?Chapter 336:


    In moments, the floor was buried in a snowfall of torn pages — memories, dreams, words — all reduced to waste.


    Ethan’s mind rang with Maia’s voice. “I’m always here for you. If anything ever feels too much, don’t hesitate to call me.”


    But this was his first day. How could he already bring her trouble?


    “Stop! Stop it!” The words burst out of him atst. His voice cracked under the weight of desperation. He lunged for his books, arms outstretched, but the students yed keep-away, tossing them like toys.


    One student caught a book and sneered, ripping it with a smug grin.


    “Come on,e get it!”


    The bell rang — like a gavel dropping to end the madness.


    Only then did the crowd disperse, slipping back to their seats, faces painted with feigned innocence.


    The teacher entered, pausing as he took in the chaos. Torn pages littered the floor like autumn leaves after a storm. His eyes darkened. He bent to pick up the pieces, then stood and scanned the room with a steely gaze.


    “Who did this? Tearing books? If you’re not here to learn, you’re free to leave!”


    Without missing a beat, Mnie pointed at Ethan. Her voice was icy and certain. “It was him. He did it.”


    “Yeah! He’s the one!” another chimed in eagerly. “We can all confirm.”


    Like a flood bursting through a dam, lies poured in from every direction.


    “He just went wild — ripped the books up himself!”


    “Someone like him shouldn’t be in our ss, anyway.”


    “He’s not even learning. Just distracting the rest of us. Please get rid of him!”


    Ethan’s eyes burned. His throat tightened, and he barely managed to whisper, “No… it wasn’t me…”


    But how could he prove it? His words were outnumbered and overpowered.


    The teacher, looking at Ethan — the unfamiliar face at the heart of a ssroom storm — felt frustration surge in his chest. He scowled.


    “You’re disrupting the ss. Out. Stand in the hallway until further notice.”


    A lump formed in Ethan’s throat. His vision blurred as he rose slowly, head bowed, and stepped out of the room in silence.


    Mnie, triumphant, whipped out her phone and snapped a few photos of his back as he left. She sent them to Mariana.


    “Mariana, look! He looks so pathetic!”


    Mariana, while hardly shocked — she knew that Mnie wouldn’t tolerate a slum-born ssmate — hadn’t expected her to drive him out this quickly. Still, it suited her just fine.


    She replied, “Just don’t let your father find out.”


    “Oh, rx! Why bring him up now? What’s he going to do — bite my head off?” Mnie typed back with a shrug.


    Though the name Hurst made her heart skip a beat, Mnie brushed it off with the arrogance of someone who believed that she could get away with anything.


    After all, why would a man like Hurst waste even a passing thought on someone from the slums?


    Sunlight streamed through the branches, casting patchy shadows on the ground. As the light moved, the air grew warmer.


    Ethan had been standing outside the ssroom for half an hour as punishment. Sweat began to form on his forehead, slowly dripping down.


    He couldn’t figure out why the teacher trusted the other students without checking the facts. What puzzled him more was the cold reception from his peers. He had just arrived, yet it felt like they all already had something against him.


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