Chapter 16 Episode Sixteen
Chapter 16 Episode Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Diana’s POV
I walked into Professor Blackwood’s class that morning feeling lighter than I had in weeks
The rumors were still there, sure
Students still whispered when I walked by. But somehow, it didn’t hurt as much anymore
Maybe because I knew someone was on my side, or I had just some how grown a back bone overnight
I took my usual seat in the back and pulled out my notebook. A few students glanced at me but most of them were too busy talking amongst themselves
Then Selene walked in, I had alsmot dared to think that she would no longer attend this class due to our exchange the other time
Well, she still looked different, today, more angrier than usual
And even with her — failed — attempt to try and cover the bruises with makeup, I could still them clearly
And it’s not just that, she had been unusually quiet the past few days…not be thinking she’d finally left me alone
I should have known better
She walked straight to my desk and slammed her phone down in front of me
“Look familiar?” she asked loudly enough for everyone to hear
I looked down at the phone and panic flooded my system
It was the photo again, the same one of me and Calum in the hallway
So she didnt want to drop it?
At that point I didnt know what exactly to do, so I just got defensive “That’s not what it looks like,” I said quietly
“Really?” Selene laughed “Because it looks like you and Professor Blackwood were about to fuck in the hallway”
The classroom went silent….
“Delete that,” I said
“Why would I do that?” She picked up her phone and waved it around “This is proof. Proof that you’re sleeping with our professor for grades”
“I’m not sleeping with anyone…delete that, bevause you and I know that you’re trying to push a false narrative…”
“Liar!” She turned to address the whole class “She’s been denying it this whole time but here’s the proof. Diana Hale is fucking Professor Blackwood”
My face burned with so much humiliation that I just wanted to disappea
I just wanted to run away, but something made me stay rooted to my spot
“You don’t know anything,” I said
“I know enough” She smiled cruelly “And soon the Dean will know too because I’m sending this to him right after class”
My heart stopped. If the Dean saw that photo, I would be expelled. My scholarship would be gone ans I would never be able to save Amaryllis
“Please don’t,” I whispered “Please”
“Begging now?” Selene laughed “Too late, bitch”
The classroom door opened and Professor Blackwood walked in
He took one look at the situation and his eyes darkened “What’s going on here?”
“Nothing, sir,” Selene said sweetly “Just having a conversation”
“It didn’t look like nothing” His eyes moved to me “Miss Hale, are you alright?”
I couldn’t speak so I just nodded instead
He didn’t look convinced but he didn’t push it. “Everyone take your seats. We have a lot to cover today”
Students scattered to their seats. Selene walked back to hers, phone still in her hand, that smug smile still on her face
The lecture started but I couldn’t focus. All I could think about was that photo and what would happen when Selene sent it to the Dean
About twenty minutes into the lecture, Calum stopped mid sentence
“Miss Selene,” he said, his voice cold “You seem a bit distracted. Perhaps you should put your phone away”
I looked over. Selene was on her phone, probably writing the email to the Dean right now
Beads of sweat began to form on my forehead…I just knew my life e would be over in only a matter of minutes
“Sorry, sir,” she said, not looking sorry at all “Just one second”
“Now,” he said firmly
She huffed and put the phone on her desk
“Actually,” Calum walked toward her desk “I’ll take it. You can get it back after class”
“What?” Selene’s eyes widened “You can’t do that”
“I can and I will, in fact, I just did” He held out his hand “Unless you want suspension for being on your phone during my lecture”
Selene’s face turned red but she had no choice. She handed him the phone
He took it and walked back to the front of the class. But instead of putting it on his desk like I expected, he held it up for everyone to see.
“You know what I hate?” he said conversationally “Bullies. People who use lies and manipulation to hurt others”
“Sir, I don’t….” Selene started
“I wasn’t finished” His voice was sharp “I’ve noticed that certain students in this class have been spreading vicious rumors about other students. Creating a hostile learning environment”
He looked directly at Selene when he said it
“Now,” he continued, holding up her phone “I wonder what I would find if I looked through this device. Messages? Photos? Evidence of harassment?”
Selene’s face went pale “You can’t look through my phone. That’s private”
“You’re right” He smiled but it wasn’t friendly “I can’t look through it”
Then he walked to the wall and smashed the phone against it
The entire class gasped
The phone shattered into pieces. Glass and metal scattered across the floor
“Oops,” Calum said, looking at the destroyed phone “How clumsy of me”
“You… you just…” Selene couldn’t even finish her sentence, she looked like she might cry or scream or even both
“I’ll pay for a replacement, of course,” he said calmly “Just submit a receipt to the administration office”
He walked back to his desk and continued the lecture like nothing happened
I sat there in shock. He had just destroyed the evidence….the photo was gone
That meant thag I was safe
Selene was shaking with rage but she couldn’t do anything. She couldn’t prove he had done it on purpose. To everyone else, it just looked like an accident…or he manged to convince them that it was
The rest of the class passed in a blur. When it finally ended, everyone rushed out, whispering excitedly about what they had just witnessed
Selene stormed out without looking at anyone
I stayed in my seat, waiting until everyone was gone
When the classroom was empty, I walked to the front
“That was reckless,” I said quietly.
“I know,” he replied, not looking up from the papers on his desk
“You could get in trouble” I said the obvious
“I won’t” came his very confident response
“She could report you”
“For what? Accidentally dropping her phone?” He finally looked at me “She can’t prove anything”
“Still” I bit my lip “You shouldn’t have done that”
“Yes, I should have” He stood up and walked around his desk “She was about to ruin your life, Diana. I wasn’t going to let that happen”
“But…”
“No buts, please no buts” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear “I told you I would protect you, and I meant it”
My eyes burned with tears. “Thank you”
“You don’t have to thank me” His thumb brushed my cheek “This is what I’m supposed to do” I smiled a small smile
“What if she tries something else?”
“Let her try” His eyes darkened “I’ll handle it”
I believed him. Which was probably stupid. But I did.
“You should go,” he said gently “Before someone sees us”
“Right” I stepped back “I’ll see you later”
“Diana”
I turned back
“Be careful” His expression was serious “Selene is going to be angry – Really angry — so watch your back”
“I will”
I left the classroom and walked down the hallway. Students were still whispering about what happened but none of them were looking at me.
They were all talking about Professor Blackwood and how he destroyed Selene’s phone. Some thought it was an accident. Others thought he did it on purpose because Selene was being disruptive
No one suspected the real reason
For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe
The evidence was gone and Selene couldn’t prove anything anymore
But as I walked back to the mansion that evening, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over
Selene wasn’t the type to give up. She would definitely find another way to hurt me
I just had to be ready when she did
When I got home, I went straight to my room, sat on my bed and pulled out the worn photo of Amaryllis that I kept hidden in my drawer
She was smiling in the photo. Gap toothed and happy
“I’m getting closer, Amy,” I whispered to the photo “Just hold on a little longer, for me okay?”
I had eleven months left. Eleven months to save enough money, finish my courses, and prove I could take care of her
And now I had Calum helping me
Maybe, just maybe, I could actually do this
Maybe I could save my sister and have something good in my life at the same time
I just had to survive eleven more months
How hard could that be?
Top tier Hard