Chapter 227
CATHERINE’S POV
My blood was past the boiling point. It was screaming. I looked at the gray, weathered stone of the auditorium wall and imagined it was Dean Miller’s face.
“A despicable man like the Dean doesn’t deserve to be happy,” I whispered, my voice vibrating with a dark, jagged edge. “I’m going to walk into that office, and I’m going to scream the truth until every student on this campus knows what a pathetic, hollow excuse for a man he is p>
I actually started to turn, my feet already pivoting toward the exit. The rage felt like a physical engine in my chest, pushing me toward a confrontation I hadn’t fully thought through. I didn’t care about the consequences. All I saw was Tessa’s tear-streaked face.
“Catherine, no!” Tessa lunged forward, her fingers digging into my wrist with a desperate, iron-tight grip. She practically hauled me back into the shadows of the corner. “Stop! Are you insane? You can’t go there p>
“Why not?” I snapped, whirling back to face her. “He’s a monster, Tessa! He’s using your life as a bargaining chip for his own reputation. He deserves to be humiliated. He deserves to lose everything p>
“And what happens to me?” Tessa’s voice was a frantic, hushed plea. Her eyes were wide, the pupils blown with terror. “If you go in there and start a scene, he’ll know it came from me. He’ll cut off the tuition. He’ll sue my mother into the ground for ’defamation.’ He has the lawyers, Catherine. He has the money in his pocket. Please… I’m begging you p>
I looked at her, my chest heaving, the fire in my veins struggling against the cold reality in her voice.
“I don’t want him to be a part of my life anymore,” she whispered, her grip on my arm softening as her shoulders slumped. “Not as a father, not as a provider, not even as an enemy. I just want to finish my degree and forget his name. Please, Catherine. Keep this a secret. Keep it between us. If you really care about me, you’ll let this stay in the dark p>
I stared at her for a long, agonizing moment. I wanted justice, but I realized that my version of justice might cost Tessa her entire future. I took a deep, shaky breath, forcing the adrenaline back into its cage.
“Okay,” I said, my voice finally softening. “Okay. I’m happy you’re making that decision, Tessa. Truly. He doesn’t deserve a daughter like you anyway. I promise—on my life—I won’t say a word to anyone. Not even to Julian. It stays here p>
Tessa exhaled, a long shuddering breath of relief, and leaned her head back against the stone. “Thank you. You have no idea what that means to me p>
“But,” I added, my expression hardening again, “this means you have to stay far, far away from Lucy. You have to avoid her at all costs. She’s not like Sasha, Tessa. Sasha was a bully, but Lucy… Lucy is a predator. She’s more dangerous than Sasha ever was because she doesn’t just want to rule the school. She wants to own people. If she smells even a whiff of this secret, she will dismantle you p>
Tessa let out a dry, mirthless laugh, wiping the last of the moisture from under her eyes. “Do you think I don’t know that? Catherine, do you realize that almost everyone on this campus either ass-licks her or fears her? There isn’t an ’avoid’ button for Lucy Clement. She’s everywhere p>
“You just have to ignore her,” I urged. “Don’t give her an opening p>
“I want to ignore her so bad,” Tessa countered, her voice rising with a touch of her usual fire. “I want to walk past her and pretend she’s invisible. But I can’t just stand by and watch her trample on people. I can’t watch her do to Sasha—or to you—what she does. I don’t know why but these days I feel the need to step up for people. I no longer want to stay quiet when someone like Lucy is being that much of a bitch p>
“And why am I the main topic of your gossip p>
The voice was like a splash of ice water. We both jumped, our hearts leaping into our throats as we spun around.
Lucy was standing at the edge of the auditorium wall, her silk blouse shimmering in the dappled sunlight and a perfectly manicured hand resting on her hip. She looked like she had been carved out of marble. Her eyes darted between us, searching our faces for the guilt she knew was there.
My stomach did a slow, sickening roll. How long has she been there? How much did she hear?
“Lucy,” I said, my voice remarkably steady despite the fact that my heart was trying to beat its way out of my ribs. “I didn’t realize you spent your free time lurking in corners. Isn’t there a mirror somewhere that needs your attention p>
Lucy didn’t bite. She took a slow step forward, her gaze settling on Tessa’s red, puffy eyes. “You’ve been crying, Tessa. How tragic. Did my insults get to you so bad? Or was it something more… personal? Did the Dean decide to throw you out of this school after all your nuisances p>
I felt Tessa stiffen beside me, her breath hitching. I paused too, when she mentioned the Dean. I had to know. I had to find out if she had heard the word ’father p>
“Why would the Dean throw her out?” I asked, tilting my head with a look of feigned confusion. “If anyone has been a nuisance in this school, it’s you. Just because you’re used to trading favors for status doesn’t mean you can have anyone thrown out when you want p>
Lucy’s eyes narrowed, a flash of genuine irritation flickering in her expression. “Don’t try to turn this on me, you little charity case. I heard you talking about secrets. I heard you telling her to stay away from me. Why? Why do you look so afraid? Is there something I need to find out p>
A wave of relief washed over me, so strong it nearly made my knees weak. She didn’t know. She knew we were hiding something, but she hadn’t overheard the specifics. She was fishing, throwing out bait to see what we would catch.
Tessa was still frozen, her face a mask of pale terror, so I knew I had to end this before she cracked.
“Lucy, honestly,” I said, stepping forward to shield Tessa slightly. “Find some other people who are actually ready to fight with you. We are not in the mood for your theatrics today. We have actual lives to live, unlike you, who seems to exist solely to ruin everyone else’s afternoon p>
Lucy opened her mouth to deliver a stinging retort, her eyes flashing with the intent to draw blood, but I didn’t give her the chance.
“Let’s go, Tessa,” I said firmly. I reached out and grabbed Tessa’s wrist, my grip tight and grounding.
I didn’t wait for a response. I dragged Tessa out of the corner, walking at a brisk, purposeful pace toward the main quad. I didn’t look back to see Lucy’s frustrated expression, and I didn’t stop until we were surrounded by a crowd of students where Lucy couldn’t corner us again.