Chapter 35 The Breaking Point
With Eliza covering for her, Naomi had nothing to fear–and so her grades kept slipping further.
“L… I promise I’ll do better next time, but this time-
“This time, I really couldn’t help it. I had a fever of 102. I couldn’t even get out of bed.”
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Eliza gently took Naomi’s hand, voice full of apparent concern. “You’re my little sister. You wouldn’t blame me… right?”
Naomi felt like she’d swallowed poison.
Not blame her!
This exam had landed her outside the top 100 for the entire grade.
How could she not blame her?
Just before school ended. Evelyn arrived on campus
When she heard Naomi had ranked below the hundred mark, she panicked like a cat on a hot tin roof. “Naomi’s grades have always been excellent–how could she suddenly score so low?”
“We were surprised, too. Her performance dropped drastically. Eliza, on the other hand, did very well. Please don’t worry-”
“Eliza?”
Evelyn’s brows furrowed in displeasure.
At that moment. Naomi stepped into the office.
Seeing her daughter with her head hung low and looking so wronged, Evelyn immediately spoke up. “My daughter must’ve just had a bad day. I’m sure there’s a reason for this.”
Then, her eyes darted to Eliza, who was handing in homework for her class. Her tone sharpened.
“This is all your fault! What possessed you to transfer to Class Six and bring all their bad habits to your sister? Do you even understand what she’s facing? She’s preparing to study abroad. And now she has a sister in Class Six–do you know how much pressure that puts on her? How could you not think about your sister?”
The homeroom teacher was momentarily stunned.
What did Eliza being in Class Six have to do with Naomi?
“I think you’re mistaken. Naomi’s performance this time doesn’t really have anything to do with Eliza—”
But before she could finish, Evelyn cut in sharply.
“You wouldn’t understand, Teacher. Birds of a feather flock together. Eliza’s always hanging around with thugs and delinquents. What good could come of that?”
Outside the classroom, several Class Six students overheard Evelyn’s words as they walked past the office.
Their expressions darkened.
But Evelyn kept going, unrelenting. “Thank goodness you live in the dorms. If you were home, who knows what kind of bad influence you’d be on your sistert Eliza, do you have any idea how to be a decent older sister?”
“Ma’am….”
The teacher tried to interject, but Evelyn shoved Eliza hard on the shoulder. “Your elder’s talking to you–why are you just standing there like a mute?”
The shove sent Eliza toppling to the ground.
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Chapter 35 The Breaking Point
The Class Six students who’d been watching couldn’t take it any longer and rushed into the office.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Henry hurried over to help Eliza up
Evelyn scoffed coldly. “This is a family matter. What does it have to do with you?”
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Then she swept her eyes over the Class Six students in the room. “Of course–it’s Class Six. No wonder you people have no
manners
Her words were dripping with contempt.
Everyone from Class Six looked deeply uncomfortable.
Colton and Lewis had just stepped inside when Evelyn continued disdainfully. “I’ve always said this school should get rid of Class Six. You’re all just rejects–leeches on society. The only thing you do here is drag down everyone else’s grades. What else are you even good for?”
Silence fell over the office like a curtain of ice.
Everyone stared at Evelyn with cold, disgusted eyes.
This was the kind of adult they hated most–self–righteous and blind to their own arrogance.
Teacher. Evelyn said, her tone shifting slightly, “my daughter’s grades are slipping. I can’t sit back and do nothing. If Eliza continues associating with these Class Six students, she’ll only have a worse influence on her sister!”
“And because of that,” she pressed, “the school needs to give me a solution.”
“Then let’s cut ties, Eliza said suddenly.
The room froze.
Evelyn stared at her in disbelief.
Everyone else did too.
If Mother finds me so intolerable,” Eliza said calmly, “then let’s cut ties. From now on, I, Eliza, have nothing to do with the Rivers family. As for the years you spent raising me–name your price. I’ll pay you back.”
Her voice was steady. Unshaken.
Evelyn looked at her like she was a stranger. “What did you just say?”
y you want to c
to cut ties with Mom! That’s so
“Eliza! What nonsense are you spouting? Even if you’re mad, you can’t say you ungrateful! She’ll be heartbroken!”
Naomi instantly rushed to her mother’s side, fiercely scolding Eliza,
But Eliza stood her ground. “I mean it. Since Mom doesn’t like me, it’s better if we go our separate ways.”
Evelyn stared at Eliza’y confident face–then suddenly laughed.
“Fine. Let’s cut ties. The Rivers family has fed and raised you for seventeen years. I won’t ask much–just one million. If you can pay that, we’ll consider it settled.”
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