Chapter 7.
Chapter 7
Darren pouted, letting out a frustrated sound but staying silent.
“Dad!” Esther bit her lip, feeling completely unfairly treated. “Le ore already caused Mom’s death. Do you want her to kill us
too?”
“Esther,” Lenore, who had been watching the argument with a cold stare, finally spoke. She looked at Esther without any emotion. “You know better than anyone who Mom died trying to save, right?”
A flash of panic crossed Esther’s face, but she quickly pulled herself together. She thought, ‘So what if Mom’s death wasn’t Lenore’s fault but mine? Everyone only saw them during that explosion. Nobody knows I was there.
‘In this messed up situation, only Lenore and I know the truth. She has always been a troublemaker, and nobody believes her anyway. Plus, Mom left a big fortune to Lenore and not a single dime for me. Why is it so unfair?‘
Esther clutched her shirt, her eyes red as she glared at Lenore. “You always say I’m the reason Mom died. Well, Lenore, Mom left everything to you. What more do you want? Do you want me to die too? Would that make you happy?”
Since childhood, Lenore had insisted it wasn’t her fault, but no one believed her. They all blamed her for Viola’s death.
Esther acted like the world owed her something. She was kind and polite to others but spoiled and arrogant at home. And . Troy let her get away with it.
If it weren’t for what Lenore wanted from Viola’s inheritance, she wouldn’t even bother with all this drama. Not wanting to deal with Esther’s tantrum, Lenore chuckled and walked away.
Esther tugged on Troy’s sleeve, her voice choked with tears. “Dad I know she’s my sister. I don’t want to feel this way, but every time I see her, I remember how Mom died, and it just hurts too much.”
“I know, sweetheart,” Troy said, his patience clearly reserved for Esther. He gently comforted her, his tone warm. “If you keep crying, you won’t look pretty. Go wash your face and head to school; Lenore won’t be around much longer.”
Esther nodded obediently, but a glimmer of triumph and malice shone in her eyes as she lowered her head.
*****
At 8:30 AM at Greenvine High School, a group of people gathered in the Principal’s office. Lucille Harlan slammed the file on the desk, her anger rising fast.
She yelled, “Skipping school, never scoring above ten on tests, getting into fights, hanging out with the wrong crowd, dropping out for two years to work… You let someone like her into Greenvine? Fine, but putting her in Class 1?”
Lucille’s sharp gaze was filled with disbelief. “Mr. Swanson! Am losing my mind, or are you?”
Lucille had just gotten to school when Zell Swanson, the principal, called her in to talk about putting a transfer student in Class 1. Since it was SAT year, she thought the student must be some genius.
But after looking through the file, she could hardly believe it. She thought to herself, ‘Genius? Even calling her trash is a compliment.
‘In nearly ten years of teaching, I’ve never seen a student like this Getting into Greenvine is one thing, but getting into my class? What a joke!‘
20:15 Wed, Feb 5 a
Chapter 7
Zell sat behind his desk, wearing rectangular glasses that made m look serious and bookish. Despite Lucille’s anger, he calmly asked, “Do you think she can’t handle Class 1P”
Lucille glanced toward the sofa area. Lenore had been sitting there, legs crossed like she owned the place, playing a video game loudly. She gave off a rebellious vibe and fit the stereotype of someone raised in a tough environment.
Lucille looked at Lenore with obvious disdain. “Class 1 is for the best of the best. Most students who compete in math and
in the top
200 in the state. physics are in my clas. Even the lowest scorers are
“And now you want to put in a failure like her? Mr. School’s reputation?”
in t
Swanson, Wou
are
trying
to
ruin Class 1 or damage Greenvine High
As she spoke, she slammed her hand on the desk, resisting the decision with every fiber of her being. “I absolutely refuse.” Class 1 was full of high achievers, and with Lucille’s pride at stake, there was no way she would allow any blemish on her teaching record.
