“Zayden, I’m telling the truth! It really was her!”
From behind them, Scarlett chimed in. “Sarah, I remember you asked Zayden for the key earlier, didn’t you? We were already done moving equipment, so why did you need it?”
“I…”
Sarah was panicking.
Why was everyone turning on her?
She had taken Elena downstairs with her, and once Elena stepped back, she’d slammed the door shut and jammed the key in the lock, so Sarah couldn’t get out.
Now they were twisting the story on her?
Sarah turned to Zayden, desperate for a lifeline-for just one person to believe her.
But Zayden stayed silent.
“Sarah, you asked me for the key. I’d already told you we’d finished moving everything. You said you wanted to go pick a mat. I didn’t think much of it, so I gave it to you.”
His voice was unreadable.
“Forget how the key ended up in Elena’s hands. Just tell me-why would you, of all people, volunteer to move equipment? That’s never happened before.”
Sarah opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
She couldn’t possibly say she had planned to lock Elena up instead.
“Sarah, I know you didn’t want to take the test. So you hid in the equipment room and came up with a story about being locked in. But blaming me-your own sister-do you know what kind of punishment I’d face if the school believed you? I used to think you were kind. I never expected you to be this vicious.”
“You-” Sarah charged at Elena, furious and ready to slap her. But this time, Zayden stepped in and stopped her.
“Sarah, that’s enough!”
“Zayden! She’s faking it! It was really her!”
“Then give me one good reason to believe you.”
Zayden’s words instantly shut Sarah down.
She had nothing. No proof. No defense.
When he saw Sarah couldn’t defend herself, Zayden fell silent too. He looked at her and said, “The PE teacher already said your score for this test is void. Maybe next time you’ll think before pulling a stunt like this.”
“Zayden!” Sarah’s face turned pale.
She had always found excuses to skip PE.
Everyone was used to it by now.
So this time, they just assumed she’d made up another lie to avoid taking the test.
Everyone from Class Six and Class One was side-eyeing her hard.
Sarah’s face twisted in embarrassment.
She didn’t just lose her test score-her reputation was also in ruins.
Elena remained indifferent.
She brought this on herself. That’s what happens when you cross the line.If Sarah wanted to mess with me, she should’ve expected me to fight back.
On the way back to class, Nolan suddenly grabbed Elena’s arm.
The hallway was empty.
He pulled her straight into an unused classroom on the first floor.
The room was dead silent.
Nolan pushed her against the wall.
Seeing his cold, emotionless face, Elena immediately tensed. “Nolan, what are you doing?”
“I just wanted to see what a liar looks like.” He pressed his hand lightly under her chin.
Elena’s features were delicate-subtly beautiful. But her eyes… deep, dark, and full of secrets. There was something dangerous about them. The kind of eyes that made you look twice… and then again.
“I’m not a liar.” Elena stared at him, her voice firm.
“You were the one who locked the door. I know it.”
The first time he met Elena, she’d been quiet and shy.
No one liked her much back then. She was too timid, and her low self-esteem kept her isolated at school.
But the second time he saw her, everything had changed.
She carried herself like everything was fine, but her eyes gave her away. They were too sharp for someone her age. Beneath that calm exterior, you could feel the weight she was carrying. Like she was seconds from cracking.
“That was the most flawless lie I’ve ever heard.” Nolan let go of her, his face returning to its usual cold indifference. “I don’t care what you’re up to. Just don’t drag Class Six into it. Everything else is your business.” With that, he turned and left the classroom.
Elena let out a sigh of relief. He’s sharp. Not the type to be fooled easily.
Still, at least Nolan didn’t plan to meddle.
She quickly followed him out of the room.
Nolan was already heading upstairs.
Elena had barely taken a few steps when Zayden’s voice rang out behind her.
“Stop right there.”
She froze.
When she turned around, Zayden was standing behind her, eyes sharp as he asked, “What were you and Nolan doing just now?”
He had seen Nolan pull her into that empty classroom.
And he had no idea what kind of shameless things they might’ve done in there.
Faced with Zayden’s sharp question, Elena instantly figured out what was running through his head.
Some things never changed-Zayden had always been controlling.
If he decided something-or someone-was his, then that was it. No one else was allowed near it.
But Elena never saw herself as his to claim.
“What we were doing just now isn’t really any of your business, is it?”
“Elena, don’t forget-we’re still engaged. You’re my fiancée.” Zayden’s tone turned ice cold. “What exactly were you doing with Nolan?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation.” Elena turned and walked away.
Zayden immediately stepped forward and grabbed her arm. “Elena!”
“Zayden!” Sarah’s voice called from nearby, her face pale.
The moment he saw Sarah, Zayden let go of Elena’s arm without thinking.
Elena glanced at Sarah, then at Zayden, her expression cool as she said, “Why don’t you deal with Sarah first?” And with that, she turned and headed upstairs.
Zayden’s expression shifted as he looked back at Sarah. “Didn’t I tell you to go upstairs first? Why are you following me?”
“Zayden, I just wanted to explain…”
“There’s nothing to explain,” he said flatly. “Your test score is your own responsibility. If you didn’t want to take the test, no one was forcing you.”
“That’s not it! I was telling the truth in the equipment room!” Sarah clutched his hand, sounding hurt. “Zayden, you know I’ve never been good at lying. I just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea… I was scared you’d shut me out.”
Zayden fell silent, watching her as tears welled in her eyes. “Sarah, did you even think about what it would do to Elena when you accused her? Or…” He narrowed his eyes. “Did you borrow the key because you had some other plan?”
Zayden looked at Sarah-and there was something different in his eyes this time.
Sarah felt a chill run through her. Her heart skipped a beat. Did he just see right through me?
“Just because I stay quiet doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention,” he said quietly.
Elena had missed several unit tests before. Sometimes she was locked in the bathroom. Other times, she was trapped in a classroom on the seventh floor.
Once, she was even locked inside the library.
And every single time, she didn’t offer a single excuse or explanation.
Back then, he hadn’t thought much of it. If Elena didn’t care enough to make a fuss, he didn’t feel the need to get involved either.
But now? Sarah was the one who got locked in-and suddenly she wanted to blame Elena.
“Class is starting soon. Don’t waste your time out here.” Without another word, Zayden turned and walked upstairs, not even glancing back at Sarah.
She felt like her whole body went limp.
She’d seen it-Zayden’s disappointment was written all over his face.
Elena… it’s all because of Elena. Biting her lip, Sarah rushed upstairs.
Just as Elena reached the doorway to Class Six, Sarah’s voice rang out behind her. “Elena! Why did you do that to me?”
There was no one else in the hallway-just the two of them.
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