Chapter 35

Elysia sat silently, enduring the scolding. Her brow furrowed slightly. She thought, “When they tried to force me into Class 6, Grade 7, they didn’t mention losing face. Now I’m leaving Class 1, Grade 12, and they’re all upset.”

“Bella said I was using tricks. Seriously? Would a mother say that to her own child? They always believe Emma, no matter what.”

On the couch, Logan looked as if he’d bitten into a lemon, especially when Bella berated Elysia.

He used to think Bella was understanding. She favored Emma, but he believed she could discern right from wrong. Now, he realized he was mistaken.

Elysia hadn’t even been given a chance to explain herself. They immediately began yelling at her—and not kindly.

Logan couldn't believe a mother would speak to her child like that. He wondered what Bella was thinking. Scott was a different story; he'd always been this way.

Logan saw that Elysia was being unfairly treated. He'd been at the Rosewood residence for a while and had noticed Elysia wasn't happy there.

“Bella, even if Elysia made a mistake, you shouldn’t berate her like this. She’s your daughter,” Logan said firmly.

Elysia glanced at Logan. In this family, he might be the only one who would defend her without hesitation.

Bella's temper flared. “My daughter wouldn’t do that!” she retorted.

Elysia thought, “What's she implying? Accusing me, not her daughter? How absurd? Emma made countless mistakes, but she never faced anything like this. Her favoritism is so obvious.”

She sauntered to the couch, plopped down, gave Bella a teasing look, and said coldly, “So, what kind of person is your daughter? The kind that frames people or plays the victim?” She then glared at Emma.

Emma’s face flushed crimson; she thought Elysia was trying to embarrass her.

“What nonsense!” Bella shouted.

“It’s not nonsense. These are facts. I don't fabricate stories like your daughter does,” Elysia retorted calmly.

“Elysia, why are you saying those things about me? I heard it from classmates, and you know, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If it wasn’t true, why would everyone be talking about it?” Emma said, her eyes welling up, feigning victimhood.

Bella quickly comforted her, whispering soothing words. “Emma, Mom and Dad are on your side. Don’t cry, honey.”

Elysia snorted inwardly, thinking, “They believe her? Typical. These are my so-called parents. Emma uses her usual tactics, and Bella falls for it.”

Chapter 35 (continued)

Elysia thought, “Maybe Bella knows better, but she sides with Emma, no matter what. What am I to Bella? An outsider? Or worse?”

“Bella, what do you mean by believing Emma?” Logan was furious. He was a guest, but he couldn’t remain silent while they bullied Elysia.

“Logan, this is the Rosewood family’s business!” Scott interjected irritably.

He was annoyed that Logan was interfering and wanted to remind him that he was an outsider with no right to involve himself in their family drama.

Logan was about to respond, but Elysia tugged his arm and shook her head, signaling him to stop. She didn’t want him dragged into their family drama or to help her clean up her messes.

“You heard it from your classmates?” Elysia scoffed, teasingly looking at Emma. “You seriously believe all that gossip? Have you lived by hearsay all these years, never bothering to verify the facts, Emma?”

“I said, there’s no smoke without fire. If it wasn’t true, it wouldn’t be spreading around school,” Emma insisted.

Elysia looked at Emma as if she were incredulous, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “You need to use your brain, not your ears, Emma. You’re an adult. Why don't you have a mind of your own? Believing rumors over truth? That’s pathetic.”

Elysia's words were directed at Emma but also at Scott and Bella, who were equally guilty of only listening to Emma.

Scott’s expression darkened. He was shrewd and knew a good lie from a bad one.

Though angry, he couldn’t explode. Yelling would admit his own gullibility.

He swallowed his anger and asked Elysia, “If this isn’t true, then what is?”

Elysia chuckled. She knew he'd ask, concerned about his reputation. “I wanted to be in Class 6; it had nothing to do with the test.”

“How can you prove that?” Scott frowned.

“You can call Levi,” Elysia said calmly.

The mention of Levi reminded Scott of their last interaction. Levi might say something harsh. He quickly dropped the idea.

Emma remembered the incident too. If Scott called Levi, he’d get no answers, and Levi might side with Elysia. She suspected a secret agreement between them.

Then she had an idea. “Dad, the monthly exam results come out tomorrow. We’ll know if Elysia’s lying by looking at her scores.”

Scott agreed, thinking it was a great idea.

Emma was overjoyed. She thought, This time, Elysia will fall into my trap. I don’t believe a dropout like her can get good grades.

Chapter 35 (continued)

She looked at Elysia and asked, “Elysia, what do you think of this plan?”

Elysia thought, “Whatever makes you happy!” As long as Emma didn't regret her decision, she'd play along.

Emma, seeing Elysia’s lack of objection, was ecstatic. She couldn’t wait for Elysia to be exposed.

Once the matter was settled, Scott returned to his study. Bella and Emma, each with their own plans, went to their rooms.

Only Logan and Elysia remained in the living room. The air grew quiet.

“Elysia, I’m going back to Shecrity tomorrow,” Logan said heavily.

“Really? So suddenly?” Elysia asked, surprised.

“Yes, I’ve been away a while. It’s time to go,” Logan sighed. “Once I’m gone, there’ll be no one to protect you.”

The final "(+23)" and time stamps are extraneous and removed as they appear to be editorial notes. The "AD" at the end is also removed as it's likely an artifact from the original source.