Chapter 211

Octavia’s brows knitted together. “Why did your teacher take you to the police p>

Everyone knew about the scandal, and she’d figured Claire would just get kicked out of the winter camp. She never imagined things would turn out like this.

“What do you think?” Claire shot back.

Octavia got it right away. The teachers really cared about Claire-she was a standout, someone who could win big at international competitions. The Math Competition Committee wasn’t about to let anyone drag Claire’s name through the mud. That’s why they’d brought her straight to the police.

Instead of going along with the internet mob and expelling Claire, they’d actually chosen to call the cops. Octavia was furious, but there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. The James family had some pull in Apex, but her influence didn’t stretch all the way to Cabinda.

“Claire, sometimes you just have to let things go. If the police make a public statement, people will say you’re too petty, that you can’t let anything slide p>

Claire didn’t hesitate. “They’re the ones who wouldn’t drop it. I haven’t picked a fight with anyone p>

Octavia snapped, “If you hadn’t upset Molly at school p>

Maybe then Molly wouldn’t have come after her.

“Octavia, I don’t remember ever doing anything to her,” Claire replied, her voice calm. “If anything, she’s just bitter because I wouldn’t introduce her to Lance p>

Claire paused, then added, “You’re the generous one, offering up your own son without a second thought p>

Octavia froze. Claire knew about the promise she’d made to Molly. Before Octavia could say another word, Claire ended the call.

Fletcher had been there the whole time, listening in, and now he looked at Claire with real concern. After their trip to the police station, he’d pieced together most of what Rad happened. Her adoptive mother and a classmate had tried to keep her from the winter camp, all because the real daughter couldn’t handle the pressure and wasn’t as smart as Claire? It was ridiculous.

Fletcher filled in the rest of the Math Competition Committee, and everyone was shocked. Sammie was the biggest supporter of Claire going to the police, and he thought the results of the investigation should be shared with the public But not everyone agreed with Claire’s decision to press charges against the classmate who’d started the rumors.

“Isn’t it enough that the investigation cleared Claire’s name? The other girl just made

a dumb mistake, and Claire’s adoptive mom is mixed up in all this too. If Claire really sues, the backlash could get even nastier p>

“Yeah, I think Claire should just take the win and move on, or the whole internet will stay focused on her forever p>

“Norris, what do you think?” one of the professors asked.

Norris and Fletcher were the youngest ones in the group, but Norris was already an associate professor and Sammie’s favorite student. When Norris spoke, people listened.

Norris looked around the table. “I don’t think this is for us to decide. It should be up to Claire, not anyone else p>

Everyone looked at each other, a little unsure.

Norris was right, of course, but weren’t they just trying to protect Claire?

“Didn’t we all hate it when our parents made choices for us and said it was for our own good?” Norris asked quietly.

His words woke everyone up. He was right. Who were they to make decisions for Claire? Even if they meant well, would she really feel grateful for it?

Sammie nodded, proud. Norris had said exactly what he was thinking. The others were weighing all these different factors, but why wasn’t anyone worried about how unfair all of this was for Claire?

Meanwhile, over at the Molly’s

house, her family was in complete shock when they found out she’d

been arrested for starting rumoret

online. They d thought she was just talking nonsense on the internet. At worst, maybe she’d get a warning from the police and that would be the end of it.