Chapter 15
“Jordan! Something terrible’s happening!” Her roommate burst into the library, panic written across her face.
“There’s a total shitstorm at the front gate-two of ’em swear they’re your parents! They’re running their mouths about you ‘hooking up with some guy’ and being a ‘thankless brat.’ They’re telling anyone who’ll listen that you bombed your college tests but got smuggled in by some ‘creepy older dude,’ and they’re raising hell for the school to kick you out!”
Jordan’s pen clattered onto the table, her face draining of color.
When she reached the campus gate, her parents were waving banners and shouting, surrounded by a crowd of curious students and faculty.
‘My daughter ran off with some pervert! After all those years we put into raising her, loving her to death, and she pulls this shameless stunt!” her mother,wailed at the top of her lungs. “And this school is covering for that predator teacher! Is there no ustice left in the world?!”
Her father jabbed his finger in a school administrator’s face. “If you don’t hand over my daughter today, I’ll report you to the Jolice! I’m telling you, we have Colonel Stone backing us!”
ordan stood at the edge of the crowd, feeling ice-cold. She spotted Vanessa hiding behind her parents, a smug smile playing on her lips.
‘I’m right here. Could you please make way?”
Her clear voice cut through the chaos. The crowd parted, creating a path as Jordan walked forward with her head held high.
‘You ungrateful little bitch!” Her mother lunged forward to slap her. “How dare you show your face?!”
ordan firmly caught her wrist. “Mom, this isn’t our home. Hitting someone is against the law here.”
Her mother froze, never having seen such firmness from her daughter.
‘Everyone, students and faculty,” Jordan turned to address the onlookers, her voice steady. “These two are indeed my parents, but I didn’t elope or do anything immoral. I simply passed the entrance exam through my own efforts and started a new life
here.”
‘My student records are complete and on file with the school. I have my acceptance letter and identification with me.”
Toy-these people who claim to love me-attempted to steal my acceptance letter so my dear sister could take my place. I
aped because I changed my preferences to Ashland University at the last minute.”
With that, she pulled out her acceptance letter and passport from her bag. “Here’s my proof. As for the ‘some pervert’ they mentioned, that’s my professor, Emmett Calloway. The entire faculty and student body can attest that we have maintained a normal teacher-student relationship.”
Her father grew furious. “Bullshit! You obviously ran away with him!”
“Really?” Jordan laughed coldly. “Then why would I run? Because you wanted Vanessa to take my place at college? Because you wanted to use my skin for Vanessa’s graft? Or because you falsely accused me of theft and sent me to a county correction facility?”
Murmurs of shock rippled through the crowd.
Seeing the situation turning against them, Vanessa suddenly collapsed to the ground. “Oh… my… my heart hurts so bad…”
Her mother immediately rushed to her side, genuine concern filling her eyes. “Vanessa! Vanessa! This is all your fault, you jinx!”
The scene descended into chaos.
The school administrator decisively called the police, who quickly arrived and took her parents away for questioning. Vanessa continued clutching her chest, claiming she felt unwell, and had to be taken to a nearby clinic. Before leaving, she shot Jordan one last venomous glare.
After the crowd dispersed, Jordan realized her hands were still shaking. It was then she felt warm hands gently enveloping hers.
It was Emmett, standing beside her.
“It’s over now,” he said softly. “You did wonderfully.”
Jordan looked up at him, suddenly feeling her eyes grow hot with tears.
Indeed, she was no longer the Jordan Hayes who could be bullied at will. Now she had friends, professors who believed in her, and a future of her own.
And in the shadows of a nearby tree, Maxwell watched this scene unfold, crushing his military cap in his hands.
He had assumed Jordan would be miserable without him, never imagining she would thrive so brilliantly.
What he found most unbearable was the way she looked at that man-with the tenderness that had once been reserved only for him.
