Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 43: Clarissa – Liar!

I turned toward the source of that ugly voice. She was not Selene or her friends, but another student from the best class.

I glared at her, and without hesitation, she glared back at me.

There was not a hint of guilt on her face for talking badly about someone. Or maybe she had said it on purpose so I would hear?

It turned out the best class students were not just ignoring me. They despised me deep down. And when they had the chance, they would attack.

So many glances were thrown at me, and as I met their eyes, I finally saw who they really were inside.

Tessa and her three friends were not far from me.

Mira and Rylas seemed busy in their own world. Only Tessa and Kellan looked at me, clearly having heard the sarcastic remark earlier.

Tessa gave me a cold look, then turned away after our eyes met. Maybe Tessa was cursing me in her heart. Her warning to me earlier had already come true.

Kellan, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable, almost pitiful.

I could not really blame anyone. If I wanted to find where things went wrong, it would all lead back to seventeen years ago.

But just like Richard said, even if they did not believe me, I still had to try to clear my name.

I stood up, about to walk toward the girl who had mocked me.

At the same time, Shannon and Adrian returned from the teachers’ tent with an ice pack.

"Why are you standing, Sis Clar? Your leg will only get worse," Shannon scolded me, worry written all over his face.

The best class students immediately went quiet and stopped paying attention to me.

They were impressive, only picking on me when Shannon and Adrian were not around.

But maybe that was for the best. I felt uncomfortable seeing her worry over my leg. If she knew classmates mocked me, she would be even more worried.

I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on looking for Edwin’s whereabouts.

Shannon did not know where Edwin was either.

And until the next day, when the hunting winners were announced, Edwin still did not appear. He also did not reply to my messages through the com-orb.

Hunting Day ended. Larry and Shannon returned straight to the dorm, while I went home alone.

The first thing I did after arriving home was look for Edwin. Maybe he had come back earlier.

Mother shook her head. "Edwin didn’t come home. He went straight back to the dorm after Hunting Day ended."

I let out a heavy breath without realizing it, which made Mother worried. "What’s wrong? Did something bad happen?"

"The necklace Edwin gave me was damaged, and he misunderstood me. I need to explain it to him," I said, frustration slipping into my voice.

Mother gently patted the back of my hand.

"From the outside, Edwin looks rough, but his heart is very sensitive. If you explain it properly, he will understand."

Her words eased me a little. I could only hope Edwin really would understand.

"Don’t stay gloomy, alright?" Mother smiled softly. "I’ll give you more allowance. Buy whatever you like to cheer yourself up."

She said it enthusiastically. I only nodded. Maybe what Mother meant by "give more allowance" was "give allowance."

Because, I had never received pocket money from the Green family before. They paid for my school, bought me new clothes, school supplies, and everything else. Asking for allowance always felt wrong.

For things like materials for my ae-device, I used what little savings I had from before, and the prize money I earned from competition.

...

The following weekend, Edwin did not come home. Darren did not appear either. It was as if they had all agreed to avoid me.

At the academy, things did not get better either.

Aside from Shannon and Adrian, only Kellan occasionally talked to me. Tessa was still cold, and I had not found the right moment to explain myself to the rest of the class.

I ate alone during lunch because Shannon and Adrian were eating with the student council.

After lunch, I returned to my classroom.

Standing in front of it was the person I had been looking for. Edwin.

He was having a serious conversation with Selene White.

Afraid he would leave before I could talk to him, I approached them quietly.

I barely caught what they were talking about.

"My project has great potential. You won’t regret collaborating with me."

Thump! Hearing Edwin say that, my heart felt like it had been stabbed.

Selene nodded, looking interested. That made me even more anxious.

I finally spoke up. "Edwin, weren’t we supposed to collaborate together?"

Both of them turned toward me. They gave me the same look. A look of disgust.

Since when did Edwin look at me like that? My mischievous younger brother could never look at me that way.

"Edwin, I’m sorry about the necklace. But I really didn’t lend it to Tessa and her friends. They found it already broken," I explained quickly.

The Edwin I knew was not patient. He could walk away at any moment without listening to me at all.

I looked at him, my eyes unknowingly filling with tears. "Edwin, you have to know that the necklace you gave is the most precious to me."

I saw his gaze soften. My heart felt like it was about to burst, tears threatening to spill.

But Selene, standing between us, did not understand that sentiment.

She spoke coldly. "Edwin, I’ll leave if you don’t intend to collaborate with me. But I suggest you don’t believe the words of a thief."

I snapped my head toward Selene and shot her a sharp glare. Her words were vicious.

She returned my stare, looking as if she were absolutely right. Any admiration I once had for her vanished instantly.

When I looked back at Edwin, the softness in his eyes was gone. His gaze became even colder, more piercing.

My chest felt tight.

I knew this was the right moment to explain the accusation about the stolen device.

I took a deep breath and said,

"I never stole Shannon’s device, or anyone else’s. That device is purely mine. I’m not lying."

I saw doubt flicker across Edwin’s face. But when Selene spoke again, his eyes hardened.

Selene crossed her arms. "I don’t care about someone’s background, whether they have parents or not. What matters is ability. And you have none. Yet you still have the audacity to pretend...

That device was made in Shannon’s workshop. You know the worktable there isn’t an ordinary table, but an ae-device that notes everything done on it.

All the records are stored on Shannon’s table. Even the materials for that device were bought by Shannon. So how can you say it’s yours, huh?"

...