Chapter 64

Jocelyn patted Amber’s shoulder and said firmly, “Amber, tell them we’re not afraid of this nonsense. Expulsion? We don’t give a damn. We’ll never take this humiliation.”

Just as Amber was about to speak, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching. As if on cue, she spun around. It was Sienna.

Jocelyn fixed Sienna with a look of undisguised loathing. ‘What’s she doing here?’ she wondered.

Sienna strode into the office, her formidable presence instantly silencing the room. Instinctively, everyone held their breath, awed by her commanding aura.

Susan hesitated and asked, “And you are?”

“My apologies for being late. I’m Sienna Hart, Amber’s eldest sister. You must be her homeroom teacher. My father couldn’t make it. Now, would you mind explaining what exactly is going on here?” said Sienna.

Though Susan had developed some authority as a longtime homeroom teacher, in front of Sienna, she was completely outmatched.

“Hello, I’m Susan,” she said nervously, swallowing hard.

“Susan, nice to meet you. Amber, come here,” Sienna ordered.

‘Why is Sienna here?’ Amber wondered, even as her legs carried her forward without conscious thought.

Jocelyn clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, seething with the urge to tear Sienna to pieces. If it weren’t for her, they would have made it out.

Jocelyn seethed inwardly, “That wretch. That damned wretch."

Wendy frowned in confusion. “If you’re her eldest sister, then who is she?” she asked, glancing at Jocelyn.

Sienna gave her a dismissive glance, the sheer contempt in her eyes cutting Jocelyn to the core. Jocelyn looked like nothing more than a pathetic clown putting on a show.

Sienna said flatly, “She’s nothing but an outsider.”

Susan sighed and said, “Since you’re her sister, fine. You decide how to handle this.”

Sienna gave a slight nod, her gaze landing on the love letter on the desk. She looked at Susan and asked calmly, “May I see that letter?”

Susan immediately handed it over. Sienna glanced at it and saw through it at once. “This wasn’t written by Amber. Susan, if you don’t believe me, you can compare the handwriting.”

As the homeroom teacher, Susan recognized the handwriting immediately. “Indeed, this wasn’t written by Amber,” Susan confirmed.

One of the classmates shouted, “If she didn’t write it herself, maybe she got someone else to do it for her.”

Sienna looked at Amber and demanded, “Amber, tell me honestly. Did you write this letter?”

Sienna’s words left Amber at a complete loss. Her eyes darted anxiously toward Mia, who stood by the door.

Mia gripped the doorframe tightly, a chill running down her spine and cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. Mia pleaded inwardly, ‘Amber, please don’t say a word.’

Amber remained silent, her head bowed the entire time.

“Fine, since you choose not to speak, so be it. The fight has little to do with this letter anyway,” Sienna said coolly, pulling out a USB drive. “On my way here, I obtained surveillance footage from your school’s monitoring room.

“Madams, perhaps you’d like to watch it and decide whether these students deserved to be beaten.”

As Lana walked in carrying a laptop, several of the girls instantly broke out in a cold sweat, clutching desperately at their parents‘ clothes. In a panic, they wailed that they were in unbearable pain and demanded to be taken to the hospital immediately.

Sienna looked at them calmly and said, “Since you’re in excruciating pain, go to the hospital first. The principal will personally handle your disciplinary actions. Later, police or court officers will come to your homes to serve summons.”

“What?” The mention of police and court left the parents utterly dumbfounded.

The surveillance footage captured the girls sneering and taunting Amber, physically blocking her path and refusing to let her leave.

At the sight of the surveillance footage, the parents, Wendy, and Susan were rendered speechless.

Sienna said coldly. “From what I know, Class One is supposed to have the best learning environment in your school. Yet it’s now become the latest hotspot for bullying incidents in this school.

“I can’t begin to imagine the sense of helplessness and complete breakdown my sister must have experienced in those ten minutes. And I’ve never heard of students being physically barred from leaving a classroom by their classmates.”

Wendy looked at the students she had once taken such pride in, now overwhelmed with shame. The girls, guilt–ridden, shrank back into their parents‘ arms, unable to meet her gaze.

Sienna looked at the parents and said calmly, “Amber was wrong to hit them. I will compensate your medical expenses tenfold. I’m not an unreasonable person. The court hearing will be scheduled after your SATs, out of consideration for your studies.”

“We-”

“Mom, Dad, we-”

At these words, every parent turned and delivered a stinging slap across their daughter’s face.

“How dare you bully her? Apologize right now.”

“Apologize to Amber this instant.”

“Miss Hart, these are just childish squabbles between kids. Let’s not take this to court. Can’t we just settle this privately?”

“Yes, we won’t ask you to pay for the medical bills. It’s all our kids‘ fault. Miss Hart, as fellow parents, we beg you to show some mercy in this matter.”

Sienna turned to Amber, handing her the final say. “What do you think, Amber?” she asked.

For the first time, Amber felt truly liberated by their apologies. A beam of light pierced through the dark fog in her heart, scattering it into nothing.

Jocelyn also meant well for Amber, but her approach was worlds apart from Sienna’s.

Jocelyn’s way of handling things left Amber feeling utterly suffocated. They would never care about the truth, let alone apologize to Amber.

Yet Sienna’s way cleared the air, making Amber feel weightless and free.

Jocelyn suddenly stepped forward and cut in sharply, “Weren’t you just insisting on expelling Amber? Well, now I demand all of them be expelled too. What do you say to that, Wendy?”

Jocelyn shot Wendy a taunting glare, her lips curling in contempt. The contempt and menace in Jocelyn’s eyes made Wendy go pale and fall silent.

“Miss Turner, this is a Hart family matter. Outsiders should know when to step aside,” said Lana.

Lana’s words instantly shattered Jocelyn’s smug display. Furious, Jocelyn shot Lana a venomous glare. Lana remained expressionless, completely unfazed by her glare.

Amber glanced at the girls bruised faces and tear–streaked eyes, then at the pleading looks in their parents‘ eyes. After a heavy pause, she finally spoke, her voice low but firm. “Apologize now.”

Jocelyn stared at Amber in disbelief, her voice rising with anger. “What? Amber, how can you just let these people off so easily? Did you forget how they treated you just now?

“Haven’t I taught you? Never forgive anyone. Since they dared to bully you today, they would dare to do it again tomorrow.”

Jocelyn seethed inwardly, ‘Since when did Amber turn so soft–hearted? She’s supposed to be hard–nosed, never letting anyone off the hook when she’s in the right.’

Jocelyn wouldn’t let Amber change. Not ever.

Sienna deliberately ignored Jocelyn, reaching out to gently pinch Amber’s cheek in a show of affection.

Jocelyn was completely ignored, trembling with barely contained rage.

Sienna said, “Alright, Susan, since Amber is your student, as her guardian, I require these students to write a 1,000–word letter of apology and deliver it publicly before the entire school faculty and student body. Surely that’s not too much to ask?”

Before Susan could respond, the parents clamored over each other. “Of course not. It’s absolutely reasonable. Even if you want them to write 2,000 words, we’ll make sure of it. It’s all our fault.”

“Absolutely, Miss Hart. Children must learn from their mistakes. Rest assured. I’ll personally supervise her writing that letter of apology when we get home.”

They were terrified that even a second’s delay would get them blamed.