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Chapter_86
“Mr. Sunderland, it’s nothing serious. Just now, Yvette and her friend couldn’t find a seat, so I invited her to sit with me. Suddenly, this girl, Ruby Scott, came in and accused my daughter without knowing anything. Who is she to accuse my daughter when she’s just a nobody?” Zachary’s voice was steady, but his words hit Ruby like a slap.
Ruby, who had been frozen in place, turned pale as she heard Zachary’s pointed accusations. In that moment, all she could do was keep her head down, too stunned to respond. What went wrong? she wondered, her mind racing. Didn’t Winona claim Yvette wasn’t favored by her father, that’s why she was kicked out of the Chambers family? But if that’s true, why would Zachary step up for her like this, disregarding his own status? Winona deceived me. I must have misunderstood.
Ruby’s frustration wasn’t just directed at Yvette—it extended to Winona as well. She hated how she had been manipulated, but she couldn’t voice her thoughts. Instead, she remained quiet, her eyes cast downward. It wasn’t until she caught sight of Andrew approaching that a flicker of hope lit up in her chest.
Is he here for me? Ruby’s heart raced, her pale face flushing red. Is he my prince charming, here to save me from this mess?
Jaiden, Nellie, Rebecca, and the other students in the auditorium all watched Andrew with interest. They expected him to come to Ruby’s aid, to be her knight in shining armor. Only Simon, Zachary, and Bordie, who was holding her hands in nervous anticipation, knew the truth—that Andrew was not there to help Ruby.
Ruby’s excitement swelled as Andrew approached, but he didn’t stop in front of her. She looked up, her heart pounding, and before she could finish her sentence, Andrew brushed past her.
“Impossible…” she whispered under her breath, watching him head straight for Yvette instead.
Yvette, standing with her back against the wall, gazed ahead with her usual cold indifference. Her stunning beauty was matched only by the frosty demeanor she often wore. She didn’t even acknowledge Andrew’s approach. To Yvette, this moment was just another in a long line of insignificant interactions.
But Andrew, unfazed by her chill, rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his cheeky grin never leaving his face. “Come on, let’s sit together. You better not turn me down. Someone ordered me to take care of you.” His tone was light, playful.
Yvette’s expression shifted for a split second, though no one could read the emotion that flickered across her face. But just as quickly, it was replaced by her usual, unreadable indifference.
After a brief exchange with Yvette, Andrew turned his attention to Bonnie, who was cowering in the corner, her fingers nervously counting. Andrew raised an eyebrow, amused. Where’s the usual bold Bonnie? She looks so helpless right now, he thought.
“Come over here, Bonnie. Sit with us,” Andrew called.
Bonnie, startled by the attention, looked up to see every eye in the room on her. Panic gripped her. Oh my gosh, I’m not like Yvette. I can’t stay calm in front of all these people. This is the first time I’ve been the center of attention! she thought.
With a deep breath, Bonnie shouted, “I’m coming!” Her voice rang out, loud and nervous, and she quickly made her way toward Andrew and Yvette, her cheeks flushed.
Meanwhile, Simon watched the scene unfold, his brow furrowed in confusion. He didn’t know much about Ruby, the student council president. Normally, it was Patrick who handled dealings with her. But now, seeing Ruby’s failure to maintain control, Simon thought she seemed impulsive and rash.
With a stern look on his face, Simon turned to Ruby. Without raising his voice, he addressed her with authority. “Ruby, didn’t I instruct the student council to reserve several seats?”
Ruby, desperate to recover from the humiliation, dashed to Simon’s side, her voice trembling as she spoke respectfully, “Mr. Sunderland, we’ve reserved a few seats for you. It’s in the front row, right beside yours.”
Simon’s eyes flicked from Ruby to Yvette. His expression was cold, and he spoke with unmistakable authority. “Ruby, as president of the student council, why didn’t you prepare a seat for Yvette, who is a participant in the competition?”
Andrew, who had been silently watching, let out a sarcastic snort. “Isn’t it obvious? She did it deliberately.”
Ruby’s face darkened as she realized that Andrew was no ally of hers. He was mocking her—on Yvette’s behalf. So, Yvette’s relationship with her father isn’t as strained as I thought, Ruby mused, her frustration mounting. Now even Mr. Sunderland is publicly questioning me on her behalf. Why does she have so many people supporting her?
Ruby’s eyes began to glisten with fake tears, and she quickly wiped at her eyes. She had learned how to use reverse psychology to turn the situation in her favor. Some of the students around her began to sympathize, murmuring quietly to each other.
“Mr. Sunderland, the issue with Yvette’s seat was a mistake by the student council. I’m sorry,” Ruby apologized, her voice wavering. Then she turned to Yvette, her tone sweet and apologetic. “I’m sorry.”
The murmurs grew louder, and a few voices from the crowd piped up, offering their support for Ruby’s actions.
“I think Ruby’s pitiful. It’s normal to overlook small things like this.”
“Yeah, they don’t need to be so harsh on her.”
“Exactly. She’s just a girl. It’s not easy for her either.”
Simon, however, seemed troubled by the whole situation. As the principal, it would be disastrous if word got out that he had made a student cry. Ruby had apologized, and he couldn’t take it any further. “Alright. This was an oversight by the student council. I hope you learn from your mistake and don’t repeat it again,” Simon said, his tone softening slightly but still firm.
Ruby nodded, her eyes still wet with “tears,” and wiped her sleeve across her face. “Understood, Mr. Sunderland.”
Simon, now turning to Yvette, smiled gently. His demeanor completely changed, his voice soft and kind. “Yvette, come sit with me. I’ve reserved a seat for you in the front row. Your friend can join us, too.”
The room fell silent. Bonnie, standing at the edge, felt the weight of the moment. It was clear that Simon’s kindness was aimed at Yvette, and Bonnie couldn’t help but feel a flutter of disbelief. Could this really be happening?
Jaiden, who had been watching the exchange from the crowd, was surprised by Simon’s treatment of Yvette. He had known Simon for many years and had never seen him show such deference to a student. Jaiden could tell something was off, but he said nothing.
Ruby, however, stood there, her nails digging into her palm, nearly breaking the skin. The front row—the place where all the important figures sit. What right does Yvette have to sit there? Ruby’s mind screamed, but her mouth remained silent. She had no choice but to swallow her pride.
The atmosphere in the auditorium grew tense. Everyone waited to see what Yvette would do next. Would she sit with Zachary? Simon? Or the mysterious man who had come with Simon? The crowd held their breath.
And just then, another voice rang out from the entrance, interrupting the tension. “Sorry, I was delayed due to an incident.”
