Chapter 3

The calculation in Daniel's eyes was almost palpable.

He just wanted to ruin me, to get his hands on that Ivy League scholarship.

I didn't say anything more, just followed him downstairs.

On the way, I discreetly sent a pre-drafted emergency text to Principal Bennett and a few senior faculty members, and reached out to a few influencers who happened to be live-streaming nearby.

Chloe was the principal's daughter.

In my last life, when she expelled me, Principal Bennett utterly humiliated me, calling me a criminal in the making, rotten to the core.

This time, I was going to let her see this "spectacle" unfold for herself.

As we neared the old storage room, we heard sounds of struggle and muffled whimpers, along with the crude jeers of several men.

"This chick's a looker, alright…"

"What's with this guy? He egged us on then ran off himself?"

"Who cares? No sense in letting a good opportunity go to waste…"

Daniel's eyes darted around.

"Alex, you're strong. You go in first and stop them. I'll go get help!"

"No, there seem to be more than one person inside. We should wait here and call the teachers."

I hunched my shoulders, trying to look terrified.

Daniel shot me an angry glare.

He reined in his temper, lowering his voice.

"If you don't go in now, Chloe will really be in trouble! Can you bear to see her get hurt?"

The storage room door wasn't fully closed.

Through the crack, I saw Chloe, her clothes disheveled, being held down by two rough-looking men in work clothes.

Her eyes were unfocused, and she struggled and cried weakly.

Mason was huddled in a corner, his face pale and bruised, as if he'd tried to run but was cornered.

I pressed my lips together, feigning reluctance.

"Alright, you're right. I'll go in and see."

Just as I was about to push the door open, I turned back to Daniel. "Go find a teacher quickly. I… I don't think I can hold them off for long."

Daniel readily agreed.

He turned and ran, then made a quick turn, coming back around.

A look of excitement on his face, he pulled out his phone, started recording, and carefully wedged it into the door crack.

The chaotic sounds from inside spilled out, completely unfiltered.

Having done all this, Daniel finally ran off, seemingly satisfied, to find teachers and school security.

By the time a group of people rushed down to the old building, the sounds of struggle and crying were still coming from inside.

Daniel, his voice thick with tears, covered his face and stopped Principal Bennett.

"I… I don't know how this could have happened…"

Principal Bennett's face was grim. She had no idea her daughter, Chloe, was inside.

Daniel hadn't specified who was involved.

Daniel wasn't just out to destroy me; he wanted to ruin Chloe's reputation too.

After all, in his eyes, we were both his competitors for that Ivy League scholarship.

And it just so happened that several district officials were here for an inspection today.

Now, a group of local government officials were following Principal Bennett to "handle an emergency," and the situation was incredibly awkward.

Principal Bennett was trembling with fury. With government officials watching, her career path was likely over.

She probably wished she could just make everyone involved disappear at that moment.

Principal Bennett tried to move forward.

Daniel blocked her again, crying and wailing.

"Principal, inside is… is…"

He feigned reluctance.

Principal Bennett gripped his shoulders. "Who is it?!"

Daniel, looking terrified, sniffled and stammered.

"It's Alex… I, I saw him creeping around…"

Principal Bennett recognized me, of course. My grades were the best in the school, and I was the most likely to be admitted to a top-tier university.

Her eyes blazed with fury.

The angry curse died on her lips.

The Education Department officials were still watching; Principal Bennett couldn't afford to say anything too harsh right now.

The chaotic sounds from inside grew clearer.

Daniel clutched his chest, speaking to the officials with a pained expression.

"Alex, what have you done?! How could you do such a thing! I knew you were hot-headed and prone to drastic actions!"

At his words, the Education Department officials' faces were grim.

They prided themselves on being dignified and couldn't just barge in at this moment.

A group of them waited downstairs, exchanging uneasy glances, their expressions varied.

"Me? What about me?" I finally emerged from the shadows where I'd been hiding.