Chapter 3

Lila POV

The day Alysa returned to school, the sky was blue and the clouds white, but I knew beneath that calm surface was nothing but filth.

Though Ethan had transferred, the mess he left behind remained.

The Hayes family's influence at the school ran deep. The ringleader was gone, but plenty of bootlickers remained.

Not to mention the male second lead, Adrian Locke‌.

He was student council president, aloof and ascetic, also the enforcer of rules at this elite school.

Upon entering the classroom, we discovered Alysa's desk was missing.

Her assigned spot was empty, just a lonely chair lying on the floor.

The entire class was silent, dozens of eyes watching us mockingly, like we were monkeys at the zoo.

Alysa's face instantly paled, instinctively reaching for my sleeve.

"Oh, if it isn't that 'Miss Johnson' who drove away Mr. Hayes?"

A girl spoke sarcastically, twirling her pen.

"What, even the desk found you too dirty and threw itself away?"

The whole class burst into laughter.

Alysa bit her lip and bent down to pick up the chair.

"Don't move."

I grabbed her hand and scanned the classroom.

"Who did this?"

No one spoke.

Everyone was watching the show. Some even pulled out phones to film.

Just then, the classroom door opened.

A boy wearing gold-rimmed glasses with every button fastened to the top walked in.

Adrian.

He didn't even glance at me, walking straight to the podium and saying coldly.

"The school is conducting an asset inspection. Damaged public property must be paid for. Miss Alysa's desk had too much graffiti, seriously affecting the school's appearance, so the maintenance department has taken it for disposal."

What a sanctimonious excuse.

"Until new desk and chair are approved, Miss Johnson can stand and listen to class."

Adrian pushed up his glasses, a trace of barely concealed disgust in his eyes.

"It's also a good time to reflect on why, out of everyone in the entire school, only your desk got graffitied."

Typical victim-blaming.

Alysa trembled with anger.

"You drew it! It was all... all insults about me!"

"Do you have proof?"

Adrian asked coolly.

Alysa was speechless, tears welling up in her eyes.

I laughed.

This little bastard, looking all proper, but more rotten than anyone.

"Reflect?"

I released Alysa's hand and walked up to Adrian.

"Adrian, is it? Since you love making people reflect so much, how about everyone reflects together."

I pulled out my phone and made a call.

"Come in."

As soon as I spoke, deafening drill and hammer sounds came from the hallway.

Then over a dozen construction workers marched in.

"What are you doing!"

Adrian finally changed expression.

"This is a classroom! Who gave you permission to enter!"

I ignored him, directly pointing at the desks and chairs in the classroom.

"Get to work. Except for the podium, tear down all the desks and chairs."

The workers had already been paid. Their efficiency was extremely high.

Before those pampered students could react, drills were whirring, screws flying, desk boards being violently dismantled.

"Ah! My limited edition stationery!"

"Are you crazy! This is destruction of property!"

"Security! Call security!"

The classroom descended into chaos.

Adrian rushed up to me, furious.

"Lila! This is illegal! I'm calling the police!"

"Go ahead."

I pulled out a stack of documents and slapped them against his chest.

"This is a complaint receipt from the Department of Education, along with relevant legal provisions. And... I've already donated ten million to the school board, specifically to improve the learning environment for this class."

I pointed at the desks and chairs being dismantled.

"Since this garbage isn't good enough for our Alysa, none of you should use it either. I've ordered top-of-the-line ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable desks for the entire class. Fifty-eight thousand per set."

The class instantly fell silent.

Fifty-eight thousand per set? These rich kids had money, but the school's desks and chairs were just ordinary stuff.

The students who'd been cursing moments ago suddenly looked different.

"However."

I changed my tone, looking at Adrian's livid face.

"This batch of donations specifically excludes Adrian."

"Since you think standing during class helps with reflection, please stand from now on. After all, as student council president, you should lead by example and reflect more on why you're so unlikeable."

Adrian trembled with rage, pointing at me.

"You... this is discrimination! Isolation!"

"Isolation?"

I laughed coldly, surveying the whole class.

"No, I'm just returning the methods you use to isolate others."

"Also,"

I walked to Alysa's side, pulled her to the center of the podium facing everyone.

"From now on, if anyone dares draw even one stroke on her desk, I'll remove everyone's desks and you can all stand for class. Anyone who doesn't want to stand, watch the people around you."

Unreasonable, but most effective against these refined egoists.

Half an hour later, brand new top-tier desks and chairs were moved into the classroom. Only Adrian's spot by the podium remained empty.

Alysa sat in that expensive chair, touching the smooth desktop, looking up at me with light in her eyes for the first time.

"Ma'am..."

"Call me Lila."

I patted her shoulder.

"Remember this. When do victims need to reflect? Do you think school rules are toilet paper? From now on, whoever tells you to reflect, you make them reflect on their whole family."