NovelEnglishChapter 281 The big screen flickered to life, showing footage from five o'clock. At that hour, parents and students hadn't arrived in full; a steady trickle of people drifted in and out of the auditorium.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first. But at precisely 5:10, someone appeared onscreen, moving furtively toward Citrine's seat.
She glanced left and right, making sure no one was watching, then quickly reached into Citrine's bag and snatched something out-nobody could quite see what. In a panic, she hurried away.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAs she left, she cast a nervous glance over her shoulder. That single glance was all it took her face was caught clearly for everyone to see.
"Jeanette!" someone gasped. "No wonder she was the loudest just now-she's the thief!" "She always acts so meek and fragile. Who would've thought she was stealing behind everyone's back?" "She's never been trustworthy. Have you all forgotten how she tried to blCitrine for pushing her down the stairs?" "I just can't believe how scheming she is. Thank God Citrine's so capable-if any other kid lost their speech notes right before going onstage, they'd be humiliated for life. That kind of thing leaves scars." "Vicious, really. I never realized Jeanette was that kind of person." "After the Iverson family went bankrupt, she even turned her back on her own brother. She's always been ungrateful. And let's not forget how good Clifford was to her growing up." All around, people glared at Jeanette's family, muttering curses under their breath. Jeanette sat frozen, her face drained of color.
Aline, frowning, tried to shield herself with her handbag and whispered, "Jeanette, how could you be so careless this time?" Dick looked equally mortified. He'd just returned to the country, hoping to make a splash, and now he was being dragged into this humiliating mess. And of all people, it was his own daughter. No matter how furious he was, he couldn't bring himself to scold her in front of everyone.
As it becobvious their whole family was about to becinfamous, Jeanette couldn't take it anymore. She burst into tears and bolted for the exit.
But before she could escape, Citrine's voice rang out over the microphone, stopping her in her tracks. "Running away, Jeanette? Don't you have anything you'd like to say to me?" At that moment, Citrine stood tall and gracious, while Jeanette looked just like a cornered rat, desperate for a way out.
She hesitated in the aisle, caught between leaving and staying, her face dark with shame. The audience's eyes were cold, filled with contempt, but she swallowed her humiliation and forced herself to speak. "I'm sorry, Citrine. I made a terrible mistake. I apologize." With a show of magnanimity, Citrine replied, "It's all right. I believe Jeanette will change for the better." Jeanette seethed inside, but with so many people watching, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and choke down her resentment. "I promise I'll change." Citrine didn't spare her another glance. With the matter settled, she stepped gracefully off the stage.
As she walked away, a triumphant smile lingered on her lips. She knew the crowd was singing her praises, while Jeanette faced nothing but ridicule.
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At that moment, Citrine exuded a radiant, effortless confidence am presence impossible to ignore. The entire audience remained captivated, eyes never straying from her.
"Citrine is incredible. The way she handled that-what composure! We could all learn from her."
"No kidding. She's not just bold; she's kind. Most people would've been furious, but she let it go with just an En.
apology. She's basically an angel."
"And Jeanette? What nerve. She tried to run instead of owning.up-disgusting" "With that attitude, she'll never amount to anything."
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