Chapter 289 : Her Photo Gone Viral

Chapter 289 : Her Photo Gone Viral
Jareth said nothing. His eyes swept across the floor and landed on the condom wrapper that had fallen out during the struggle. Then, as he turned to leave, he made sure to deliver a kick to each of the boys still groaning on the ground.
Jareth took Allison's hand and led her out of the bathroom. She had to jog a little to keep up with him, stealing glances at his face the entire way.
She was practically holding her breath. One thought kept running through her mind. God, I've caused so much trouble.
Sure enough, Jareth kicked over a trash can they passed as if it had personally offended him.
Allison had no idea what to say.
There were still a few reporters lingering outside the school gates. Jareth pulled the borrowed school jacket over Allison's head, completely shielding her from view, and guided her into the car.
The car door slammed shut behind them.
Oliver, sitting in the front seat, turned around and immediately burst out laughing when he saw Jareth still dressed in a school uniform.
"Dude," he snorted. "You look about as much like a high school student as I look like a prom queen."
Then he added, "I told you Ms. Allison was fine, but you wouldn't listen. You insisted on rushing over there."
Allison lowered her head and stayed silent. She didn't mention a single word about what had really happened.
Jareth remained silent as well. He didn't want her to be the one to explain it.
Allison thought about telling him she could have handled it herself. She had survived three years in that psychiatric hospital. She wasn't one of those sheltered rich kids who had never taken a hit in their lives.
But in the end, she said nothing because part of her was worried that this might make Jareth change his mind about letting her go to college.
After all, trouble seemed to follow her wherever she went.
The day's exams were finally over. Oliver drove them back to Pavilion Hall.
Allison curled up on the couch, stealing a glance at Jareth every few minutes.
After stealing glances at him for a while, she finally blurted it out. "You, uh... you look really good in that school jacket. Like, really good."
Settling down next to her, Jareth wore the same dark expression he had all along.
A few seconds later, he turned toward her and lightly pinched her chin, tilting her face up. "Try making an angry face."
Allison blinked. "What?!"
"Come on. Show me your fiercest look." His voice carried a hint of frustration. "You know bullies choose their targets, right? You look way too nice."
She thought he was about to tell her she looked weak.
But he didn't.
Jareth continued, "Look at me. Now scowl."
Allison furrowed her brows and glared at him as fiercely as she could.
Jareth looked back at her. For a brief moment, something flashed across his eyes. Then he turned his head away, released her chin, and let out a sigh. "Forget it."
Allison was left puzzled. Was that still not intimidating enough?
Jareth headed upstairs without saying another word.
Allison remained curled up on the couch, trying to copy Jareth's angry expression in the reflection of the window.
The sight of it made her laugh.
The rumors about her cheating on the SAT continued to spread. Her old student photo had gone viral online, yet no one could identify her.
She was like a ghost as her real identity was completely erased from public view.
Even Ruth had no idea what her new name was.
That night, Nigel was scrolling through his phone during dinner when Allison's picture suddenly appeared beneath a headline about the SAT cheating scandal. His chopsticks slipped from his hand and clattered onto the table.
"What the hell is wrong with the media?" he muttered. "Why are they using Allison's picture? She took the SAT years ago."
Assuming it was some kind of mistake, he immediately called the media outlet and asked them to remove it.
But the reporter told him it wasn't a mistake. The tip had come from a verified source, and the person who submitted it had even provided details about Allison's testing location.
Then the reporter asked whether he was related to the girl in the photo.
Nigel could tell from the reporter's tone that something was seriously wrong, so he ended the call immediately.
If this really had something to do with Allison, those media vultures would never stop hounding the Rogers family.
No matter how much he thought about it, he still felt confused. Why would Allison take the SAT now? She hadn't studied for three years. Wasn't she just setting herself up for failure?
He simply couldn't understand her at all.
Looking at Ruth from across the dinner table, Nigel couldn't hide the suspicion in his voice. "Aren't you surprised at all that Allison supposedly took the SAT?"
Ruth dismissed it with a wave of her hand. "It has to be a mistake. Someone probably used her photo or something. The tag will disappear in a day or two. Besides, Jareth hasn't said anything, has he? If it were true, he'd already be involved."
Nigel thought it over and nodded. That explanation did seem reasonable.
His eyes drifted to Sherrie's usual seat at the table. "She's not coming home again tonight?"
"She's working overtime," Ruth replied smoothly. "Hospitals don't exactly operate on a nine-to-five schedule."
Nigel didn't say anything else, but the posts he had seen online lingered in his mind. The details about Allison taking the SAT were so detailed that they didn't sound fabricated at all.
The following morning, he could no longer resist his curiosity. He changed his route to work and stopped by the testing center.
Sure enough, parents were still gathered outside the gates, talking about the girl at the center of the cheating scandal. Every time they mentioned her, their faces filled with disgust.
Nigel's expression turned ugly. He couldn't believe Allison had brought disgrace to the family once again.
He stood near the entrance, watching the students as they arrived one by one.
Just then, a girl wearing a face mask walked past. Nigel reached out and grabbed her arm. "Allison. Do you really think a mask is enough to fool me?"
Allison hadn't expected to run into him here.
Nigel tightened his grip on her arm. "You're coming with me."
"I'm here to take the SAT," Allison shot back.