Chapter 115 She Should Accept Her Fate
Behind her, the giant screen flickered, the image cutting abruptly to a shaky, unfocused feed that filled the audience's view.
The camera jolted several times before settling. Between the shifting silhouettes of trees, three figures emerged, slowly coming into focus.
The distance made their voices inaudible, leaving only the occasional chirping of insects.
Then, without warning, a sharp slap landed across Blair's face.
The video froze at the perfect moment, the soundless auditorium erupting into a wave of murmurs.
Tears gathered in Blair's eyes. She sniffled, letting strands of hair fall just enough to hide the glint of satisfaction buried deep inside.
She had not been foolish enough to meet Bianca without preparation.
This was exactly what she had planned—now, no matter what Bianca said, no one would believe her.
Blair forced down the dangerous curl of her lips, fixing her gaze on Bianca. Her damp eyes radiated fragile innocence, but pride seeped through like a slow poison.
"Blair, you're twisting the truth!"
Jasmine's voice carried a note of anger, not loud enough to pierce the room, but enough to draw the attention of allies she had planted.
Kelly stormed toward Jasmine, dragging every eye in the hall with her.
"Jasmine, you still have the nerve to be here? Blair was trying to protect you, to keep you from falling apart, and you repay her by chasing after those men and..."
She cut off deliberately, leaving the rest dangling for imaginations to fill. The murmurs swelled instantly.
Jasmine stumbled back, only to hit the chair behind her and sink into it. Fear gripped her mind, threatening to drown her.
Her glare shot toward Blair on stage.
But every move she made seemed to confirm Blair's accusations.
"Were you about to rush her? With everyone watching, you'd still try to lay a hand on Blair? You don't deserve her kindness."
Kelly's eyes burned with anger, but disappointment weighed heavier.
Every time Jasmine tried to speak, Kelly's voice sliced through, taking control, leaving her no room to defend herself.
Her silence became its own confession.
Kelly's relentless advance shattered the fragile courage Jasmine had managed to gather.
Memories surged—grabbing hands, cruel words, humiliation.
She had never escaped Blair's shadow.
Maybe this was her fate.
Cold seeped through her veins. Her eyes dulled, surrender settling in like a slow death.
Then, a warm, steady hand closed over hers.
No words—just the quiet weight of someone refusing to let her fall.
Her focus returned, sharpening.
Her gaze lifted to the massive screen behind Blair, settling finally on that falsely delicate face. A breath escaped her lips, slow and deliberate.
She reminded herself not to lose her footing. Their evidence was stronger than this blurred, edited video.
Seeing Jasmine steady herself, Bianca turned her attention to Kelly.
Her dark eyes looked calm, but the instant they met Kelly's, there was a pressure that felt like being engulfed.
Kelly shook her head slightly, inhaled deep, and forced herself to keep playing her role.
"And you—do you even realize you're helping someone hurt others? Did your parents never teach you that bullying classmates is wrong?"
A sharp crack rang out through the auditorium. Kelly's hand flew to her cheek, stunned.
Silence fell like a curtain. All eyes locked on Bianca.
"You hit me?"
Bianca rose, arms crossing over her chest, her expression unreadable.
Her gaze swept from Blair on the stage, to the teachers and students below, before landing back on Kelly.
She leaned down, stopping just at Kelly's ear.
Her breath held no warmth—only a chill that cut to the bone.
"You follow Blair for your father's career. But if people knew what you've been up to... do you think he'd still get that promotion?"
"You... you're making things up." Kelly's voice shook, dropping to a whisper.
"Deny it if you want. The real show's coming."
Bianca brushed invisible dust from Kelly's shoulder, her movements deliberate.
She lifted her head, meeting Blair's eyes.
Blair's gaze was a mix of challenge and unease. Her grip tightened around the microphone, desperate to seal Bianca and Jasmine's fate before the tide could turn.
"Bianca, Jasmine, I'm done being lenient. If you have any sense, you'll withdraw from Ravenswood University, and I won't pursue this."
"Samuel, trust me, Bianca's too stupid to realize anything. Do as I say—once she's ruined, Terrence won't even look at her."
"Blair... it hurts that you'd push me toward someone else. Don't you love me?"
"Mmm... be gentle. Of course I love you. But for our future, sacrifices have to be made. Even if I marry Terrence, you'll be the only one I love."
The voice came from behind, overlapping eerily with Blair's live words, but sweeter, more intimate.
Blair's face drained of color. She spun around.
The video was gone. In its place, the screen displayed photos of her with Samuel—close, unmistakable.
"No... impossible! Bianca, what did you do?!"
Her shrill cry echoed through the hall, snapping the crowd from its stupor.
"Oh my God... Blair's like this?"
"What's she even doing? Is she framing Bianca? Who's framing who?"
"Two girls tearing each other apart... this is getting good."
The murmurs pushed Blair closer to the edge. Her eyes burned red, jaw clenched, her glare stabbing toward Bianca.
"It's fake! All of it's fake! Don't believe her!" Blair's voice was thin, frantic.
The truth didn't matter. People craved the thrill of passing judgment.
While she scrambled to explain, the recording played again.
Every word from that day, uncut.
The sound of the slap rang sharp and merciless, but no one spared Blair sympathy.
At the center of the storm, her eyes were bloodshot, her grip on the microphone turning vicious.
"Don't listen! Don't listen!"
Her screech was so piercing it felt like it could split the air itself.