The next day, the weather was clear. Sunlight streamed into the room, lighting up the entire space. Madelyn woke up in a daze, her eyes slightly hurting. Shortly after, a wave of headache washed over her. What happened? Why does my head hurt so much?

At that moment, Lydia happened to push open the door. Seeing that Madelyn was awake, she felt a touch of joy.

“Mrs. Lockhart, you’re finally awake.”

Madelyn looked somewhat clueless. “What’s happened to me?”

Lydia stepped forward, reaching out to feel Madelyn’s forehead. Then, she exhaled in relief. “It’s good that the fever has subsided.”

“I have a fever?” Madelyn was completely oblivious to it.

Lydia nodded and said, “Last night, you had a slight fever. Mr. Lockhart got up in the middle of the night to find some medicine and took care of you all night.”

“Really?”

Upon hearing these words, Madelyn suddenly felt a surge of joy.

Last night, she was in a daze, barely recalling that Sebastian seemed to have come by before she fell asleep. Everything that happened afterward drew a blank from her.

“Of course. I’ve worked for Mr. Lockhart for many years, yet I’ve never seen him so concerned about anyone before. But last night, it was clear that he was genuinely worried about you.”

Lydia spoke truthfully.

Upon hearing these words, Madelyn was filled with immense joy.

No matter how aloof Sebastian might seem on the surface, deep down, he still cares a great deal about me.

Following that, Lydia asked with concern, “Mrs. Lockhart, even though your fever has subsided, you still look a little pale. Do you feel unwell?”

“It’s all good. I’m fine.” Madelyn was in high spirits, gleefully shaking her head.

Lydia then asked, “What would you like to eat? I’ll go downstairs and make it for you.”

However, Madelyn was all smiles as she shook her head. “I’m not picky about food. Where’s Sebastian?”

“Oh, Mr. Lockhart left for the office early this morning.”

“He did?” Madelyn’s tone held a hint of disappointment.

Surprisingly, as soon as she entered the school, she heard gossip everywhere.

Moreover, it seemed like they were talking about something related to Jillian.

“Have you heard? The rumors about Jillian being a mistress a while ago are actually true!”

“Didn’t they mention it on the forum? What good can come out of someone from that kind of family?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, how embarrassing!”

“If my family were in such a situation, I would have been too embarrassed to come to school.”

Upon hearing this, Madelyn’s heart tightened. She quickly pulled out her smartphone and checked the online forums.

Sure enough, the scandal of Jillian being a mistress from a while ago had resurfaced.

Moreover, the leaker had intensified their efforts this time.

Not only was Jillian called a slut, but it was also revealed that her father was once a thief, her mother was a scavenger, and her younger brother was nothing more than a petty thug.

Within a short period of time, rumors once again filled the campus forum.

Many people brought up Jillian’s scandal of being a mistress again and piled on the mockery and insults:

Just as expected, the type of family truly shapes the kind of daughter they raise!

What a joke. Her mother doesn’t need to go far to scavenge for trash when she has one at home in the form of Jillian.

Reading them, Madelyn found it somewhat unbelievable.

In her previous life, she never really understood what was going on in Jillian’s family.

Initially, she assumed that Jillian came from an ordinary family. However, it turned out that the latter’s family background was far more fraught with hardships than expected.

With this thought in mind, Madelyn quickened her pace toward the classroom.

At that moment, Jillian was sitting in her seat with her head bowed down, not uttering a single word.

The classmates around her were giving her peculiar looks.

The disdain, contempt, indifference, and mockery in their gazes made it seem like Jillian was an animal.

Jillian hung her head low, her eyes reflecting an unbearable pain, but even more so, they were filled with resentment and humiliation.

She couldn’t comprehend what she had done wrong. Why is someone targeting me?

At that moment, a tanned young man abruptly stood up, scornfully asking, “Jillian, how much for a night with you?”

greater than what your mother makes from collecting waste, right?”

It was clear that the boy had deliberately humiliated her, as the entire class burst into laughter again right after he finished speaking.

As soon as Madelyn entered the classroom, she heard the words and instantly furrowed her brows.

After glancing at the boy who had just humiliated Jillian, she couldn’t help but snigger. Yet another idiotic suitor of Janessa!

In the past, Janessa had complained about how the boy was always a nuisance.

It seemed that once again, he was being used as a pawn by her.

“Say something, Jillian. Are you having trouble hearing?”

Seeing that Jillian remained silent, the boy intensified his insults.

“Everyone in school knows that your father’s a crook, your mother is a waste collector, and your little brother’s a good–for–nothing punk. As for you? Ha, as for you, you’re just a slut! Who are you trying to fool by pretending to be virtuous?”

This is just too much!

Hearing these words, Madelyn was outraged.

At that moment, Jillian’s face had already turned pale, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Enough… Just enough! I can’t bear to hear another insult!

With that thought, Jillian suddenly stood up and bolted out of the classroom.

“Jillian…” Madelyn was taken aback, attempting to hold onto Jillian but failed to do so.

Jillian was like a stubborn animal, charging out without a second thought.

That afternoon, Jillian never showed up again, and no one knew where she had gone.

The campus forum was still rife with criticism of Jillian.

All her classmates became extremely judgmental, disparaging her vehemently.

Some individuals even initiated posts like: Jillian, get out of the campus!

Within the forum posts, there was unanimous support. Everyone believed that Jillian didn’t deserve to be in the school.

Reading the comments, Madelyn found them utterly ridiculous.

Everyone in school thought that they were all so righteous. But in reality, their opinion was easily swayed, depending on where the wind blew.

In the end, she came over pretending to look concerned. “Madelyn, you should avoid getting too close to Jillian in the future. I’m afraid she might be a bad influence on you.”

“Is that so?”

Madelyn looked at Janessa, sniggering to herself.

Janessa, I can’t believe how ruthless you are. You seem determined to drive everyone away from me.

Madelyn naturally didn’t forget how, in her past life, Janessa had isolated her time and again, using this very method.

Until the time of her death, Madelyn only had a meager few genuine friends by her side.

She couldn’t help but wonder, just how wicked of a woman Janessa had painted her behind the scenes.

Back then, everyone who saw her reacted as if she was toxic, going out of their way to avoid her.