Chapter 56 Rumors
+8 Pearls
“Hold on. Isn’t she the designer who gained all that attention after Leah stole her ideas during the Ydris Group competition livestream?”
“That’s definitely her! I knew I recognized her, but it just clicked now!”
“Wait, why’s her last name Nelson now?”
“Where’s Leah? Wasn’t she just here?”
Someone in the crowd spoke up, and Charmaine couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
At that moment, she heard a stir at the back of the room. Sensing it, she lazily turned her eyes toward the door.
Leah entered, arm–in–arm with two other girls, a smile stretched across her face. As soon as she stepped into the classroom, she felt all eyes on her.
Without thinking, Leah straightened her posture, trying to project the elegance of her upbringing. But then, her eyes locked with Charmaine’s. The intensity of Charmaine’s smile almost made her jump out of her skin.
Charmaine.
Why is she here?
Wasn’t she expelled?
Leah’s mind raced with a thousand questions, panic bubbling up inside her. She fought to keep her composure, but her friends had already picked up on her distress.
Celeste, sensing something was off, asked, “Leah, what’s wrong? You don’t look well.”
“Is it … her?” Veronica asked, her voice full of suspicion.
Leah quickly inhaled a few calming breaths.
She lowered her gaze for a moment. When she looked up again, her eyes were red. She spoke in a soft, strained voice, “Charmaine … she’s here.”
Celeste came from a family of notable wealth. Though her family’s lineage couldn’t compare to the Nelsons, they had earned respect in recent years, especially within Eragos.
Veronica’s family, the Jameses, were part of the Centennial Five. Though Veronica was from a smaller branch of the family, she had ties to the main household. Her mother and Celeste’s father were siblings, which made Veronica and Celeste close friends.
Leah became friends with them during a thank–you party for an expensive brand, and they eventually became the closest of friends.
Leah had introduced Charmaine to both of them after she returned. The two girls had quickly become close, even though the incident at the birthday party–where Charmaine accidentally stained Leah’s dress-
had caused some tension.
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Chapter 56 Rumors
classroom. They finally noticed Charmaine sitting there, relaxed, watching them.
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Celeste’s expression twisted in disdain. “Is she really following you around? She knew you’d be here at Eragos University?”
Veronica raised an eyebrow, her frown deepening. “Celeste, don’t you remember? She was here in our freshman year. But she dropped out.”
Celeste’s frustration only grew. “So, what? She dropped out two years ago and now she’s back in class? If it weren’t for her, Leah wouldn’t have fainted, ended up in the hospital, and faced all that hate online.”
Celeste, always spoiled by her family, couldn’t stand to see her friend so uneasy. A rush of protective anger flared within her as she stormed toward Charmaine, ready to confront her.
Leah feigned surprise, shaking her head and whispering, “Celeste, please don’t …”
Celeste, undeterred, quickly responded, “Don’t worry, Leah. I’ll handle this.”
Before Celeste could make a move, the teacher returned to the classroom. “Break is over. Let’s get back to work.”
Veronica, always quick to react, was the first to speak. “Teach, we have someone from outside our grade.”
She clearly stressed the last two words, her tone dripping with disdain.
At that moment, the teacher, having received the latest updates, addressed the class.
As per the headmaster’s orders, she said, “This is Charmaine, a student who’s rejoining your grade after taking a two–year leave for personal reasons.”
She walked to Charmaine’s desk and extended her hand with a warm smile. “Charmaine, welcome back.”
Charmaine stood and shook her hand. “Thank you.”
The teacher nodded and then returned to the front of the class, her gaze flickering over the three girls with a mixture of disapproval and impatience. “What are you still standing there for?”
Leah clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Seeing the teacher, usually so strict with the students, treating Charmaine with such courtesy felt like a slap in the face.
What is going on?
Bennett had assured her the expulsion letter was finalized. Why wasn’t Charmaine gone? Instead, they were welcoming her back?
Welcome? Yeah, right.
Could it be because of Rex?
That had to be it. Charmaine no longer had ties to the Nelsons or the Reads. Who could be helping her now, if not Ydris Group?
After that disastrous incident at the semifinals, when Charmaine’s fame shot up at Leah’s expense, she had definitely met with Rex.
Leah couldn’t shake the thought. What had Charmaine told Rex to get him to go this far?
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