As soon as the lunch bell rang, Zinnia jumped up eagerly, ready to head out for lunch.


    Maisie approached and said, “Zinnia, sweetheart,e have lunch with us.”


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    The girls in the ss were few, but they had grown up together and shared a close bond. There was no scheming or drama among them, and they had quickly weed Zinnia into their circle.


    Now, they walked over arm-in-arm, their faces lit up with friendliness as they looked at Zinnia.


    “Yeah, you’re new here and probably don’t know much about the school yet. Come eat with us, Zinnia,” another girl chimed in warmly.


    Zinnia looked at the group of beautiful girls and said, “Maybe next time. My brother said he’d pick me up for lunch.”


    Just then, Isaac called out, “Zinnia.”


    Standing at the doorway, Isaac peeked inside. His eyes scanned the room to make sure no one was giving Zinnia a hard time. When he saw Zinnia surrounded by her ssmates, he couldn’t help but chuckle. He thought, ‘Zinnia seems quite


    popr.’


    “Isaac,” Zinnia called out. Her eyes curved into a soft smile as she spotted him, her joy evident.


    “Isaac, couldn’t wait to check on Zinnia? Rushing over right after ss?” Maisie teased him with a yful grin.


    “With you here, I’m sure you wouldn’t let anyone bully Zinnia,” Isaac replied with a lighthearted smile, ying along with


    her banter.


    Jackson was familiar with Yannis, and their grandfathers were also friends. Jackson had even asked Maisie to keep an eye on Zinnia, so Isaac wasn’t too worried about Zinnia being mistreated at school.


    The International ss was full of rich kids who knew how to read people. They weren’t the type to blindly follow rumors or gossip. While their grades might not be ster, their social skills and understanding of human nature were far ahead of


    most.


    With their family backgrounds, they wouldn’t waste time squabbling over trivial matters like grades or petty favors. Those things simply didn’t matter to them.


    And with the Lynn family’s status, whether out of a desire to curry favor or a fear of offending them, Zinnia was unlikely to face any trouble at school.


    “Alright, but next time, make sure to share Zinnia with us. We’d love to take care of her,” Maisie said. As she passed by Isaac, she whispered, “By the way, Zinnia hasn’t caught wind of the online chatter yet.”


    “Next time, Zinnia, we’ll eat together,” the other girls said regretfully, still hoping to have lunch with Zinnia.


    “Okay,” Zinnia said and nodded.


    As the girls left, Zinnia walked over to Isaac, “Isaac, what are we eating?” she asked, tilting her head up to look at him.


    44


    “What are you craving today?” Isaac asked, his heart softening at her eager expression.


    “Meat, something spicy,” Zinnia replied. She had snacked on sweets all morning and was craving a change of vor.


    “How about we grab some barbecue? I know a great spot,” Isaac suggested, his mind already set on the perfect ce.


    “Barbecue? Sounds great,” Zinnia said and nodded enthusiastically.


    So Isaac took Zinnia out of school to enjoy a barbecue lunch together.


    Meanwhile, a post suddenly dropped into Evershine High’s student groups like a bomb. It read: [I don’t want the drama here to reach Zinnia. To the leaker: expulsion from Evershine High and cklisting by the Lynn family.]


    The school’s rumor mill came to an abrupt stop. No one dared risk expulsion from Evershine High. Evershine was the top high school in Jinston, not just for its academics, but for the priceless connections it offered.


    Families would move heaven and earth, even to sell everything they owned, to get their kids into Evershine. Expulsion meant no other school in Jinston would take them, and if their families found out, they would face severe punishment.


    And being cklisted by the Lynn family was like being exiled from Jinston’s elite circles, no way back in. It was a fate worse than death for anyone hoping to climb the socialdder.


    At the top of Jinston’s social hierarchy were the Perkins, Lynn, and Stark families, in that order. The heirs of these families were close allies, so once the Lynn family made their stance clear, the others were unlikely to object.


    After the posts stirred up enough drama, they were wiped clean from the campuswork. But the cleanup wasn’t random. Anything that painted Zinnia in a bad light disappeared, while the posts exposing Betty’s identity were left up for everyone to see.


    The tant favoritism left everyone stunned. Blood ties mattered, after all. But Betty had brought this on herself. In elite circles, the one thing one couldn’t afford was forgetting one’s ce.


    Betty’s once-perfect image as the sweet, gentle socialite was shattered beyond repair. Now, no one wanted anything to do with her.


    The Shaw family, a second-rate n that had only climbed the ranks thanks to the Lynn family, was powerless to help. With the Lynn family openly protecting Zinnia, no one else dared step in.


    L


    Betty skipped lunch and stayed in the ssroom, her eyes glued to her phone. The screen was filled with hatefulments, each one more cutting than thest. Her face grew darker as she read. She thought, ‘Spineless cowards, always swaying with the wind.


    Just then, Anne burst into the ssroom. She asked, “Betty, what’s going on with the school forum? How could they say such awful things about you?” When she saw Betty’s grim expression, a chill ran down her spine. For a moment, she found Betty frightening


    Betty’s voice was soft and trembling as she looked up. She called out, “Anne.” Her fingers pinched at her sleeves, and her watery eyes, rimmed with red, made her look heartbreakingly fragile.


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    Anne blinked, her unease fading as she took in Betty’s pale, delicate face. She quickly stepped forward and hugged Betty tightly. She thought, ‘What’s wrong with me? Betty’s always been so kind and gentle. How could I even think she looked scary?’


    Anneforted Betty, “It’s okay. I’m here, Betty. I’m here. I know you’re not the person they’re making you out to be on


    the forum.


    “They’re just a bunch of gossiping cowards, always jumping on the bandwagon. Don’t let them get to you. You’re the best person I know, Betty.”


    Anne had just flown back today, and the moment shended, she saw the posts on the school forum. Without hesitation, she rushed to school, only to find Betty sitting alone in the empty ssroom.


    The sight tugged at her heart. She didn’t believe Betty was the person others used her of being.


    Anne thought, ‘Betty is such a wonderful person. Those people online are nothing but ungrateful hypocrites. They used to sing her praises, iming they’d do anything for Betty. But now, when trouble arose, they don’t even dare to speak up for


    her.’


    Betty buried her face in Anne’s shoulder and gripped Anne’s shirt tightly. Her expression seemed frail and innocent, but the cold gleam in her eyes hinted at the storm brewing within. The warmth and gentleness she disyed were nothing but a carefully crafted facade.


    Anne was enveloped by an inexplicable chill, despite the sweltering heat of summer. The sensation of cold was so out of ce that it made her feel uneasy.


    With a hoarse voice, Betty said, “Anne, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was just scared that Mom and Dad might love


    Zinnia more than me.


    “I only wanted to know if they still cared. I never wanted Zinnia to leave, I swear. Do you believe me, Anne?”


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