NovelEnglishChapter 429 Claire glanced at the headmaster, only to see his expression darken. "Nonsense. Claire has always been a well- behaved, sensible girl—there's no way she would hit you. And even if she did, I'm sure you were the one who started it." His tone brooked no argument. "Well? Aren't you going to apologize to Claire?" The words left Claire stunned for a moment.
She'd heard these exact lines countless times in her previous life.
Back then, though, it was the Linwoods who said them. But they weren't defending their real daughter-they were standing up for Vanessa.
Nathan, Adah, and Ethan would never bother to hear her side of the story. They'd scold her without mercy, then force her-the victim to apologize to Vanessa, the one who'd actually hurt her.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe'd suffered so many injustices in the Linwood household, and never imagined that, in this life, someone would finally use those swords to defend her.
No wonder Vanessa was always so smug. So this is what it feels like to have someone protect you without question. It feels... pretty good.
"But Headmaster, my nose is bleeding! How can you take Claire's side?" Vincent pulled up the hem of his shirt, revealing a bruise on his stomach. "Look! Claire didn't just hit my nose with a basketball-she kicked me, too. You can't just favor her because she gets good grades!" The headmaster's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing in obvious displeasure. His voice grew stern. "Vincent, you're always causing trouble around here. I have no doubt you were picking on Claire first." Turning to Claire, his gaze softened instantly, his tone gentle and full of concern. "Claire, tellthe truth. Did Vincent start this? Did he bully you?" Five-year-old Claire lifted her chubby little face, round and rosy.
Her big, bright eyes were clear as glass, full of innocence-so pure that even without a word, she could melt the coldest heart.
The headmaster couldn't help but soften further under her gaze.
"Don't be afraid, Claire. If Vincent was picking on you, just tell me. I'll make sure you're treated fairly." Claire nodded, her pudgy cheeks quivering adorably with the motion.
"It was him," she said, her voice soft but sure. "He hiton the head with a basketball and orderedto fetch it for him. He said if I didn't do what he wanted, he'd hitagain." "He even calleda useless nerd, said that studying is pointless and that it won't getanywhere." Claire blinked up at the headmaster, her eyes wide, playing up her innocence. "Headmaster, is that true? Is studying really useless? Maybe I shouldn't bother with books anymore-maybe I should just goof off all day like they do." She was deliberately setting Vincent up.
In her last life Vincent had been nothing but a thankless brat. She'd worked herself to the bone to put him through college, and he'd vel happily spent her money on designer clothes, wasted it on frivolities, and even helped Vanessa frher- sending her to prison with his own hands.
Well, this time, she'd let him see what it felt like to be falsely accused.
The headmaster's face turned red, then pale with anger.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmClaire wasn't just a star
student-she was a child genius, the kind of prodigy the country would one day need. She'd sat for college entrance exams at five years old; a girl like this shouldn't be
discouraged from her studies. She su needed guide, and every opportunity to grow. Everything had been fine, and now Vincent had the nerve not only to bully her but to try and convince her that learning was a waste of time.
It was as if he wanted to squander a national treasure.
If there hadn't been others around, the headmaster might have smacked Vincent then and there. Instead, he forced himself to rein in his anger.
Still, his voice was sharp and cutting. "Vincent, who gave you the right to tell Claire not to study? You'd Pather fight and fool around all day, but you can't stand to see someone else succeed? You're young, but you're already so spiteful."
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