Chapter 41 The Truth Can’t Be Buried
She never imagined–Eliza had recorded everything.
“I helped you because I still thought of you as my sister.” Eliza said calmly. “I was afraid Mom and Dad would punish you, so I covered for you twice. And you promised me you’d start studying seriously. But all you ever wanted was an easy way out”
The moment the recordings played, Evelyn turned sharply to Naomi.
Naomi didn’t dare meet her mother’s gaze. She dropped her head in silence.
Dawn it! Eliza had actually recorded her!
Why hadn’t she seen that coming!
“Naomi would never cheat! She’s always been a good girl,” Evelyn snapped, glaring at Eliza “She must’ve picked up this bad habit from someone. Probably you! 1 can’t believe you’d stoop to secretly recording her–who knows if you didn’t fake this just to frame your sister!”
Even the homeroom teacher was stunned.
Recording something to protect yourself–wasn’t that a basic right?
And yet in Evelyn’s eyes, it was suddenly Eliza’s fault.
The teacher stepped forward. “Ma’am, using someone else to sit an exam is a serious offense. In extreme cases, it can lead to expulsion Please be rational. Eliza is your child too-”
“I don’t have a daughter who wants to sever ties with her family,” Evelyn interrupted coldly, casting a scornful glance at Eliza. “I regret giving birth to such a thankless brat. She can’t even protect her own sister! So what if she took a test or two in her place? What’s the big deal?”
She yanked Naomi’s arm. “Come on, let’s go home! I’ll sign you up for more tutoring. If you didn’t do well this time, we’ll just do better next time”
“Mom.
Eliza’s face turned cold.
More tutoring?
Naomi was already buried in tutoring. That’s why she never had the energy or time to study properly.
Across from them, Elixa didn’t flinch.
She’d expected this all plong.
Evelyn’s love for Naomi was unconditional. No matter how badly Naomi behaved, she would always pin the blame on Eliza.
This time, it wasn’t just Eliza who felt insulted. Even the teacher was visibly uncomfortable.
For a family like the Rivers–wealthy and reputable–how could a parent act so blindly?
“Eliza, don’t overthink it,” the teacher offered gently. “Maybe your mother was just angry. She didn’t mean it.”
“You don’t have to comfort me, Teacher,” Eliza replied. “She’s never treated me like her daughter. And since I’ve already decided to cut ties with them, nothing she says can hurt me anymore.”
Any mother who could throw one daughter under the bus to protect the other wasn’t a mother Eliza hoped anything from.
Now, her only focus was to raise her grades and get into a good university.
More importantly, she needed to prepare for the SAT–and make sure she had enough money and resources to support herself.
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+8 Pearls
Chapter 41 The Truth Can’t Be Buried
Ward spread quickly at school: Naomi had made Eliza take her place exams.
No one could believe it.
Naomi, always the sweet, perfect student, had made her own sister cheat for her.
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It was a serious violation of school policy.
Under r pressure, the school had no choice but to issue a formal reprimand–and prepare disciplinary action.
Evelyn, infuriated, came storming into the school again.
She made a scene over the fact that Naomi had to read a public apology in front of the entire school. She felt utterly humiliated.
But the school’s decision was final.
If Naomi didn’t go through with the apology, she would face expulsion from senior year.
In the end, things between the Rivers family and the school turned sour.
And Naomi, once the teacher’s pet, found herself on the outs.
“I heard the “Model Student‘ award had already been printed with Naomi’s name on it. But because of the scandal, they changed it,” a Class Six student whispered, repeating the latest gossip that had swept through the school.
Since Evelyn had offended the teachers, Naomi’s reputation plummeted.
The faculty now treated her coldly, and students steered clear.
“Eliza, you’re way too tolerant,” Henry muttered. “If I had a sister like that, I would’ve lost it a long time ago.”
He had no idea Eliza had suffered so much.
Naomi had used and exploited her repeatedly–then always shifted the blame back on her.
In just two or three days, Naomi’s dark secrets had spread across campus.
Outside the classroom
Knock knock
The class turned toward the door.
When they saw Zayden standing there, Henry stood up at once. “You need something?”
He stepped protectively in front of Eliza.
Zayden’s voice was cold: “I’m here to see Eliza”
Henry narrowed his eyes. “Eliza doesn’t want to see you.”
“I came to see Eliza. Not you.”
