<h4>Chapter 263: Weak Point</h4>


    <strong>*****************</strong>


    <strong>Chapter 263</strong>


    <strong>~Valerie’s POV~</strong>


    I froze, staring at it.


    I had meant to use it for days now ever since thest incident, with Solstice but I always forgot... or made myself forget.


    Now, though... everyone would be gone. No I whispering, or curious eyes. It would be the perfect time to finally do it. Bury a part of me that kept screaming to stay seen.


    My phone buzzed again, dragging me out of my thoughts.


    It was another message.


    This one was official.


    <i>Professor Winnie has approved the bonfire. Attendance ispulsory for all senior year students.</i>


    Great. Unlike other Professors, I realised Professor Winnie was ady who enjoyed being free and happy with ehr students as well as building bonds and positive connections.


    I groaned and flopped backwards onto the bed, the dye still in hand.


    Then, just as I sat up to stash it away again, the door burst open.


    "Valerie!" I’s voice was loud and unapologetic, with Emerald right behind her.


    Startled, the dye slipped from my hand and tumbled to the floor with a soft thud.


    Both girls paused just inside the doorway, eyes narrowing slightly.


    "What’s the dy?" Emerald asked. "Everyone’s already headed down."


    I blinked once, then reached down—fast. I let my hoodie ’identally’ fall too and grabbed both it and the dye in one smooth motion, stuffing the dye quickly into the deep kangaroo pocket.


    "Coming," I said, straightening. "I just saw the announcement."


    "Girl, everyone had seen it like an hour ago," I chimed eagerly.


    Noise filtered in from the hallway nowughter, excited chatter, feet pounding against the stairs. It seemed like half the student body was already outside or well on their way.


    I raised a brow but said nothing. Emerald was already halfway down the corridor.


    I nodded once more, then turned, slipping my phone into the back pocket of my jeans.


    I pulled the hoodie over my head, making sure the hidden dye stayed tucked inside, as soon as I walked into the room and moved quickly after them.


    <strong>*****************</strong>


    <strong>~Author’s POV~</strong>


    The room was dim, lit only by the soft purple glow of a floating crystal orb that hoveredzily in the center.


    The window curtains were drawn, and the air was thick with the scent of nail polish, and lingering frustration.


    Titania paced near the wardrobe, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her heels clicking with every sharp turn.


    Her voice, when it broke the silence, wasced with venom.


    "I just hate that girl."


    Avery, sprawled across the bed with a throw pillow hugged against her chest, didn’t even pretend to disagree.


    "After everything we did, she just keeps scaling through. It’s like the universe is bending over backwards for her." She scoffed. "We really need to make things rough for her."


    Brielley across the floor, flipping through a fashion magazine she hadn’t read a single page of. Her voice came out in a low, irritated groan. "I wish she’d just drop dead already and die."


    "If it were that easy, none of us would still be here," Lucy muttered from where she was seated on the windowsill, legs drawn up to her chest. Her gaze stayed fixed outside, watching students in the distance heading toward the bonfire pit.


    The room fell into silence for a few seconds.


    "Then what do you expect us to do now?" Avery asked, sitting up. "After everything we’ve tried? Valerie Nightshade is just... too much."


    Lucy finally turned her head, her eyes glinting with something sharp. "Then we stop doing what isn’t working. We already tried scaring her, isting her, and embarrassing her. And at every single turn, someone saves her."


    She slid off the windowsill and stood, facing them all.


    "If we want to bring her down," Lucy continued, "we have to cut her support—her friends, her mates, the school’s leniency, even her stupid little fans. Break those links... and she drops."


    "I tried that," Titania growled, flinging her arm out dramatically. "I ruined her social standing, stirred gossip, and turned the student body against her. I almost had it—until they all found out she was mated to the Alpha heirs. Instead of bacsh, she became the freaking heroine."


    "And you were lucky they didn’t retaliate," Avery said, folding her arms.


    Titania paused, something flickering in her expression. Her jaw clenched. "Didn’t they?"


    Her tone had shifted—quieter, almost uncertain.


    Avery tilted her head. "Wait... they dide for you."


    Titania nodded slowly. "Exactly. I got exposed for staging the entire scandal. A whole internal report. And—"


    "Kieran," Lucy cut in, interrupting.


    That one word stilled the room like a snapped spell. Everyone froze.


    "What?" Titania asked, blinking.


    Lucy’s tone dropped. "I mean, Kieran was the one who leaked it. The entire scandal. He exposed you for Valerie. He did it because you went against her."


    Titania’s expression shifted instantly. Her face darkened, lips parted slightly in disbelief. Her fingers twitched at her side before bursting briefly into a me-like glow. "He did what?"


    Avery, ever the opportunist, let a sly smile creep over her face. She stood and moved toward Titania, draping an arm around her shoulder like a serpent coiling around prey.


    "We, dear princess, are on your side. So save that fire... for the traitors. Because we still have work to do."


    Titania’s mes faded, but the fury in her eyes didn’t.


    "We need to stop Valerie from being relevant," Avery added. "We need to erase her significance, make her ordinary."


    "She’ll stay important," Lucy said tly, "unless you know her weak point."


    The words had barely settled before the door creaked open.


    All four girls froze and slowly turned.


    A figure stepped into the room, cloaked in a long, dark hoodie. Her face was shadowed, but her presence was undeniable—bold, confident, deliberate.


    "I have just the right weakness," the figure said, her voice calm and smooth. "But I need your help to make it happen <i>tonight</i>."


    Avery’s brows pinched together. Her tone turned cautious. "Wh–Who are you?"


    The figure smiled slowly and reached up, pulling the hoodie back to reveal her face.


    "Hello, girls."


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