Chapter 198

One sharp remark from Winifred instantly made Iris’s face darken, like magic. The principal and a few teachers felt so good watching it all unfold. They couldn’t help but feel totally vindicated.

From the moment Iris walked in, everyone instantly found her unbearable.

Iris marched up to Winifred, her face dark with anger. “Say that again, I dare you!”

‘Does she even know who I am?’ Iris thought, her eyes narrowing. How dare she talk to me like that?” she fumed inwardly.

“Does she really think the Hart family can just walk all over me?” Iris seethed.

“I don’t waste kind words on bitches twice,” Winifred sneered.

“You!” Iris’s rage exploded in an instant, her eyes wide with fury as she locked her gaze on Winifred’s face, unable to contain her anger.

“Those eyes are just like that woman’s. No wonder I can’t stand her,” Iris fumed. She was supposed to be dead ten years ago, yet she’s back. Tough bitch just won’t die. Nothing but a homewrecker, Iris seethed inwardly.

While Iris was fuming, Winifred stayed cool as ever, her face calm and collected. “What, think you’re all that now just because you’ve played quack doctor for a few days?” Winifred sneered. ‘Of course I know exactly who Iris was. Supposedly the youngest surgeon in the country, a medical genius?

“Bullshit! She’s killed more patients than I can count. If she’s a genius doctor, then I’m the president of the country!”

Iris narrowed her eyes, her gaze filled with deadly intent as she glared at Winifred.

“Winifred, do you realize there’s a price to pay for saying that? If I call the cops and sue you for slander, this won’t just be about plagiarism anymore,” Iris warned. With her status and influence, crushing Winifred would be effortless.

Winifred let out a cold, mocking laugh, barely holding back her irritation as she dropped her voice a few notches. To Iris, her words slithered out like a viper’s hiss, chilling and venomous.

“Oh! Did you forget already? Want me to jog your memory! I don’t know exactly how many people you’ve sent to their graves. Two or three? No, maybe four or five! Or was it seven or eight?” Winifred taunted, her tone icy.

After she finished, Winifred stepped back and lounged against the wall, looking completely at ease and utterly unconcerned.

Iris’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Winifred in disbelief. How could she possibly know about my secrets?” she thought. Impossible. She must be spouting nonsense, Iris tried to convince herself.

Iris tried to hide the panic in her eyes and forced herself to look calm. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Winifred.”

Winifred replied casually, “Whether you understand or not, that’s your problem. Knowing it–well, that’s just my specialty.”

Iris gritted her teeth, her fingers curling tight as she shot Winifred a glare. “Winifred, what exactly are you after?”

‘Does she really think she can threaten me with this made-up crap!’ Iris fumed inwardly. She must be delusional. Even if she somehow knows a little, so what? Like anyone’s actually going to believe her nonsense; Iris scoffed to herself.

“Kneel down and apologize,” Winifred said calmly, her gaze fixed on Sylvie.

Sylvie lowered her head in humiliation, eyes burning with resentment. She shot a pleading look at Iris, hoping desperately that her sister would save her.

Like hell am I apologizing to that woman, she thought stubbornly. Why would my sister ever let me do something so humiliating, Sylvie told herself, clinging to that hope. So what if I took a few drafts? It’s not even a big deal, Sylvie grumbled inwardly.

“It’s not like it’s such a huge crime. Winifred just did the rough outlines. I did all the real work after that. Why should she get to act like it’s all hers?" Sylvie fumed to herself.

Iris took a deep breath. Whether Winifred knew or not, either way, it spelled trouble for her.

“Kneel down and apologize,” Iris ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument the moment she spoke.

Sylvie froze for a moment, completely stunned. What did my sister just say?” she thought, her mind reeling. ‘She wants me to kneel down and apologize?’ Sylvie couldn’t believe her ears. Why should I, she fumed inwardly.

Winifred even deserve that? I’m the daughter of the Iris family!” Sylvie thought, her pride burning.

“I’m not doing it, Iris!” Sylvie yelled, her eyes red with anger.

Iris paid no attention to her protest. “Either drop out of school or get on your knees and apologize. You decide.”

Sylvie trembled all over, as if she’d just suffered a crushing blow. She looked completely defeated, with her hands clenched tight. Resentment and humiliation gnawed at her, and she felt even worse than death. But she couldn’t drop out.

Winifred stretched leisurely, her gaze lingering on Sylvie with a half-smile. “Class is about to start. I still need to get back and attend it.”

The implication was obvious. She wasn’t giving her much time.

With a heavy thud, Sylvie dropped to her knees, biting down so hard on her lower lip she nearly made it bleed.

“I’m sorry, Winifred. I shouldn’t have stolen your drafts. I’m sorry. Please, forgive me,” Sylvie choked out, her voice thick with shame.

Winifred walked over and looked down at her from above. “If you’d just behaved yourself from the start, none of this would’ve happened. Now you have to write a self-reflection. You really brought this on yourself. Oh, and let me make this clear, I’m not forgiving you."

With that, Winifred turned to leave, but Iris reached out to stop her. “We need to talk.”

Winifred brushed her hand away with obvious distaste. “No need, Dr. Iris. I’m the type who likes to mind my own business and expects others to do the same. As long as the Grant family knows how to act, everyone can stay happy.”

A flash of murderous intent flickered in Iris’s eyes. ‘She actually dares to threaten me?’ she thought, her gaze turning icy. Does she really think she can just act like nothing ever happened and get away with it? What a naive fantasy, Iris fumed inwardly.

‘I can’t keep Winifred around,’ Iris thought coldly, already plotting her next move.

“All you ever do is cry. Go ahead, cry me a river,” Iris snapped, shoving Sylvie aside in utter annoyance. She hadn’t even had a chance to announce her return in style, and now this scandal had already blown up in her face. Sylvie really knows how to embarrass me, Iris thought bitterly, her irritation reaching a boiling point.

The 25 serum still hadn’t shown up, so Josef had no choice but to go hunt down Leo himself. On the way, he bumped into Iris. The second Leo saw Josef coming his way, his face changed in a flash, like he’d just seen a ghost.