash out. But there was nothing he could do now. The truth was out, and I wasn’t afraid of him
anymore.
“And by the way,” I added, “Ryan is still lying unconscious in the complex. Maybe you should take him to the hospital if you have time.”
*The muscles in his face tightened as he tried to maintain his usual facade of calm indifference. But
the fire in his eyes betrayed him.
“Did it W Sofia?” he spat. “Even if Linda didn’t succeed, you didn’t get to dance either. And let me
remind you, that crazed look on your face was caught on camera for everyone to see.”
terwear
He leaned forward, smirking as if expecting me to crumble in fear. “You’d better wear a hat and mask when you go out from now on. Everyone’s going to remember you as the crazy girl who ruined the school ceremony.”
I met his gaze without flinching. “Is that so?” I asked, my voice calm. “I’m just hoping the video, captured the moment when you and Linda’s little scheme fell apart. That’s the part people will
remember.”
Arman’s smirk vanished, replaced by a flash of raw anger. He lunged toward me, his hands raised as if to strike, but the guards held him back. With no other option, he stormed out of the room, his footsteps heavy with frustration.
je fallout from the assembly was immediate. Videos of the incident quickly made their way online,
The Alpha’s Substitute Lume A Heart Claimed, A Soul Reborn
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and the story spread like wildfire. It was the perfect scandal–rich girl versus poor girl, betrayal, public humiliation. The internet was buzzing with debates and speculation.
But to my surprise, many people were on my side. The clarity of my speech, my bloodstained dress, and the raw emotion behind my performance of *Symphony of Fate had struck a chord with the public.
“Maybe it’s not the rich girl bullying the poor this time. Her piano playing doesn’t sound like someone who would do that,” someone commented.
“Look at her ankle! It’s swollen like a loaf of bread. Who would go through all that if they were the bully?” another chimed in.
Of course, there were plenty of skeptics, but the tide was turning. People were starting to see me for who I was, not just as Arman’s troubled sister or Linda’s shadow.
In real life, my situation improved too.
The classmates who had once whispered behind my back now kept their distance, too afraid to
Cross me.
It was strange, but in a way, I felt freer than I had in years.
yan, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. His injuries from our scuffle were far worse than mine, and he remained in the hospital long after I had recovered.
As for Linda, she was no longer the shining star she once was. The admissions teacher had criticized her for playing a sloppy, emotionless version of “Moonlight,” while my *Symphony of Fate* had left- a lasting impression.
Rumor had it she spent days crying in Ryan’s arms, though whether it was for him or her shattered dreams, no one could say.
I didn’t have much time to dwell on the aftermath, though. Midterm exams were fast approaching. and I had been preparing for months. This was my chance to prove myself academically, to show everyone that I was more than just a performer.
But more importantly, something significant was on the horizon–something that would change everything
Sierra, my wolf, the one I had been waiting for, would come to life or not… All of my efforts, all of my
rials and struggles, would be worth it if I could succeed in this one task.
It was the chance of a lifetime, and I couldn’t afford to fail.
