Chapter 47: The Complete Collapse of Character
“Felicity!” Ruth sternly warned Felicity. “You dare to make a scene! You think the trouble isn’t big enough already?”
However, Felicity seemed unfazed. Her gaze remained fixated on Janessa as if she wished she could tear her apart right then and there.
Upon seeing the situation, Ruth was afraid that Felicity would stir up more trouble. Thus, she instructed a few classmates nearby: “Class representative, you guys, please take Felicity outside and comfort her.”
A few classmates immediately stepped forward, swiftly escorting Felicity out. As she was leaving, Felicity suddenly let out a harsh yell, “Janessa, scheming woman! You’ll definitely get your comeuppance!”
In the classroom, there was inevitably another wave of sighs. The classmates were all huddled together, whispering and casting judgments about Janessa.
“I can’t believe I used to idolize Janessa like a goddess, only to find out how venomous she is inside. It’s true. One cannot judge a book by its cover.”
“Exactly! Despite her scholarly appearance, she’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing!”
“Let’s not hang out with her in the future. Who knows? We might be the next ones to get deceived.”
Janessa’s eyes were tinged with red in anger when she heard those words. Besides, her heart was filled with intense resentment. Just like that, the image Janessa had maintained for so long was unexpectedly ruined. All of this is because of that damned Madelyn. If not for her, I wouldn’t have ended up like this. Why? Why is fate so unjust? Madelyn should be the unfortunate one, yet why did I end up being the unlucky one?
Janessa was bowing her head, and no one knew that her heart was already completely twisted inside. At that moment, Ruth saw Janessa and noticed her face was all swollen. Some skin was even torn by sharp fingernails, oozing traces of blood.
“Janessa, you shouldn’t just stand here,” Ruth instructed. “You should hurry to the infirmary to get bandaged up.”
“All right.” Janessa seemed like a damsel in distress.
Subsequently, Ruth began to disperse the crowd. “Let this serve as a lesson to all of us in the future, to never commit such a self-destructive mistake that harms others as well. All right. Let’s end this matter here and now. Everyone can disperse.”
Subsequently, the crowd gradually dispersed, and everyone returned to their respective seats. Janessa had no choice but to leave. Before leaving, she glanced back at Madelyn, her voice filled with reluctance as she said, “Madelyn…”
Madelyn cast her a cold glance, choosing to ignore her. A flash of malice darted through Janessa’s eyes. F*ck you, Madelyn. Who do you think you are? However, this flash of malice vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. Although resentment brewed in her heart, Janessa didn’t dare to act out. After all, she was known to be a pure and goody-two-shoes top student. She knew that if her public persona were to crumble, no one would believe in her anymore.
Hence, Janessa put on a pitiful act once again. “Madelyn, wait for me, okay? I need to go to the infirmary first. I’ll explain everything to you tonight.”
Madelyn still ignored her. What’s the point of explaining? It just leads to more lies and deceit.
Chapter 47: The Complete Collapse of Character
After Janessa left, it was only then that Madelyn swung her hands in discomfort. She wasn’t particularly strong to begin with. The few slaps she had given Janessa earlier had practically drained all her strength. At that moment, her hands had gone numb. That being said, after being tormented by Janessa for so long, this time, she finally got her revenge. The matter of the thesis, having taken such a dramatic turn, left the class in a state of unrest for quite some time. Students from all around were engaged in endless chatter, with the majority of them talking ill about Janessa. Madelyn was convinced that after this instance, everyone’s perception of Janessa would change.
Meanwhile, Janessa was in a foul mood, so instead of going to the infirmary, she went straight home. As soon as she entered the room, she laid eyes on the woman she detested the most, Scarlet Anderson. Scarlet was the epitome of a socialite. At that moment, she was comfortably lounged on the living room couch, splitting her attention between watching television and snacking on nuts. She was thoroughly content.
Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, she turned her head and saw Janessa in a state of disarray, which she couldn’t help but mock and ridicule. “Oh? Why have you come back looking like this?”
Janessa remained silent.
“Could it be that you did something shameful out there and got yourself beaten up?”
After Scarlet asked that question, she scoffed disdainfully and added, “Well, it figures. After all, you’re a child born out of wedlock. You have your mom’s attitude. What good can possibly come from that?”
A child born out of wedlock? Attitude? These words pierced into Janessa’s heart like a knife. What she felt most helpless and resentful about was the fact that she was nothing more than the illegitimate daughter of the Sherritt family. However, Janessa didn’t dare to talk back. After all, Scarlet was the legal wife of the Sherritt family. As long as Scarlet was still staying at the Sherritt residence, Janessa couldn’t hold her head high.
And so, Janessa had no choice but to gently touch the injury on her face, responding in a soft voice, “No. Someone bullied me.”
“Bullied!” Upon hearing this, Scarlet let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Quit playing the victim here! It’s a wonder if you’re not the one bullying others! Besides, don’t you usually portray yourself as a talented woman with excellent grades? Who would dare to bully you? I find that hard to believe.”
Scarlet’s tone was filled with disdain.
“I don’t do that,” Janessa murmured, her head bowed low.
Unexpectedly, upon seeing her like this, Scarlet became inexplicably angry. Grabbing a handful of nuts from the table, she threw them at Janessa. “Shut up! With that gloomy face of yours, you’re asking for a beating! Get out of my sight, now! You’re nothing but an eyesore!”
Janessa still obediently nodded, saying, “Okay.”
After putting on a brave face and returning to her room, it was only then that Janessa finally let her facade fall. At that moment, she seemed to lose all control, like a person gone mad. She grabbed whatever was on the table, hurling each item onto the floor with fierce intensity. Why! Just why! Why have things turned out this way? Everyone is bullying me! I don’t get it! I wanted to ruin Madelyn’s reputation and let her fall from grace, but somehow, the tables have turned. Instead, I’m being scorned, and my image has shattered.
With that in mind, Janessa couldn’t help but feel even more resentful.
Chapter 47: The Complete Collapse of Character
Janessa was determined to make life difficult for Madelyn. She would also do the same to Scarlet, that unscrupulous woman. Just wait and see. Everything I want, everything that belongs to her, I’ll claim it all by any means necessary!
With that thought, Janessa became significantly calmer. After that, she changed her clothes and tended to her wounds. Following that, she called Christopher. The call connected, and she asked straight away, “Christopher, could you do me a favor!”
Christopher was puzzled. “What is it?”
“In the evening, could you do me a favor and arrange a meeting with Madelyn for me?”
After the call was disconnected, a twitch played at the corner of Janessa’s mouth, revealing a sinister smile. Given the current circumstances, she couldn’t afford to fall out with Madelyn just yet. Therefore, she had to first arrange a meeting with Madelyn, feigning an apology, expressing remorse, and seeking Madelyn’s forgiveness. However, if the invitation came from her, Madelyn, in her fit of anger, would surely refuse. Hence, it seemed best to let Christopher handle this matter.