Chapter 55
Families would move heaven and earth, even to sell everything they owned, to get their kids into Evershine. Expulsion meant he other projet if o would take them, and Il their families found out, they would face severe punishment.
And being blacklisted by the Lynn family was like being exiled from Jinston’s elite circles, no way back in. It was a fate worse than death for anyone hoping to climb the social ladder.
At the top of Jinston’s social hierarchy were the Perkins, Lynn, and Stark families, in that order. The heirs of these families were close allles, so once the Lynn family made their stance clear, the others were unlikely to object.
After the posts stirred up enough drama, they were wiped clean from the campus network. But the cleanup wasn’t random. Anything that painted Zinnia in a bad light disappeared, while the posts exposing Betty’s identity were left up for everyone to sea,
The blatant favoritism left everyone stunned. Blood ties mattered, after all. But Betty had brought this on herself. In elite circles, the one thing one couldn’t afford was forgetting one’s place.
Betty’s once–perfect image as the sweet, gentle socialite was shattered beyond repair. Now, no one wanted anything to do with her.
The Shaw family, a second–rate clan that had only climbed the ranks thanks to the Lynn family, was powerless to help. With the Lynn family openly protecting Zinnia, no one else dared step in.
Betty skipped lunch and stayed in the classroom, her eyes glued to her phone. The screen was filled with hateful comments, each one more cutting than the last. Her face grew darker as she read. She thought, ‘Spineless cowards, always swaying with the wind.‘
Just then, Anne burst into the classroom. She asked, “Betty, what’s going on with the school forum? How could they say such awful things about you?” When she saw Betty’s grim expression, a chill ran down her spine. For a moment, she found Betty frightening.
Betty’s voice was soft and trembling as she looked up. She called out, “Anne.” Her fingers pinched at her sleeves, and her watery eyes, rimmed with red, made her look heartbreakingly fragile.
Anne blinked, her unease fading as she took in Betty’s pale, delicate face. She quickly stepped forward and hugged Betty tightly. She thought, ‘What’s wrong with me? Betty’s always been so kind and gentle. How could I even think she looked scary?‘
Anne comforted Betty, “It’s okay. I’m here, Betty. I’m here. I know you’re not the person they’re making you out to be on the forum.
“They’re just a bunch of gossiping cowards, always jumping on the bandwagon. Don’t let them get to you. You’re the best person I know, Betty.”
Anne had just flown back today, and the moment she landed, she saw the on the school forum. Without hesitation, she rushed to school, only to
find Betty sitting alone in the empty classroom.
The sight tugged at her heart. She didn’t believe Betty was the person others accused her of being.
Anne thought, ‘Betty is such a wonderful person. Those people online are nothing but ungrateful hypocrites. They used to sing her praises, claiming they’d do anything for Betty. But now, when trouble arose, they don’t even dare to speak up for her.‘
Betty buried her face in Anne’s shoulder and gripped Anne’s shirt tightly. Her expression seemed frail and innocent, but the cold gleam in her eyes hinted at the storm brewing within. The warmth and gentleness she displayed were nothing but a carefully crafted facade.
Anne was enveloped by an inexplicable chill, despite the sweltering heat of summer. The sensation of cold was so out of place that it made her feel
uneasy.
With a hoarse voice, Betty said, “Anne, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was just scared that Mom and Dad might love Zinnia more than me.
“I only wanted to know if they still cared. never wanted Zinnia to leave, I swear. Do you believe me, Anne?”
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