Chapter 271

Alarieka checked the time. Still afternoon—two hours until sunset. Paloma always responded instantly. This silence likely meant she was overwhelmed.

Even Alarieka’s own Instagram feed showed classmates and teachers posting veiled accusations. Some professors wrote: “Can’t believe I taught such a student.”

Meanwhile, internet sleuths had already doxxed Alarieka’s high school. The institution’s official accounts got bombarded with abusive comments:

“Your school produced quite the model student. Such disgrace.”

“Deal with Alarieka Huston, or I’ll speak up.”

“Would the school still cover for Alarieka? No one would dare attend that kind of school.”

Alarieka pondered this, her gaze growing resolute as she finally made up her mind.

When Ms. Wyatt called, Alarieka had already drafted a text on her phone but hadn’t sent it.

Seeing the caller was Ms. Wyatt, Alarieka pursed her lips and answered, “Ms. Wyatt.”

“Alarieka, is there something you wanted to talk about?”

Ms. Wyatt’s voice held deep exhaustion, a tone Alarieka had never heard before, and Alarieka’s heart sank.

She asked softly, getting straight to the point, “Ms. Wyatt, has the organizer been giving you a hard time?”

Ms. Wyatt was quiet for a moment, then said after a pause, “I’m fine, don’t worry about me. Just focus on your studies.”

Alarieka looked out the window. The big screen that once showed ads for the Mcintosh Piano Competition was now displaying other commercials.

She said quietly, “Ms. Wyatt, I don’t want to drag you into this.”

She hadn’t thought this through properly. She just wanted Lindsey Weaver’s name to be recognized again and expose Rose’s plagiarism to the world. She didn’t mean to involve anyone else; she planned to handle it alone.

So she hadn’t told anyone about this, not even Tamika or Jaylene.

She truly didn’t want to implicate anyone else.

Alarieka said, “This whole thing started because of me. It has nothing to do with you or Seaside Resort. With all this attention, someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes. Who’s backing Rose? I’m sure you know without me saying.”

Who was behind Rose? It was common knowledge.

Kieran.

He was Rose’s strongest and most unshakeable support.

Ms. Wyatt sighed, “I know you’re a good kid, but this is too much for a high school student to handle. The best way is to leave it to us, to the organizer.”

Alarieka opened her mouth, but Ms. Wyatt cut her off immediately,

“Don’t say any more. Just rest, heal, and study. Yes, this is getting a lot of attention, but none of us are public figures. It’ll blow over in a few days. At most, I’ll get some criticism, but the organizers won’t do anything to me.”

Alarieka didn’t respond.

Ms. Wyatt’s voice dropped sharply, calling her by her full name, “Alarieka Huston, don’t even think about sneaking around doing something. I’m watching you.”

Alarieka’s gaze hardened, then she said softly, “I wasn’t planning anything.”

Ms. Wyatt said, “No? I’ve always known you’re as stubborn as a mule, Cutie Pie. You keep everything bottled up inside, make decisions on your own without listening to anyone. Like this time, pulling off something like that quietly at the finals. You look so sweet and innocent, but your actions are always earth-shattering. Truly, silent until the roar.”

Alarieka felt uncharacteristically guilty at her words, her voice dropping even lower, “I-”

“And I’m asking you,” Ms. Wyatt’s voice stern, as if scolding noisy spectators at a match, “why did you call me this time? Why ask if I’m being harassed?”

Alarieka shut her mouth completely.

Paloma Wyatt said, “You’re definitely secretly planning something big again, aren’t you? It must be something earth-shattering, otherwise why can’t you answer when I ask?”

Chapter 272