Chapter 42: 42

Chapter 42

Clarrissa’s pov

The Confession That Shattered the Room

Even if I had to lie in order to protect Damien and my relationship, then I had to do it. I told myself that over and over again, like a silent chant in my head.

First of all, this wasn’t even about Gladys. It wasn’t even about the class. The real problem was deeper; if Gladys made an announcement in school about my relationship with Damien, then definitely it would reach my brother’s ears.

And if it reached my brother… God, that thought alone made my stomach twist into knots.

Everyone knew how fast rumors spread in our school. The place wasn’t just filled with students; it was a hotbed of gossip, a breeding ground for stories that could travel faster than wildfire.

There were students who lived for drama, for the thrill of turning whispers into headlines, and our school’s social media page was the center stage. Any slip, any scandal, and within minutes it would be plastered online for thousands to see.

And my brother? He followed that page religiously. He wasn’t just a passive follower either; he read every post, every thread, and every update that popped in, and trust me, he would definitely see this.

So, if my relationship with Damien leaked out, he would see it instantly. It would be like a knife twisting into his chest, and I couldn’t bear the thought of that. That was why I had to do this. That was why lying, even if it ripped me apart inside, was my only option.

When Mrs. Agnes told me I had to go to the dean to clarify myself, I didn’t think twice. I packed my bag quickly; my fingers were trembling as they shoved notebooks and pens into place.

My heart hammered against my ribs, and the weight of dread settled heavily on my shoulders. I was about to step out when suddenly, a voice cut through the tense air.

“Wait. She didn’t cheat. She’s only doing that to protect me.”

I froze mid-step. My breath caught, and I turned sharply, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

What did he just say?

My eyes darted toward Damien, and my heart stumbled in my chest. What the hell was he doing? This wasn’t part of the plan. He wasn’t supposed to….

I furrowed my brows deeper, my lips parting slightly. I didn’t understand why he would say something like that, especially in front of everyone.

I prayed silently that he wouldn’t do anything stupid, because if he did, it wouldn’t just end badly…it would end catastrophically.

Mrs. Agnes’s stern voice sliced through the murmurs in the room. “Mr. Damien, you are almost a professor. You know very well that this shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you are actually sure of what you’re saying, then what do you mean by that?”

The room became still immediately, as if everyone was waiting for him to drop the bombshell, every eye turning toward Damien.

My pulse pounded as though the walls themselves were closing in on me. I felt like the ground should open for me to fall in.

Damien inhaled deeply, then he fixed both hands on his pocket, his jaw set with determination. I know he was tense as well.

“Listen to me, Mrs. Agnes,” he said firmly, his tone respectful yet unyielding. “I trust you. I respect you a lot. But I’m going to tell the truth. I know Clarissa. She’s a good person. I know she didn’t cheat. She was actually trying to protect me because….”

“Damien, please don’t,” I blurted, my voice laced with desperation. My eyes widened in panic as I tried to stop him, shaking my head furiously.

My hands trembled as I clutched my bag tighter against my chest.

He let out a breath, visibly torn, his brows creasing in conflict as if he had no other choice. The tension in the air grew heavier, pressing down on all of us.

“What is the meaning of this, Mr. Damien?” Mrs. Agnes’s voice thundered, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. “You have to explain yourself clearly. The students are here; everyone is listening.”

Damien opened his mouth, ready to reveal more, but before he could, a hand shot into the air. Again!

“I will help them with further explanation,” Gladys declared confidently, her lips curling into a victorious smirk.

My blood ran cold. Of course. Of course, she would jump at the chance to ruin me.

My heart sank, and I muttered under my breath, “Oh, please, Gladys… don’t. Don’t say anything. Please.” My voice cracked with both fear and anger, but it was useless.

Mrs. Agnes turned her gaze toward Gladys. “Alright then, if you have a way of explaining, why don’t you go ahead?”

Gladys smirked wider, tilting her head with mock innocence. “You see, it happened like this. Clarissa stole my paper, and Mr. Damien is covering for her because he’s the teacher’s assistant. And you know what? He’s only on her side because she’s his…..”

“Enough!” Damien’s voice boomed, cutting her off sharply. His face was etched with frustration, and his jaw clenched tight.

Thank God he did!

His protective stance was undeniable, and it made the entire class more interested in his response.

“I can show you evidence that Clarissa actually wrote those papers,” he said, his eyes blazing with determination.

But Mrs. Agnes was already losing her patience. Her face hardened, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. “Well, someone better show me evidence now, or I will report the three of you to the dean’s office. And you will all face expulsion.” Her tone was cold, final, and dripping with authority.

My stomach dropped. Evidence?

The word rang in my ears like a death sentence.

Gladys pounced on the opportunity. Again, her voice rising with exaggerated outrage. “That’s not fair, Professor! Clarissa is a cheater, a pathetic slut. And trust me, this woman would do anything for a good grade. So why should I be punished with her? I’m innocent. I’m a good person. I’ve never committed any crime before. My only crime was that my papers were stolen; it was taken by her and Damien together.”

She spoke in a dramatic, defensive tone, her eyes wild with false tears.

I stared at her, my fists clenching so hard my nails dug into my palms. She was painting herself as the victim, twisting everything like a poisonous vine.

“Mrs. Agnes, please,” Damien interrupted, his voice raw with urgency. “Listen to me. You know your course is business ethics, right? Ethics applied in law and enforcement of regulations. You should know I’m almost a lawyer; I already have a degree in law. I know what I’m saying.”

As he said that, I was shocked to the marrow, and my eyes filled with disbelief. He was fighting for me, fighting so hard. I couldn’t believe the man I loved most would put himself on the line like this, risking his career and his reputation just to defend me.

But he didn’t stop there. He continued, his expression intense, his eyes never leaving Mrs. Agnes’s. “This is important because it fosters trust between businesses and consumers, creating a fair marketplace.”

My breath caught. I recognized those exact words. My lips parted in shock as I realized—he was quoting directly from my exam paper. The paper Gladys accused me of stealing.

Mrs. Agnes blinked, startled, her eyes narrowing in surprise. “Really, Mr. Damien? How did you know that was the exact question given to her? I was the one who graded the papers.”

The class erupted in murmurs, voices rising in waves of confusion. My heart thumped wildly, unsure of where this was going, of how this could possibly end.

Damien’s gaze was unwavering, his voice steady. “It’s because I was there when she wrote it. Because Clarissa is…”

He paused, and the silence that followed was deafening. Every face turned toward him; every breath was held.

Gossipers in class!

Then he said it.

“…she’s my girlfriend.”

The room exploded. Gasps filled the air, mouths dropping open in shock. The sound of shuffling chairs echoed through the classroom as everyone leaned forward, eyes wide, jaws slack.

They’re so cute!

Are they for real?

This is the best couple!

The hottest guy on campus!

I could hear voices say that…I just hope he might be joking.

My entire body went numb. My eyes widened in disbelief, my lips trembling as I stared at him like he had just ripped the ground out from beneath my feet.

My heart stopped, then pounded so violently I thought it would burst out of my chest.

“Girlfriend?” I whispered, my voice shaky, weak, and completely stunned. My face flushed hot; I felt my head was spinning.

A smirk spread across Gladys’s lips, slow and venomous, her eyes glinting with triumph as she leaned back smugly. She had gotten what she wanted…chaos, scandal, and destruction.

“What!???”