Chapter 82 School Bullying
Bianca did not slow her pace. Her expression was a mask of cool indifference, her voice flat and stripped of any warmth. "It has nothing to do with you."
Melissa's smile faltered, her eyes darting nervously before she forced herself to keep up. "How could it have nothing to do with me? You two don't look like strangers… and you didn't come back to the dorm last night. I was worried about you, that's all."
She didn't even finish the sentence before tears welled in the corners of her eyes, shimmering like she'd been wronged beyond measure.
Bianca's lips curved into something that was not quite a smile. "Melissa, you really do have a selective memory. I've told you before—I rarely stay in the dorms. And where I go… I don't owe you an explanation. Nor do I have any obligation to report to you."
Melissa's face crumpled further, a tear sliding down her cheek. "You were never like this before. Did someone say something to you? Why are you acting so cold? Aren't we best friends?"
The word "friends" flashed through Bianca's mind like a shard of broken glass. It dragged with it the memory of Melissa's betrayal from her previous life—a moment so cold it had etched itself into her bones.
Her smile sharpened into something dangerous. "Friends?" She stepped closer, her gaze cutting through Melissa like a blade. "Melissa, when you say that word, do you feel even a flicker of guilt?"
Melissa froze, her heartbeat thundering in her ears, pupils contracting as if she'd been caught in a spotlight. Before she could string together a defense, Bianca turned away, her back straight, her stride unhesitating.
Melissa's nails dug into her palms, the sting in her skin nothing compared to the venom blooming in her chest. She stomped her heel into the pavement with frustration.
For days afterward, Melissa lingered near Bianca after classes, her appearance growing more calculated with each passing afternoon. Soft floral dresses one day, sharp tailored blazers the next, makeup so flawless it looked airbrushed.
Yet every time she drifted past Terrence, she was met with absolute indifference. His eyes, cold and unreadable, warmed only when they found Bianca. No matter how Melissa tried, she could not draw even a flicker of interest from him.
Bianca saw it all. And ignored it. Melissa's arrogance wouldn't last long. Let her play her little games—Terrence would never be swayed.
Campus life moved at a lazy rhythm. Bianca was on her way to return a stack of borrowed books when voices caught her attention. At first, she meant to keep walking.
But among the sharp tones of an argument, she recognized voices—too familiar to ignore.
She paused, turning toward the sound. Beneath the shade of the lakeside trees, shadows shifted and blurred, revealing the outlines of several girls surrounding one figure. The girl was shoved hard, falling to the ground. Through a gap in the bodies, Bianca caught a glimpse of her face.
Her eyes narrowed, her pulse kicking hard. Jasmine.
The girl's head hung low, long dark hair curtaining her features. Her shoulders trembled, and Bianca could hear the muffled sound of sobbing.
It was really Jasmine—her cousin.
In her previous life, Jasmine had vanished quietly, ending her own life for reasons Bianca never uncovered.
They had been close as children, running through summer fields and sharing secrets.
As adults, life had pulled them apart, but Bianca had always cared enough to send greetings during holidays.
She had once tried to investigate Jasmine's death, only to be blocked at every turn by Blair. Now, seeing this scene, Bianca suspected Blair's hands were far from clean.
Her gaze locked on Blair, sharp as a knife. She strode forward, shoving aside a girl who had been about to kick Jasmine. The girl stumbled, landing hard on the grass with a yelp, clutching her side.
"Who the hell are you? Are you blind?" the girl spat.
Bianca's eyes were cold enough to freeze the air. "What do you think you're doing?"
The group hesitated, glancing toward Blair for direction. Blair's brows drew together as she looked Bianca up and down. "I don't know who you think you are, but you'd better stay out of this. This is between me and Jasmine."
At the sound of Bianca's voice, Jasmine's head snapped up. Her eyes were red-rimmed, tears streaking her cheeks, her nose pink like a frightened rabbit. "Bianca…"
"Blair, why are you targeting Jasmine? She's our cousin. Aren't you afraid Glenn will find out?" Bianca stepped in front of Jasmine, arms spread like a wall ready to absorb any blow.
Blair's laugh was sharp, her eyes full of disdain. "She's just a small-town nobody. I'm doing her a favor—teaching her not to reach for things she'll never have."
Without outsiders watching, Blair didn't bother to hide the ugliness in her nature. Her chin lifted, her posture radiating arrogance. "Walk away now and you'll leave unharmed. Stay, and I'll make sure you regret it."
Jasmine's panic was immediate. She shook her head, her voice trembling. "Bianca, just go. Don't get involved. They won't hurt me."
Bianca didn't move. When the girls stepped forward, her gaze swept over them like a blade, her lips parting just enough to let the word drop.
"Leave."
The single syllable cracked through the air with the weight of a command. The girls faltered, stopping mid-step.
Blair's frustration boiled over. "What are you afraid of? If something happens, I'll take the heat!"
Spurred on, the others glanced at each other before lunging toward Bianca and Jasmine. "You could have walked away. But you didn't. Now you'll pay for it."
They closed in, cutting off any escape. Bianca's eyes narrowed. She could fight—she had no problem going toe-to-toe—but that would risk injury and leave Jasmine unprotected.
Her tongue swept across her lower lip as she locked her gaze on Blair. "Blair, unless you plan to finish me today, I'll make sure Terrence hears about this. And when he comes for you, what do you think Glenn will do?"
The memory of their last encounter drained the color from Blair's face, leaving her pale and blotchy. Her voice rose, shrill and ugly. "You think I won't hurt you? If you were gone, Terrence would be mine. The Rodriguez family would be mine. Killing you would only help me."
Bianca's smile was pure challenge. "Then do it. Right here, right now. Let's see if you've got the guts. Terrence is waiting for me, and when he shows up, you'd better hope you've got more than one life to lose."
The tension snapped taut. The two girls flanking them froze, glancing back at Blair for orders.