Chapter 294 : You’re Delusional

Chapter 294 : You’re Delusional
Sherrie turned toward the reporters, frustration written all over her face. "This is a hospital! Back off, or I'll call the police and report all of you for disturbing the peace!"

Before she could force her way through the crowd, Allison's voice came from the livestream once again. "Miss Allison, if you really have nothing to do with the accusations that I cheated, then why did you anonymously submit a report to the media accusing me of it?"

"My lawyer already has a copy of your submission. Would you like me to show it to everyone right now?"

Sherrie’s face turned pale. "You're delusional," she yelled harshly. "I never reported anything. I don't even know who you are!"

Meanwhile, Nigel was watching the livestream from his phone, panic rising in his chest. He furiously typed out a response, only to realize that he was still banned from the comment section.

Nigel immediately called Allison, hoping to force her to end the livestream before she dragged the family into even more embarrassment.

But the call never connected.

Back in the livestream, Allison narrowed her eyes slightly as she said slowly. "It's only one SAT question. Everyone is waiting. Why are you avoiding it, Miss Allison? You're a graduate student, aren't you? Or are you saying you can't even solve a high school exam question?"

Sherrie could barely catch her breath as she watched the comment section erupt once again. The viewers were no longer simply curious. The cheating scandal had completely captured their attention.

"What the hell is wrong with her? It's just one question!"

"This is a setup, right? There's no way this isn't a setup."

"I'm calling it now. That girl is just a stand-in. Allison's going to ask a question she already knows, answer it correctly, and use that to 'prove' she didn't cheat. Then everyone's going to turn around and mock the other girl for being stupid."

When Allison saw that comment, she almost laughed.

Smart crowd. Someone ought to give them an award.

Resting her chin on one hand, she looked at the screen and said gently, "Since all of you are so smart and care so much about fairness, why don't you vote on the most transparent and reliable way to test me? I'll let you decide."

She glanced at the time and added, "I'll give you until tomorrow. Think it over. I'll go live again then."

"Oh my God, she's unbelievable. She just put the entire internet on trial."

"Who gave her a microphone? She's ordering everyone around like she owns the place."

"Fantastic. We work all day, and now she wants us to do homework for her at night too?"

"Jokes aside, does anyone have any ideas? I really want to see her get exposed."

Allison watched as the comment section erupted into chaos. Then, without another word, she ended the livestream.

She was no longer trying to clear her name. She wanted to raise the stakes.

Allison was betting that these angry netizens didn't actually care about the truth. What they wanted was a target, someone they could tear down and blame for everything they hated.

So she handed them the reins.

Let the crowd decide how she would be judged. Let them believe the process was entirely their own.

If she played by their rules and still came out on top, what excuse would they have left then?

Allison left the study and stopped at the second-floor landing of Pavilion Hall.

From above, she could see the living room clearly. Jareth was sitting on the couch with one leg crossed over the other, looking completely at ease.

As if sensing someone watching him, he lifted his head. For a moment, neither of them looked away.

Then Allison headed downstairs, taking her time as she descended each step.

Allison walked over and sat down beside him.

Jareth turned to her and asked, "Are you scared?"

The rumors, the backlash, the pressure. Through all of it, Allison had never once allowed him to intervene.

But things had grown far beyond what anyone expected. No one knew how much bigger it could get.

If she failed the public test tomorrow, the accusation of being a cheater would follow her for the rest of her life.

Everything she had worked so hard for could disappear instantly.

But Allison didn't look worried at all.

"What's the worst that can happen?" she asked. "I end up back where I started? I had nothing to begin with. What is there to lose?"

Jareth lifted a hand and lightly brushed his knuckles beneath her chin. "As long as I'm here, you'll never go back to zero."

Even if she fell, he would be there to catch her.

Allison looked into his eyes, and for the first time, she let herself rely on someone else.

She tilted her head slightly and pressed her cheek against his fingers.

For someone who had spent so long being overlooked, that small gesture felt like something she could hold on to.

The whole world seemed determined to drag her down, and Jareth… He was the only person reaching out a hand.

Remembering everything she had been through, how could she not hold on to that?

Still, neither of them took things any further. They stayed exactly where they were, barely holding the line.

After that, Jareth returned to his financial reports while Allison curled up with a book.

Inside the Pavilion Hall, everything was silent.

Outside, the internet was in an uproar.

Clips from her livestream were spreading everywhere. Screenshots, edited videos, reaction posts, and debate threads flooded every corner of the web.

Even Sherrie, who had only appeared for a few seconds, was being hunted down by netizens. Tomorrow was going to be the real war.

Rumors about Sherrie were spreading across the internet at an alarming rate. Some were true, while others had been twisted beyond recognition. Either way, she was too afraid to leave the house and spent the entire day hiding behind closed curtains.

She cried on the couch all night, going through two full boxes of tissues.

Nigel slammed his fist against the armrest. "Is Allison trying to destroy this family? She must be having another psychotic breakdown! Can't we send her back to a psychiatric hospital?"

Even Ruth hadn't expected things to spiral this far. What had started as a controversy over Allison's alleged cheating had somehow shifted onto Sherrie. And people online weren't as easy to distract as before. If someone started digging into Sherrie's past and uncovered something real, the situation would become far worse.

By then, the entire Rogers family would be destroyed.