<b>Chapter </b>70
‘I need to get that footage from the store owner, fast. Before someone else gets to it and erases the evidence.
‘But I can’t go myself. Tiffany’s definitely watching me. If I show up, she’ll just bribe the owner before I <b>can </b>get
to him.‘
Alicia turned to Sienna. “Sienna, I need you to do something for me.”
Sienna looked at her. “What do you mean, ‘do something‘? Your business is my business. Just tell me what your need.”
Alicia leaned in and whispered in Sienna’s ear.
Sienna nodded, then said loudly, “Okay, Alicia, you head back to ss. I’m gonna run to the stationery store to grab some pens.”
“Alright,” Alicia replied. “See youter.”
And with that, Sienna and Alicia went their separate ways, Sienna heading directly for the stationery store.
Alicia stood there for a moment, feeling a pair of eyes on her. She nced in that direction and saw someone quickly turn away, pretending to be just another student passing by.
Alicia smirked and started walking toward the campus surveince office.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the person pull out their phone and make a call.
She paid it no mind and kept walking.
Just as she reached the door to the surveince office, Tiffany Lawrence walked out.
‘So, my little tail already tipped her off,‘ Alicia thought. ‘She rushed over to deal with the footage!
Tiffany smiled sweetly. “Alicia, what brings you to the surveince office?”
Alicia looked at her, her own smile full of hidden meaning. “Probably the same thing you’re here for.”
Then she added, “You’re so concerned about me, Tiffany. Did youe to help me find out who’s behind that picture on the forum?”
Tiffany nced at the students milling about in the hallway. This idiot, Alicia, was just handing her a golden opportunity to score some brownie points. If people thought she was here helping Alicia, she’d look like the perfect sister. An opportunity she wasn’t about to pass up.
She raised her voice slightly. “Of course! I was so worried when I heard what happened, I came right over to check the cameras.”
Her words had the desired effect. People started murmuring their approval. “Wow, Tiffany is so kind. And to think someone on the forum was using her of posting that thread. How could anyone even say something
<b>19:18 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>
like that?”
“I <b>know</b>, right? Even after being wrongly used, she’s still here trying to help Alicia find evidence She’s a true ss act.”
Hearing the praise, Alicia remained unfazed. She looked at Tiffany and asked softly, “So, did you find anything?”
Tiffany feigned regret, shrugging. “Unfortunately, there are no cameras in the Office of Student Conduct.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Alicia raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So you knew the picture was taken in the Office of Student Conduct? Does that mean you took it? Come to think of it, I remember you stepping out right when I <b>was </b>talking to President Lee. You were standing right in the doorway. That’s the exact angle the photo <b>was </b>taken from.”
Tiffany’s expression froze. She’d forgotten. She had deliberately blurred the background of the photo to let people’s imaginations run wild. She knew how nasty people could be, just like in that vige where she’d grown up. Those people were vicious, insecure, and easy to manipte. All you had to do was give them a little nudge, and they’d jump to the filthiest conclusion.
But in her haste, she’d forgotten that crucial detail. All she’d wanted was to see Alicia’s face when she told her there was no camera, to watch her despair.
Now Alicia had walked her right into a trap. She could feel the stares of the other students, their expressions shifting. <fn81f1> The rightful source is Find[?]ovel</fn81f1>
Whispers erupted. “Wait, she’s right. How did Tiffany know it was in the Office of Student Conduct? Did she actually take it?”
“The way Aliciaid it all out, the angle, the timing… it sounds like she’s telling the truth.”
“So why would Tiffany take a picture like that? Does that mean she’s the one who posted all that stuff online? I thought she was supposed to be this sweet, caring sister…
“Some people are just two–faced.”
11
…
Hearing them, Tiffany’s hands balled into fists. For a moment, she was speechless.
‘Whatever, she thought. ‘So I can’t argue my way out of this. I won’t. There’s no camera in that office, so Alicia can’t prove a thing. She can’t prove anyone else was there, which means she can’t clear her name. As far as everyone’s concerned, she’s involved with President Lee.
‘And who cares about him<b>, </b>anyway? He’s a washed–up president who’s been out of the loop for ages. The one time he shows up, it’s to defend Alicia.
‘Well, he can go to hell.
<b>19:18 </b>Wed<b>, </b><b>Oct </b>1
65 voucher?
‘Once this affair is set in stone, we’ll force him to resign. Mr. Sherman has been acting president for long enough. Plus, he’s close with my dad. He’s my father’s man. It’s time to put him in charge for real.
Alicia watched the series of emotions sh across Tiffany’s face–from rage to a final, chilling malice. “Why so quiet, Tiffany?” Alicia asked. “Did you post that photo?”
Her question hung in the air. The passersby had all stopped, waiting for an answer.
Tiffany knew she had to y her ace in the hole: tears. She knew her frail appearance worked to her advantage. The years in that vige, malnourished and hungry, had left her thin and delicate. People loved a victim, and she was an expert at ying one.
Her eyes welled up. “Alicia, I know you hate me. You think I came back to take everything from you. But I genuinely care about you. I’m grateful to you for being there for my parents and brothers all those years I was gone, for easing their pain. I really just want to help you. Why do you always think the worst of me?”
With that, she covered her face and ran off.
Seeing the main event was over, the crowd of onlookers dispersed.
Alicia didn’t bother going into the surveince office. She turned and walked away, too.
Back in the ssroom, she waited, a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. She was terrified Sienna wouldn’t get the footage. A wave of regret washed over her; she shouldn’t have dragged her friend into this
mess<b>. </b>
A long time passed, and still no sign of Sienna. The regret intensified. Just as she was about to throw caution to the wind and go to the stationery store herself, Sienna walked in.
She was carrying a shopping bag.
She smiled brightly at Alicia. “Alicia, the stationery store got some new stuff in. Look at this journal, isn’t it cute? I love it.”
Alicia nodded. “It’s nice.”
“And look at this,” Sienna continued, holding up another item. “What do you think of this pencil case? It looks <b>so </b>chic. I feel like I could use it as a clutch on a night out, you know?”
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