The morning after the masquerade, the academy hallways buzzed with chatter. Whispers followed Sara everywhere she went — but they weren't the same as before.
"Did you see her dress?""She actually looked… beautiful.""And Daniel Li danced with her. Twice!"
Sara walked with Lina by her side, trying to keep her head low. But a small part of her couldn't ignore the faint warmth blooming inside. For once, she wasn't the subject of ridicule — she was the subject of curiosity.
Not everyone was pleased.
Emily strode into class, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Hannah trailed behind, her expression tight. Emily's mask of charm was intact, but Sara caught the storm raging in her eyes.
Emily wasn't finished.
At lunch, the storm broke.
Sara had just sat down with Lina, Adrian, Ryan, and Leo when a shriek pierced the cafeteria.
"Oh my God!" someone cried. "Look at this!"
Dozens of heads turned toward a large screen mounted near the ceiling, where announcements usually played. But now, a video clip filled the display — grainy, shaky footage of Sara leaving the masquerade hall.
In the clip, she stumbled as though drunk, her dress stained, her mask tilted awkwardly. Voices whispered behind the camera: "She begged Daniel to stay with her. Pathetic."
Laughter rippled across the cafeteria. Gasps followed.
Sara's heart dropped into her stomach. Her chest burned with shame. "I… I didn't—"
Emily's voice cut through the noise, dripping with false sympathy. "Oh, Sara. You should've been more careful. Cameras are everywhere, you know."
Her words ignited more whispers. Desperate. Embarrassing. She forced him.
Sara's hands trembled. It was a trap — another calculated strike.
But this time, she wasn't alone.
Adrian shot to his feet, slamming his tray down. "Are you all blind? That video's cut to pieces. Look at the shadows — half of it doesn't even match."
Leo adjusted his glasses, nodding. "Exactly. The time stamp glitches. Someone stitched this together."
Ryan glared at Emily, his voice low and sharp. "And I think we all know who'd stoop that low."
The crowd murmured. Doubt flickered.
Emily laughed, light and airy. "Really? Conspiracy theories now? Anyone could've taken that video."
But her gaze faltered when Hannah shifted nervously at her side.
Lina seized the moment. She stood, her voice clear and unwavering. "Funny. I was with Sara the entire time she left. She wasn't drunk, she wasn't begging. She walked out with dignity. Unlike someone else who can't win without dirty tricks."
Gasps spread again. Eyes darted between Emily and Hannah.
Sara's pulse thundered. Her face was hot, her throat dry, but for the first time she didn't shrink. She rose slowly, her gaze steady.
"If you want to attack me, do it directly," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "But don't twist lies to make yourself look strong. That's not strength. That's fear."
The cafeteria fell into a stunned silence.
For a heartbeat, Emily's expression cracked — just enough for Sara to see the fury simmering beneath. Then she smoothed it back into a cold smile.
"Believe whatever you want," Emily said softly. "But remember, Sara, reputations are fragile. And yours is just beginning to shatter."
She turned on her heel, Hannah scrambling after her.
When the crowd slowly dispersed, Lina squeezed Sara's hand. "You were amazing."
Adrian grinned. "Best speech of the year."
Leo's eyes glinted. "She's playing dirtier. Which means she's afraid."
Ryan leaned back, cracking his knuckles. "Good. Let her be afraid."
But Sara couldn't shake Emily's parting words. Reputations were fragile. And Emily wasn't wrong — she would stop at nothing to break hers.
Still, as she sat back down, Daniel appeared quietly at the edge of the table. He hadn't spoken during the chaos, but now his presence was grounding, steady.
His eyes met Sara's. No words passed, but his look said everything: Don't let her win.
And deep inside, Sara vowed she wouldn't.