Chapter 70 She Refuses to Admit It

She’d tried to show Jean her warmth, to prove she was kind and beasy /bto like.

Jean ignored all of it.

Finished

She still remembered the way Jean looked at her back then–indifferent, unreadable, like she was looking at a stranger who didn’t matter. She hadn’t said a word, hadn’t even bothered to respond. Just a nce, then back to whatever she was doing.

It was bhumiliating/b. Everyone had seen it.

From bthat /bmoment on, Lacey hated her. Not dislike–hate

Sure, the rest of the ss mocked bJean/b, ignored her, isted her. But Lacey didn’t bstop /bthere.

She sabotaged her. Quietly, but constantly.

She’d tear pages out of Jean’s homework before it was turned in. She’d hide her ID badge. She’d slip dead bugs into her desk drawer.

All harmless little “pranks,” or so she told herself.

But this time–this time had been different. This time she’d gone further than ever before.

She hadn’t regretted it. Not one bit. If anything, she wished she’d done more. She wished she’d made sure Jean couldn’t show up today. bThat’s /bwhat really got to her.

Jean didn’t look like someone who’d juste back from being poisoned. She looked sharp. Cold. Unbothered.

Jean sat down across from her, lingersced loosely on the table.

“You really think I came here for fun?” she said tly. “You bknow /bexactly what you bdid/b.”

Lacey stared back, caught off bguard /bby Jean’s sudden shift in tone.

The way she spoke–it wasn’t the same Jean she remembered. This version had presence. Pressure. Her voice cut like ice. “You want me to spell it out for you?” Jean’s voice dropped blower/b. “You poisoned me to keep me from that audition.” Lacey’s fingers curled into her palms. Her stomach dropped–but her expression didn’t change.

She kept her face nk,posed, lips drawn into a polite smile

“I think you’re paranoid,” she said smoothly. “I don’t know what you’re imagining, but using me without proof? That’s nder. You want to be sued?”

Jean didn’t flinchb. /b

Lacey could feel herself losing the upper hand, fast. Jean might not have evidence–but she wasn’t backing down either.

“You need to leave Lacey said finally. “I have better things to do than entertain your delusions.”

She picked up her cup, took a slow bsip/b.

Jean didn’t argue. She j just looked at her for a few more seconds–then stood and walked out without a bword/b.

bBut /bLacey could feel it in the air.

bShe /bwasn’t done.

Outside the cafe, Jean’s phone started ringing.

Chapter 70 She Refuses to Admit it

Jean braced herself, expecting a lecture–but Sienna’s voice was soft on the other end.

“Where are you, sweetheart? You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Jean said quietly. “I didn’t think you’d let me go out so soon after the hospital”

“I’m not unreasonable,” Sienna said gently. “You could’ve just told me.”

Jean’s chest tightened

She promised toe home soon, said she just had to go by the school real quick

bSienna /bdidn’t press her. Just told her to be careful.

After the call, Jean headed to Sterford.

Finished

It was long past dismissal. The halls were dark, lights low, gates already locked She had to talk her way past the security guard, iming she left a textbook behind.

Luckily, the man didn’t ask too many questions. He handed her the ssroom key without a bfuss /b

She thanked him and hurried off.

Inside the empty room, she turned bon /bthe lights.

Everything looked normal–but she knew better.

Whoever had poisoned her had done it here. Maybe while she was gone. Maybe right before lunch

She scanned the desks, the windows, the corners of the room. She believed in one thing

No matter how careful someone was no one erased every trace

Something had to be here.

And she was going to find it.

Send Gifts

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