Chapter 95: Bethany's Reckoning

Violet's POV

The instant Clifford's voice sliced through the room—cold enough to strip the warmth from the air—the principal's ingratiating smile froze solid, like wet cement setting.

It took him a beat to recover. Then he snapped his head toward Bethany, whose face had gone gray and tight. "What the hell is this? You're not Mr. Gutierrez's fiancée? Then why the hell did you promise to speak for me to him?"

The bluntness hit her like a slap. Heat flooded her skin and she wished she could vanish into the floor.

"Bethany, say something."

"Isn't it obvious? Someone's been playing pretend as Clifford's fiancée."

I started toward the principal, slow and deliberate.

His gaze sharpened the moment he saw me. "Ms. Chambers, stop talking nonsense and get back to your seat."

I didn't even look at him. My eyes cut past him, locking on Clifford. "Darling... you're late. I've been waiting forever."

"Darling?!" The principal's face froze mid-expression, as if someone had pressed pause. The rest of his reprimand clogged in his throat, his eyes bulging wider.

He tried to recover, forcing a stern look as he stepped in close and grabbed my arm. "Violet! Enough of this. Leave now, or I'll take formal action."

Even as he spoke, he flicked an apologetic glance at Clifford.

"Are you sure you want me to leave, Principal?" I asked, catching the shift in Clifford's expression.

Maybe he'd never dealt with a student this defiant, this unwilling to be handled.

His voice rose. "Violet, watch your attitude. I can put this on your record!"

"Let go of her." The voice behind me was low, sharp, and cold.

The principal blinked, not realizing it was Clifford until Clifford's long stride brought him right in front of me. Then he dropped his grip like it burned.

I frowned up at Clifford, letting my voice tremble. "Darling... my arm hurts."

His arm came around me, pulling me into his chest. His hand brushed over my arm, gentle where his eyes were anything but. "I'll take care of it."

I leaned into him, watching the principal—who looked like a man watching his world collapse. His mouth hung half-open, eyes darting between me and Clifford, cycling from disbelief to shock, to embarrassment, to raw fear.

"I... I didn't know Ms. Chambers was your partner, I..." The principal's voice shook apart.

I let out a short, cold laugh. "I warned you."

"You just misjudged me. Not entirely your fault, though—" My eyes slid to Bethany, pale as paper.

"You were misled. Bethany, didn't I tell you to stop parading around pretending to be Clifford's fiancée? Now your lie's been ripped open in public. How's that taste?"

"Exactly! Violet's right—it's Bethany's fault. She kept saying she was your fiancée, Mr. Gutierrez, so I believed her... My apologies to you and Ms. Chambers."

The silence shattered, whispers flooding the room.

"Oh my God, Bethany's been lying all along?"

"No wonder Mr. Gutierrez looked like that earlier... This is beyond awkward."

"And the principal—trying to kiss up, only to slap a tiger's ass. I'm dying."

Each word was a needle, stabbing into Bethany's pride until it bled. She spun on her heel to flee.

"Stop." Clifford's voice was low and dangerous.

Bethany froze, rooted to the spot.

"I hear you've been making life hell for Violet lately."

Her silence was answer enough.

"You think I wouldn't notice?" Clifford tightened his arm around me. "Now... apologize to her."

Bethany's whole body trembled. The humiliation was a live wire under her skin. "Apologize? Why should I? I'm the Vasquez family's daughter. You expect me to grovel to her in front of everyone? Forget it!"

"The Vasquez family's daughter?" Clifford's laugh was a blade, sharp and cold. It cut her words in half.

He stepped forward, the weight of his presence forcing Bethany back until she nearly stumbled. "Do you need me to remind you of your real status?"

Her fists clenched tight at her sides. Everyone knew—despite her father's name—Bethany was illegitimate. And illegitimate daughters ranked lower than anyone.

"This is your last chance. Apologize."

Bethany's teeth sank into her lip. She walked stiffly toward me, opened her mouth twice before forcing out, "Sorry."

It was so fast it barely registered.

"What was that? I didn't hear you. Try again."

Her eyes brimmed with tears. She'd never been humiliated like this in her life.

"Louder," Clifford said.

Her nails bit into her palms. "Sorry!" she spat.

I smiled. "Now I heard you. But I don't accept it."

Bethany's eyes widened, locking on me with pure hatred.

I slipped back into Clifford's embrace. "Darling, she's glaring at me."

I knew she wanted him, which was exactly why I'd let him handle this.

"So apologies don't work," Clifford said, looking at her like something he'd scrape off his shoe. "The Vasquez family must be cursed to have you for a daughter."

"You're humiliating me on purpose!" Bethany snapped.

Clifford glanced down at me, a faint smile curving his lips. "Not completely stupid. Just late to figure it out."

"Go tell your father... and wait for my retaliation."

He turned away from her, fixing his eyes on the principal. "Now... your turn. Which hand touched her?"