Chapter 306

However, very few people knew the whole story.
Yelena’s mother was Ezra’s second wife. He had married her almost immediately after his first wife passed away. Three months later, Yelena was born. Anyone with inside knowledge understood what that implied.
Yelena detested the term “homewrecker” and lived in constant fear that someone would discover her mother had also been the other woman. So, she took out her frustrations on Janet. The more people who knew Janet was the daughter of a homewrecker, the more secure Yelena felt in her own position as a legitimate heiress.
“I’ll say this one last time. My parents did nothing wrong,” Janet said, clutching her backpack tightly as she tried to push past them. “Say one more word, and I’ll tear your mouths apart.”
She was already on edge from the past two days and was itching for a fight.
“You dare!” Yelena scoffed. She wasn’t afraid of Janet. The girl was a nobody who had only gotten into Eclara High on a scholarship. Everyone looked down on her for living in the slums. Now, all she had left was a broken home and a dying mother. If Yelena hadn’t been away at a training camp this semester, she would have crushed her long ago.
“Yelena, I think a teacher is coming this way,” the girl with the bangs whispered nervously. “We should go.”
“You just wait,” Yelena hissed, pointing a finger at Janet before storming off.
“Yelena,” Yolanda said, hurrying after her. “The only reason Janet dares to talk back to you is because of my so-called wonderful stepsister.”
“Stepsister?” Yelena asked, turning her head.
“Yes,” Yolanda said, her voice full of feigned grievance. “Ever since she landed a rich boyfriend, she’s become so arrogant. And that Janet’s mother is her aunt.”
“Birds of a feather flock together. They’re all trash,” Yelena sneered. “I’ll find a time to put her in her place. Otherwise, she might actually start believing that sharing the Wilcox name gives her a claim to our family.”
“Exactly,” Yolanda nodded. “And don’t forget about Juniper.”
The thought of someone else doing her dirty work made Yolanda’s heart leap with joy.
…
After searching everywhere, Melvin finally found Janet sitting forlornly under a large tree by the back gate. She was sitting quietly, her backpack op her lap her eyes red and her gaże fost in thought.
“Janet.” A wave of relief washed over Melvin as he strode toward her. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“Melvin?” Janet jumped, startled.
She quickly rummaged through ker bag for her phone and saw that it was on silent she’d been ambushed by Yelena right after her exam and hadn’t had a chance to check it.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, shrinking back slightly. She was a little afraid of Melvin;
she was afraid of most adults, the way a student is afraid of a teacher.
“Why are your eyes so red?” Her sudden apology made him feel uncomfortable. He softened his tone. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Janet shook her head.
She didn’t know how to explain it As
far as Eclara City was concerned,
her mother was a homewrecker, and she was the homewrecker so
daughter.
“Alright.” Melvin frowned, not believing her for a second, but he didn’t press.
“Juniper is waiting for you at the front gate. You should-”
“Juniper’s here?” At the mention of her cousin’s name, Janet immediately grabbed
her bag and hurried off, completely forgetting he was even there.
Melvin was left standing alone.