Chapter 62

“It’s not mine. I was just helping–” Amber was about to blurt out Mia’s name, but then she remembered what Mia had said. She’d promised to keep it secret. She couldn’t betray her friend.

One of the girls sneered, “So it wasn’t you who wrote it? Amber, we thought you were just academically challenged, but it turns out you’re morally bankrupt. Adrian would never like someone like you, so just give up already.”

Amber stammered helplessly. Just then, Adrian finished packing his books and stood up.

“Sorry, Amber. At this crucial time, we should be focusing on our studies. I can’t accept this letter. Please return it to its owner,” Adrian said, his tone polite but distant.

Amber watched Adrian walk away, clutching the envelope as she prepared to leave the classroom herself.

‘I really messed things up. I’m so sorry, Mia,’ Amber thought, guilt weighing heavily on her heart.

“Hey, Amber. Since you claim you didn’t write this letter, why not open it up and prove your innocence to us?” a girl suggested.

Amber ignored them and snarled, “Get the hell out of my way.”

“Amber, how shameless can you be? Writing a love letter to Adrian? Seriously, know your place. Someone like you isn’t even worthy. Adrian and Claire are a perfect match. You don’t stand a chance.”

“That’s right. A loser like you dreaming of being with the top student? Did your parents teach you nothing?”

“Amber, if I were you, I’d have dropped out already. At least I have some dignity, unlike you, still showing your face around here.”

“Shut up. I didn’t write this letter. I’m just the messenger,” Amber snapped. She clutched the letter so tightly her knuckles turned pale, her eyes blazing with fury.

“Then who are you delivering this for?”

“Name the person and we’ll let you go. Did a bottom-feeder from Class 10 really think you could just waltz into Class 1?”

Amber clenched her fists, her eyes flashing with a fierce intensity, ready to pounce.

“What do you want from me?” Amber snapped. “If you don’t get out of my way right now, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

“Amber, we won’t budge. What can you possibly do to us? This is Class 1 territory. You barged in here. Don’t make us report you to the teacher and see what she’ll do to you.”

“I heard she’s filthy. We should all keep our distance. Who knows what kind of diseases she might spread?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

“What’s going on here?” A gentle voice rang out. A long-haired girl walked in, arms full of books. When she saw Amber, a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.

Claire Quinn set her stack of books down with practiced grace, her tone polite but unmistakably cold. “What’s going on here? Amber, you’re not from Class 1. What are you doing in our classroom? Leave immediately.”

“Claire, you can’t just let her go so easily. Do you even know what she just did? She actually wrote a love letter to Adrian.”

“I’ve never seen anyone so shameless. Does she actually think she’s in Adrian’s league? Please, someone like her can barely write her name, and she dares to write a love letter?”

“And the worst part? She keeps denying it. If you didn’t write it, Amber, then who did?”

Claire sighed in exasperation, “Amber, with just a few months left before the SATs, at such a critical moment, shouldn’t we all be focusing on our studies?

“As the lowest-ranked student in the whole school, who even turns in blank test papers, are you trying to drag Adrian down with you with this kind of behavior?”

“I didn’t. I told you, this love letter isn’t mine,” Amber shouted desperately.

Claire was utterly disappointed in Amber, seeing that she was still trying to argue her way out of it. She said coldly, “Still lying through your teeth, Amber?

“Fine, open that letter right now and show us the signature on the envelope. If it really isn’t yours, I’ll personally apologize and make sure you walk out of Class 1 unharmed.”

Amber clutched the envelope tightly in her hands. ‘I can’t let them find out,’ she thought desperately.

“This is my business, none of yours. Get lost,” Amber snapped, turning on her heel to leave.

Suddenly, a pair of hands shot out from nowhere, snatching the love letter from Amber’s grasp, tearing it open immediately.

“Give it back to me, you bunch of jerks,” Amber shouted, burning with rage. She lunged forward to snatch it back, but was blocked by the girls in front of her.

“Everyone, look. She still won’t admit it. Amber, see? It’s got Adrian’s name on it. Let me read it out loud for you all,” a girl said.

She cleared her throat and began to read in a mocking tone, “Dear Adrian, I really like you. I fell in love with you at first sight.

“I know we face new obstacles that seem insurmountable. Oh, wait? She can’t even spell ‘obstacles’ right. And for ‘insurmountable’, she wrote it wrong too. What a masterpiece. Come check this out, everyone.”

Amber had never endured such humiliation before. Gnashing her teeth in fury, she lunged at the ringleader, who was laughing mockingly, and swung a heavy punch straight at her face.

“Oh my god. She’s attacking. Get the teacher.”

“Amber, are you out of your mind? How dare you hit her? You’ve gone too far.”

“I’ll beat you bitches to death,” Amber snarled, showing no mercy as she yanked the girl violently.

Claire’s face hardened in disbelief at how things had escalated.

In a cold, commanding voice, she snapped, “Stop this instant, Amber. You’re completely out of line. Do you even realize where you are? The teacher will be here any minute.”

Amber had finally had enough. Suddenly, she swung her arm and slapped Claire hard across the face.

‘If she hadn’t run her mouth, none of this would’ve happened,’ Amber fumed inwardly. ‘All I wanted was to help Mia deliver a letter. They pushed me too far.’

Claire was left dazed by the slap, a vivid red handprint blooming on her cheek. The burning pain made her completely lose control.

Claire no longer cared about her image or dignity. Her mind was consumed by a single, raging fire of anger.

“Amber, you damn bitch. How dare you hit me? I’ll beat you to death,” Claire screamed. With a shriek of fury, she lunged at Amber, and the two became a tangle of scratching nails and pulling hair.

Amber shoved Claire aside. She tumbled between the desks and got stuck, unable to get out.

Amber specifically targeted the girls who had mocked her, landing blows squarely on each of them. By the time a classmate ran to get the teacher, every one of those girls bore visible marks on their faces.

Some of the girls couldn’t take the pain and burst into tears.

Amber’s face was contorted with fury, her teeth clenched like a cornered wildcat ready to strike.

Mia rushed over, panic in her voice. “Amber, are you hurt? Oh god, your face? It’s injured. Are you alright?”

Mia shot Amber a worried look, silently willing her to snatch back the envelope. But before she could act, the Class 1 homeroom teacher, Wendy, loomed over them, her voice sharp with authority. “Hand over that envelope now.”