Chapter 36 Seeing Through the Disguise
Lily heard Sophie's voice and instinctively frowned.
Sophie had already darted under her umbrella, holding her backpack over her head to shield herself from the rain.
She put on an innocent expression and asked, "I lent my umbrella to a classmate. Can we share yours?"
"No." Lily turned and walked away, not giving Sophie any chance.
Sophie stood there in disbelief, quickly getting drenched by the heavy rain.
She couldn't believe Lily had the nerve to refuse her in front of everyone!
Sophie's expression darkened. She had hoped to use this opportunity to mend her relationship with Lily.
After all, she had noticed changes in Michael and Austin and felt threatened.
If Lily were to reconcile with them, would there still be a place for her in the Roberts family? That was why she wanted to get along with Lily.
But Lily was so heartless.
Well, if Lily wanted to play hardball, Sophie wouldn't hold back either.
In a luxury car parked by the roadside.
Eric watched the scene unfold from a distance. "Lily's got some guts, turning her down like that."
Dennis's gaze was deep. "Can't be too nice."
Everything Lily had been through was brought on by Sophie. Even though her brothers were blind to it, Sophie wasn't simple.
Lily returned to the classroom and hung her umbrella at the back.
Soon, Sophie walked in, completely soaked and looking miserable.
The teacher saw her and couldn't help but ask, "Sophie, didn't you bring an umbrella today? Why are you soaked? You'll catch a cold."
Sophie showed her pale face. "I'm fine."
Calista immediately chimed in, "It's because Lily left Sophie behind, walking alone with her umbrella, causing Sophie to get wet. It's just too much."
Lily looked annoyed and frustrated. But before she could say anything, the class president, Violet Cooper, spoke up first. "I saw Sophie give her umbrella to someone else and then try to squeeze under Lily's. Lily didn't want to. Is there a problem?"
Calista retorted, "It's pouring rain. Even if Lily didn't want to, she shouldn't have left Sophie behind."
Violet shot back, "Sophie could have shared the umbrella with the person she gave it to. Why insist on squeezing under Lily's? She knows Lily doesn't like her, yet she goes looking for trouble and then blames Lily for leaving her behind. Who's really being manipulative here?"
Violet's explanation clearly laid out the situation.
Lily was a bit surprised that Violet had seen everything and even spoke up for her.
She hadn't had many friends before.
Calista was left helpless. "Anyway, leaving Sophie behind is wrong."
Sophie hadn't expected anyone to defend Lily. Lily had always been isolated in the class.
Sophie showed the teacher a sensible expression. "I'm really fine. It's all a misunderstanding."
The teacher coughed and didn't ask further. "Alright, let's start class."
Sophie was left standing there, frustrated that the teacher didn't press further.
Damn it!
This wasn't how she planned it!
After class, Lily went straight to the bathroom.
As she came out of the stall, she overheard Calista gossiping about her.
When Lily appeared, the room fell silent.
Calista sneered, "She acts like she is right even when she is wrong, just because she is from a rich family. What's there to be smug about?"
She deliberately splashed water on Lily.
Already irritated from her period, Lily was fed up with people picking on her.
She kicked a mop bucket towards Calista.
Calista screamed, "What the hell are you doing?"
Lily raised her eyes, her entire demeanor emitting a low pressure. "Try that again, and I'll make you drink the water to wash out that filthy mouth of yours!"
She slowly stepped forward, making Calista back away in fear.
Her voice was cold. "Since you know I'm a Roberts, you'd better watch yourself. Or I'll hand over all the evidence of you helping Sophie cheat to the school. Sophie might get away with it, but you won't."
Seraphine hadn't returned to school since the cheating incident.
Lily's face was pale, and she looked fierce and unapproachable.
Calista was scared stiff and ran off.
Lily left the bathroom, and Violet approached her. "Lily, if Sophie complains to the teacher, I'll back you up. Calista was the one who started it, talking trash about you."
Lily's expression softened when she saw Violet. "Thanks."
She didn't want to deal with Sophie and her gang. But they just needed a lesson!
Violet adjusted her black-framed glasses, looking a bit guilty. "Sorry, we misunderstood you because of Sophie's act and isolated you for so long."
Everyone thought Lily had a bad character and bullied Sophie.
Lily's tone was indifferent. "It's all in the past."
Because of Sophie, she hadn't had any friends in class.
Now she had too much to do to dwell on it.
When Lily returned to the classroom, she didn't even glance at Sophie.
Her words to Calista were also a warning to Sophie.
The rain outside lasted all day.
After school, Dennis texted her to wait a bit.
Lily took her umbrella and went straight to the nurse's office.
She didn't expect to find Sophie there, lying on a bed getting an IV.
Wasn't Sophie supposed to be picked up? Why was she here?
Dennis was adjusting the IV bottle and looked up when he saw Lily. "Wait a moment."
Lily nodded.
Sophie weakly said, "Lily, you're here. Michael said he was coming to pick me up, but he hasn't shown up. Can you call him for me?"
Lily pursed her lips. "Don't you have hands?"
"Sophie, are you okay?"
Austin walked in, drenched from the rain. He frowned at Lily, "Sophie is sick. Is it that hard to make a phone call for her? You might blame us, but Sophie doesn't owe you anything!"
He had heard Lily's cold rejection earlier.
Lily was used to such accusations.
Dennis, however, spoke coldly, "Isn't it your responsibility as her guardians? What does it have to do with Lily?"
"Isn't it because Lily refused to share her umbrella this morning, making Sophie sick?"
Austin was indignant. "Lily, I know your grades have improved, but you can't make Sophie sick. You know her health isn't great. How could you push her away?"
Lily's expression didn't change. "Because I hate her."
"Lily! That's too much. Sophie's father saved your life! Is this how you treat your savior's daughter?" Austin couldn't control his anger.
Seeing Lily's indifferent look, he felt disappointed. "Lily, ever since you started hanging out with this nurse, you've changed!"
Dennis sneered, "You don't think Lily's changed. You're just mad she won't join your team, won't let you bully her anymore. That's why you're so angry. Bottom line, you can't get anything from her anymore."
Austin was furious. "Lily, is that how you feel, too?"