Chapter 34 34

Chapter 34 34
Zara’s POV

“Is she really even deserving of that scholarship?”

“Her silence says everything…”

“Why isn’t she defending herself?”

The whispers followed me like shadows, clinging to my skin, slipping beneath it, settling deep in my chest.

Each word felt like a needle but I kept my head slightly lowered as I walked out of the hall, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break but when I passed Bella, I faltered because her eyes were wide, filled with worry, but she forced a small, reassuring smile when our gazes met and somehow that tiny gesture steadied me not completely but enough to keep walking.

The silence between Vanessa and me stretched thick and suffocating as we made our way to the administration building, up the stairs, step after step and each one heavier than the last. It felt like I was being led to my own execution.

“Sit.”

The dean’s voice broke through the tension as he settled behind his desk and I lowered myself into the chair beside Vanessa, every muscle in my body felt tight.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her pull out her phone, that same smug curve tugged at her lips like she’d already won.

A knot twisted violently in my stomach, whatever she had planned, It wasn’t over.

A knock echoed through the room. “Come in,” the dean called.

The door opened, and my breath caught slightly when I saw who stepped inside, it was Professor Matthew.

My defense training instructor and someone I had respected and trusted.

For a split second, relief flooded me, it was a familiar face and someone who knew me but that relief didn’t last because he didn’t look at me not even once.

“I’d like to sit in on this,” he said calmly, stepping further into the room. “I consider myself a mentor to both students.”

The dean nodded, gesturing to a chair. “Of course.”

Professor Matthew sat and not a single glance in my direction and something cold began to spread through my chest.

The dean turned back to Vanessa. “You mentioned evidence.”

Vanessa didn’t hesitate. “Oh, I have it,” she said smoothly, unlocking her phone.

She turned the screen toward him, satisfaction practically radiating off her.

“Zara Hale isn’t some poor, struggling student,” she continued. “She’s pretending and playing everyone for sympathy.”

My pulse spiked, what... then I saw it, the picture of me getting into that car. So someone had been watching but I had felt it.

I Ignored it and now, It was being used against me.

“Luxury vehicles like that don’t just pick up anyone,” Vanessa pressed, her voice dripping with mock concern. “If she has access to that kind of money, why does she need a scholarship?”

The dean studied the image carefully then his gaze lifted to me with sharp suspicious.

“Where do you work, Miss Hale?”

My throat tightened instantly because I couldn’t answer that not without breaking the contract and risking everything.

Silence filled the room and with every passing second, It damned me further.

“It seems,” Professor Matthew finally spoke, folding his arms, “that none of us truly know who Zara Hale is.”

My head snapped toward him as shock hit me like a physical blow, what…?

“If she can lie about something like this,” he continued coldly, “what else is she hiding?”

Each word struck deeper than the last.

“I’ve always found her… unusual. Vanessa’s smile widened. “And now it makes sense. Perhaps she isn’t as talented as she pretends to be.”

My chest tightened painfully. “You think I cheated?” I wanted to say.

But my voice still wouldn’t come.

“I suggest a full investigation,” he added. “We can’t allow dishonesty at this level.”

Dishonesty???

The word echoed in my skull and something was breaking inside me.

I had spent years proving myself and fighting against every limitation, weakness and whisper that said I wasn’t good enough.

But now, It was all being stripped away.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” the dean asked, leaning forward slightly.

All eyes were on me now and I opened my mouth but nothing came out, not even a single word.

“You can’t be serious.”

The deep voice cut through the room like a blade and everything stilled.

My heart stopped then slammed violently against my ribs. I didn’t need to turn because I felt him before I even saw him.

The scent hit me first then his heavy and commanding presence.

I turned slowly and there he was, Darius.

Leaning against the doorway like he owned not just the room but everyone inside it.

The dean immediately straightened.

“Alpha…”

Darius stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the room before landing, on me and staying there for too long this made my breath caught.

“It’s my understanding,” he said coolly, his voice low but commanding, “that Miss Hale is one of your top students.”

The dean swallowed. “Yes, Alpha, but....”

“And yet you’re considering punishing her over a photograph?”

His tone sharpened just enough to make the air shift and the room fell silent.

Then Darius’s gaze slid to Vanessa and something dark flickered in his eyes.

“Interesting,” he murmured. Vanessa stiffened slightly under the weight of his attention because unlike me, she wasn’t used to being looked at like prey.

“I’ve received information of my own,” Darius continued, his voice smooth as silk.

My pulse stuttered, what was he doing…?

“And from what I’ve gathered…”

A slow, dangerous smile touched his lips.

“…Miss Vanessa isn’t as innocent as she claims.”

Vanessa’s confidence cracked, just a little.

“Alpha, I.....”

“Careful,” he cut in softly.

And somehow that single word held more threat than a scream.

“Because from where I stand,” he continued, eyes gleaming, “it seems you’ve been paying others to sit your exams.”

The room went dead silent and Vanessa’s face drained of color.

The dean froze, even Professor Matthew shifted uncomfortably and me, I just sat there completely stunned.

Slowly, Darius’s gaze returned to me and this time tere was no hiding the intensity in it.

I still can't believe this was how the whole thing played out.