From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Jocelyn patted Amber's shoulder and said firmly, "Amber, tell them we're not afraid of this nonsense. Expulsion? We don't give a damn. We'll never take this humiliation."
Just as Amber was about to speak, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching. As if on cue, she spun around. It was Sienna.
Jocelyn fixed Sienna with a look of undisguised loathing. 'What's she doing here?' she wondered.
Sienna strode into the office, her formidable presence instantly silencing the room. Instinctively, everyone held their breath, awed by her commanding aura.
Susan hesitated and asked, "And you are?"
"My apologies for being late. I'm Sienna Hart, Amber's eldest sister. You must be her homeroom teacher. My father couldn't make it. Now, would you mind explaining what exactly is going on here?" said Sienna.
Though Susan had developed some authority as a longtime homeroom teacher, in front of Sienna, she was completely outmatched.
"Hello, I'm Susan," she said nervously, swallowing hard.
"Susan, nice to meet you. Amber, come here," Sienna ordered.
'Why is Sienna here?' Amber wondered, even as her legs carried her forward without conscious thought.
Jocelyn clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, seething with the urge to tear Sienna to pieces. If it weren't for her, they would have made it out.
Jocelyn seethed inwardly, 'That wretch. That damned wretch.'
Wendy frowned in confusion. "If you're her eldest sister, then who is she?" she asked, glancing at Jocelyn.
Sienna gave her a dismissive glance, the sheer contempt in her eyes cutting Jocelyn to the core. Jocelyn looked like nothing more than a pathetic clown putting on a show.
Sienna said flatly, "She's nothing but an outsider."
Susan sighed and said, "Since you're her sister, fine. You decide how to handle this."
Sienna gave a slight nod, her gaze landing on the love letter on the desk. She looked at Susan and asked calmly, "May I see that letter?"
Susan immediately handed it over. Sienna glanced at it and saw through it at once. "This wasn't written by Amber. Susan, if you don't believe me, you can compare the handwriting."
As the homeroom teacher, Susan recognized the handwriting immediately. "Indeed, this wasn't written by Amber," Susan confirmed.
One of the classmates shouted, "If she didn't write it herself, maybe she got someone else to do it for her."
Sienna looked at Amber and demanded, "Amber, tell me honestly. Did you write this letter?"
Sienna's words left Amber at a complete loss. Her eyes darted anxiously toward Mia, who stood by the door.
Mia gripped the doorframe tightly, a chill running down her spine and cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. Mia pleaded inwardly, 'Amber, please don't say a word.'
Amber remained silent, her head bowed the entire time.
"Fine, since you choose not to speak, so be it. The fight has little to do with this letter anyway," Sienna said coolly, pulling out a USB drive. "On my way here, I obtained surveillance footage from your school's monitoring room.
"Madams, perhaps you'd like to watch it and decide whether these students deserved to be beaten."
As Lana walked in carrying a laptop, several of the girls instantly broke out in a cold sweat, clutching desperately at their parents' clothes. In a panic, they wailed that they were in unbearable pain and demanded to be taken to the hospital immediately.
Sienna looked at them calmly and said, "Since you're in excruciating pain, go to the hospital first. The principal will personally handle your disciplinary actions. Later, police or court officers will come to your homes to serve summons."
"What?" The mention of police and court left the parents utterly dumbfounded.
The surveillance footage captured the girls sneering and taunting Amber, physically blocking her path and refusing to let her leave.
At the sight of the surveillance footage, the parents, Wendy, and Susan were rendered speechless.
Sienna said coldly, "From what I know, Class One is supposed to have the best learning environment in your school. Yet it's now become the latest hotspot for bullying incidents in this school.
"I can't begin to imagine the sense of helplessness and complete breakdown my sister must have experienced in those ten minutes. And I've never heard of students being physically barred from leaving a classroom by their classmates."
Wendy looked at the students she had once taken such pride in, now overwhelmed with shame. The girls, guilt-ridden, shrank back into their parents' arms, unable to meet her gaze.
Sienna looked at the parents and said calmly, "Amber was wrong to hit them. I will compensate your medical expenses tenfold. I'm not an unreasonable person. The court hearing will be scheduled after your SATs, out of consideration for your studies."
"We—"
"Mom, Dad, we—"
At these words, every parent turned and delivered a stinging slap across their daughter's face.
"How dare you bully her? Apologize right now."
"Apologize to Amber this instant."
"Miss Hart, these are just childish squabbles between kids. Let's not take this to court. Can't we just settle this privately?"
"Yes, we won't ask you to pay for the medical bills. It's all our kids' fault. Miss Hart, as fellow parents, we beg you to show some mercy in this matter."
Sienna turned to Amber, handing her the final say. "What do you think, Amber?" she asked.
For the first time, Amber felt truly liberated by their apologies. A beam of light pierced through the dark fog in her heart, scattering it into nothing.
Jocelyn also meant well for Amber, but her approach was worlds apart from Sienna's.
Jocelyn's way of handling things left Amber feeling utterly suffocated. They would never care about the truth, let alone apologize to Amber.
Yet Sienna's way cleared the air, making Amber feel weightless and free.
Jocelyn suddenly stepped forward and cut in sharply, "Weren't you just insisting on expelling Amber? Well, now I demand all of them be expelled too. What do you say to that, Wendy?"
Jocelyn shot Wendy a taunting glare, her lips curling in contempt. The contempt and menace in Jocelyn's eyes made Wendy go pale and fall silent.
"Miss Turner, this is a Hart family matter. Outsiders should know when to step aside," said Lana.
Lana's words instantly shattered Jocelyn's smug display. Furious, Jocelyn shot Lana a venomous glare. Lana remained expressionless, completely unfazed by her glare.
Amber glanced at the girls' bruised faces and tear-streaked eyes, then at the pleading looks in their parents' eyes. After a heavy pause, she finally spoke, her voice low but firm. "Apologize now."
Jocelyn stared at Amber in disbelief, her voice rising with anger. "What? Amber, how can you just let these people off so easily? Did you forget how they treated you just now?
"Haven't I taught you? Never forgive anyone. Since they dared to bully you today, they would dare to do it again tomorrow."
Jocelyn seethed inwardly, 'Since when did Amber turn so soft-hearted? She's supposed to be hard-nosed, never letting anyone off the hook when she's in the right.'
Jocelyn wouldn't let Amber change. Not ever.
Sienna deliberately ignored Jocelyn, reaching out to gently pinch Amber's cheek in a show of affection.
Jocelyn was completely ignored, trembling with barely contained rage.
Sienna said, "Alright, Susan, since Amber is your student, as her guardian, I require these students to write a 1,000-word letter of apology and deliver it publicly before the entire school faculty and student body. Surely that's not too much to ask?"
Before Susan could respond, the parents clamored over each other. "Of course not. It's absolutely reasonable. Even if you want them to write 2,000 words, we'll make sure of it. It's all our fault."
"Absolutely, Miss Hart. Children must learn from their mistakes. Rest assured. I'll personally supervise her writing that letter of apology when we get home."
They were terrified that even a second's delay would get them blamed.
Sienna gave a slight nod. "Come on, Amber. let's get you checked out at the hospital."
Just as Sienna was about to leave with Amber, the principal hurried in, beaming obsequiously, "Miss Enna, I had no idea about your sudden visit. What exactly happened?"
"Miss Enna is here today regarding her sister's matter. There's no need for such formalities. Miss Enna still needs to get to the hospital, so we'll take our leave now," Lana said politely.
"Okay, Miss Enna. Please take care on your way out," the principal said.
Seeing how powerful Sienna was, even the principal was bowing and scraping to her, the parents were utterly terrified, but secretly relieved they'd had the good sense not to cross her.
Thank god they didn't escalate things. The backlash would've crushed them.
"Who exactly is Miss Hart?" Wendy asked the principal curiously.
The principal wiped the cold sweat from his brow and said nervously, "She's a big shot, definitely not someone we can afford to offend. Susan, be kind to Amber. Don't interfere where it's not necessary."
"Understood." Susan gave a quick nod. She never expected Amber's eldest sister to be this formidable, yet so reasonable.
'It seems I should schedule a meeting with Miss Hart to discuss Amber's academic progress,' Susan wondered, 'As for that incompetent impostor sister, Jocelyn, who knows what schemes she's plotting?
'Her malicious intentions deserve nothing but contempt.'
Claire had just gone to notify Susan when another teacher assigned her to carry a stack of homework upstairs for distribution. By the time she finally made it back to the office, everyone had already dispersed.
Claire gnashed her teeth in fury. 'Unbelievable. After everything, we're the ones who actually have to apologize to Amber. Did I really just take that slap? This isn't over, Amber.'
As Claire was leaving, her eyes caught the letter on the desk. 'That handwriting?' she thought, 'it looks just like Mia's.'
Claire recalled Amber insisting the letter wasn't hers, and sure enough, she was telling the truth.
Claire thought, 'So it was Mia. But why wouldn't she admit it? And why didn't Amber say anything?'
Still puzzled, Claire left the office and nearly collided with Mia. She froze, watching as Mia casually pocketed the love letter.
Claire quietly followed Mia, only to see her tear the love letter to shreds and toss it straight into the trash.
Claire frowned thoughtfully at the love letter lying atop the trash bin. Her cheek still stung from that slap.
'Amber, you psycho. Getting slapped wasn't enough. Amber even shoved me into a desk, and I was painfully wedged there for ages. Seriously, could this day get any worse?' Claire wondered, absolutely livid.
Amber obediently followed Sienna to the hospital, her mind racing with anxiety the whole way.
'Does Sienna think I'm just a delinquent student too?' she wondered. 'What am I even worried about? I've always been the good-for-nothing troublemaker, to begin with.'
Her grades were terrible, and she ranked dead last in the whole school. She was always a thorn in the teacher's side, the outcast her classmates scorned and avoided. But that letter wasn't hers.
Before entering the doctor's office, Amber muttered an explanation in a low, heavy voice. "I was just passing that letter along for a friend. It wasn't me who wrote it."
Sienna hadn't expected Amber to offer her an explanation. She wasn't some naive teenager. In fact, Sienna had already seen through the whole incident.
"I never doubted you. That wasn't your handwriting," said Sienna.
At these words, Amber, who had been slumped in dejection just moments before, suddenly straightened up, her whole posture snapping to attention, alert and confident.
"As if I'd ever write such ugly handwriting. And that so-called top student? Pfft. He's downright hideous, with a face only a mother could love. No way I'd ever like some scrawny weakling who couldn't even lift a feather," Amber said.
Sienna watched Amber's spirited stance and smiled faintly, "Alright, go on in now. The doctor's waiting for you."
Amber lifted her chin and strode confidently into the room.
Sienna turned to Lana and ordered in a low, commanding voice, "Lana, go teach Jocelyn a lesson she won't forget."
Lana nodded and continued, "Yes, Miss Enna. There's one more thing regarding her. We've discovered that Jocelyn has been reaching out to several company executives and managers, requesting private meetings about Hart Corporation's core confidential information.
"Do you remember that leaked document on our latest technology? I believe that's exactly what she's holding. Now that the project has already started, if she leaks it to external parties, it might—"
Sienna gave a slight nod, her lips curving into a smile that never reached her cold, calculating eyes. "So that's her ace in the hole. No rush. Let's play along with her for now. Tell Reno to keep a close eye on that project."
"Understood, Miss Enna." Lana lowered her head, hesitating. There was still one more thing she needed to report, but she wasn't sure if now was the right time.
"Out with it," Sienna commanded curtly.
"Miss Enna, Mr. Hart is also at this hospital. He called earlier to inquire whether we'd identified who orchestrated the attack on him," Lana said.
"Amber and I will go see him shortly. You may leave if there's nothing else," Sienna said.
"Understood, Miss Enna," Lana replied.
Claire was seething as she trudged to the hospital alone. If Amber hadn't shoved her, she wouldn't have ended up with her butt stuck in that seat. It was still aching. She was sure it was already turning black and blue.
'Don't you dare show your face again, Amber. Or I'll make you regret ever messing with me,' she wondered and winced in pain.
Claire, rubbing her sore backside and wincing with every step, walked into the examination room directly across from Amber's.
"Hey," Claire yelped in shock, then snapped, "What the hell are you doing?"
"What's all the yelling about? Stop being so dramatic. Didn't you say your butt hurts? How am I supposed to diagnose you if I don't take a look?" the doctor snapped. "Acting all precious for a girl your age.
"It's all women here. Don't tell me we don't all have butts."
Claire's face turned ashen with humiliation. Jaw clenched, she stood rigidly, swallowing her pride and forcing herself to stay silent.
The female doctor gave Claire a sharp slap on the buttocks. Claire yelped in pain again, "That hurts."
The female doctor yanked at Claire's clothes in annoyance and snapped, "I've never seen such a drama queen. Are you getting examined or not? If not, get out.
"Stop making such a fuss, like you're the only one with a backside. And you reek all over. Honestly, if I didn't pity you, I wouldn't even bother with you."
Claire's eyes widened, feeling the sting of an invisible slap. Her fists clenched involuntarily, her body going rigidly upright.
"Arch your back and spread your legs wider. If you're so desperate to moan, save it for your boyfriend at home. Don't put on a show in front of me. The rest of you, come over and watch her closely," the doctor said.
"Yes," the others replied.
"Look at her, bruises all over. Clearly, someone beat her up. Girl, watch your private life at such a young age. I really don't understand young people nowadays," the doctor continued.
Claire knew exactly what the doctor was insinuating. "What nonsense are you talking about? This was just an accidental collision."
The doctor snapped impatiently, "Alright, say whatever you want. Stand still and pull your pants down further. What are you doing? Didn't you hear me? I said pull them down.
"This is a hospital. there are tons of patients waiting. Do I look like I have time for your drama? Honestly, what game are you trying to play here?"