The next morning, I made sure to leave early for school.
As soon as I entered the campus, people rushed to fawn over me, an experience I had never had in my past life.
They showered me with praise, offering compliments in abundance.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd asked, "Lana, is it true that your brother is really going to marry Charlotte?"
Someone immediately chimed in, "Yeah, I heard your brother isn't into women, but he brought Charlotte home—does that count as meeting the parents?"
"Charlotte is already acting like she's the future wife of him, showing off all the time."
"Yes, yes," others added.
Hearing this, I smiled. "I'm not sure about my brother's matters, but my mom... doesn't seem to like Charlotte very much."
"Why's that?"
Immediately, someone said, "Didn't you hear? Yesterday…"
There's no such thing as a secret that won't eventually come to light.
In an instant, the rumors about Charlotte and Zane messing around, Ethan beating people up, and the whole mess spread throughout the school.
Everyone was shocked, but mostly, they expressed their disgust.
I purposely added, "I don't really like Charlotte either. I'm afraid she'll lead my brother astray."
The others exchanged knowing glances, silently understanding.
But the rumors about Charlotte only got worse.
When Charlotte came to school and heard these things, she stormed over to find me.
At that time, I was eating lunch in the cafeteria with a few of my followers by my side.
With a loud "bang," Charlotte slapped her hand on the table, causing one of my fries to fall off my plate.
Before she could say anything, my followers immediately stepped in front of me, blocking her.
"What do you want, Charlotte?"
Charlotte sneered, "Lana, do you think hiding behind others will save you? Just because you're the eldest daughter of the Spencer family doesn't mean no one knows what you've been doing!"
With righteous anger, she continued, "William invited me to the Spencer family, and you were jealous. You pretended to trip and upset him, making me get kicked out of the Spencer family. I let it slide because I knew you weren't feeling well after coming back from abroad. But you... What did you do the day before yesterday? You deliberately slandered me and Zane, provoking Ethan to fight with him, stirring up trouble between us! Lana, do you think this will make you take my place? Dream on!"
Charlotte's voice was loud, and soon, all eyes in the cafeteria were on us.
I stepped out from behind my follower, looking fragile and delicate.
"If this will make Charlotte feel better, I'll admit it."
I lowered my head, looking especially aggrieved.
One of my followers immediately spoke up: "Charlotte, stop talking nonsense. The Spencer family is the top of the wealth pyramid—jealous of you? Look at yourself in the mirror! If Lana wanted to, with just a snap of her fingers, Zane, Niko, or any of them, would rush to her side."
"Lana is gentle, doesn't use her power to bully others, yet you think you're special? Do you really think you're something? The Spencer family could crush the Cooper family with a finger."
At once, several voices in the crowd began denouncing Charlotte.
"We thought that forming some five-person group would make you invincible, huh? Now it's all the way to someone's bed."
"Ethan, too—after years of licking boots, he still got nothing, and now he's backstabbed by his so-called 'brother'. Deserved."
Charlotte looked around, stunned and angry. "Shut up! Everyone shut up!"
That's how people are.
Before, Charlotte and her gang ruled the school. No one dared speak against her, and everyone tried to please her.
But now that I was here, with the Spencer family backing me up, all I had to do was show a hint of dissatisfaction with Charlotte, and people would jump in to deal with her and flatter me.
A cold voice rang out: "Charlotte, what else can you do besides bullying those weaker than you? Everyone knows what happened to Veronica."
Hearing that name again, waves stirred inside me.
"Who's Veronica?" I asked deliberately.
"Lana, shut up!"
Charlotte seemed extremely worried I would find out. She glared and stormed toward me, trying to stop me.
"What are you doing?" I shrieked, retreating quickly, my face turning pale.
One of my followers stepped up immediately to shield me, blocking Charlotte.
For a moment, they began to tussle—pulling hair, scratching faces, a chaotic mess.
"Stop!"
A cold shout rang out.
The crowd parted instinctively, and Niko and Liam walked over side by side.
As soon as Charlotte saw them, she rushed over with tears, crying out.
I stood there, at a loss, watching Liam. When our eyes met, we exchanged gazes for a few seconds before I slowly lowered my head.
As expected, Liam walked over.
He raised his hand to tuck my disheveled hair behind my ear, gently asking, "Are you alright?"
I shook my head. "I'm fine."
Niko called to him, "Liam, take Charlotte to the hospital."
Liam ruffled my hair and said, "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
I nodded obediently.
Once Niko and Liam arrived, the crowd quickly dispersed.
After taking Charlotte away, only Niko and I remained.
He stood where he was, eyeing me from head to toe.
"I don't remember doing anything wrong to you."
I stopped pretending to be naive and smiled. "I guess you could say you've offended me, but you just don't know about it."
"Then please enlighten me, Lana. It's better to have one more friend than one more enemy."
I simply smiled and said nothing.
Niko's expression gradually darkened. "Lana, are you determined to oppose us?"
"I'm just doing what's right," I answered calmly.
