Chapter 100 Apology


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    Ever since Tracy came back from the Angelic Etiquette Academy, she has made a habit of avoiding trouble. She gave way when she could and tried to live quietly.


    But some people just wouldn’t leave her alone.


    Winona must have forgotten they grew up together and that Tracy had once been the most spoiled daughter of the Jackmans.


    Which meant Tracy knew all of Winona’s dirty secrets better than anyone.


    Keeping her emotions in check, Tracy looked coldly at Kellen. “I believe you know Professor Dinwiddie is innocent–just like I know you’re innocent.”


    As she spoke, she let her gaze drift to the folder still clutched in his hand.


    Winona was an optional bargaining chip. Tracy was a threat Kellen couldn’t afford to ignore. He knew which choice he had to make.


    And Tracy had no intention of letting Winona go unpunished.


    Nobody liked being threatened, least of all someone like Kellen, who had been in a position of power for years.


    He couldn’t refuse her, but he wouldn’t take it lying down either.


    As soon as Tracy left, he picked up the phone and called Winona.


    Sometimes you could have both the stick and the carrot.


    Tracy and Trina walked out of the principal’s office without speaking.


    It wasn’t until they reached the front gate and Tracy was about to call a cab that a voice came from behind her. “Why didn’t you take Mr. Schmidt’s deal?”


    Trina didn’t know what was in that folder, but she could tell Kellen was scared of it. If Tracy wanted, she could not only return to school but maybe even clear her name.


    Instead, she had refused–and all she’d asked for was to prove Phoebe’s innocence.


    To Trina, it felt like too much of a loss.


    Tracy stopped and turned toward her, seeing the conflict in Trina’s face.


    Chapter 100 Apology


    “Professor Dinwiddie got dragged into this because of me. My mistakes shouldn’t cost someone else their future.”


    <b>+5 </b>Free Coins


    If she had seen the truth on her 18th birthday, if she hadn’t clung to the illusion of family affection, maybe she and Phoebe wouldn’t have suffered the way they did.


    Trina hadn’t expected that answer.


    Deep down, she had always known Phoebe’s situation wasn’t entirely Tracy’s fault. Still, after Phoebe was targeted, she’d tried countless ways to reach Tracy, hoping she would speak up and clear things up.


    But Tracy had vanished–gone overseas to enjoy herself, leaving Phoebe to fend for herself.


    That was why Trina’s heart had been full of anger, helplessness, and resentment.


    Yet in this moment, she truly felt Tracy’s guilt and her desire to make things right.


    “Why did you leave without a word back then?” Trina asked quietly. “If you’d been here, my Mom wouldn’t have been so alone.”


    Tracy’s chest tightened. Her clenched fists trembled. “I’m sorry…


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    “That’s not what I want to hear,” Trina pressed. “Why didn’t you show up?”


    Unwanted memories shed in Tracy’s mind, and her face went pale. Her voice was hoarse. “I’m sorry…”


    She didn’t know what else to say.


    She couldn’t tell anyone what had happened to her at the Angelic Etiquette Academy. Not only would it endanger them, but it would put her in danger too.


    Living or dying didn’t matter to her.


    But she had been dragged out of that ce by people who risked their lives for her, so she had no choice but to keep living.


    Trina felt a wave of helplessness and anger.


    She could tell Tracy was hiding something, but all she had wanted was an exnation. She didn’t understand why Tracy couldn’t give her even that.


    Trina took a deep breath. “What’s done is done. Do you think an apology will fix it? What if I stabbed you and just said sorry afterward–would that make it okay?”


    Tracy couldn’t argue with that. She stayed silent.


    The silence made Trina even angrier.


    Afraid she mightsh out, she shot Tracy onest re and stormed off.


    Phoebe had been ndered for two years, nearly losing her career, and now she couldn’t even get an exnation. Trina couldn’t ept that.


    Tracy knew Trina wanted an answer–but the one thing she couldn’t give was the one thing Trina needed. And she wasn’t going to lie to Phoebe either.


    This was all her debt to Phoebe. If she ever had the chance, she would pay it back. For now, the only thing she could do was clear Phoebe’s name.


    Just as Tracy expected, Kellen had no choice but to give in to her threat. He withdrew the termination notice, erased the disciplinary record from two years ago, and even issued a statement saying Phoebe had been falsely used.


    When Trina brought the news to the hospital, Phoebe’s first reaction was to grab Trina’s hand.


    She was excited. “What about the evidence I found? If Mr. Schmidt admits I was wronged, has he reopened the investigation into Tracy’s giarism case?”


    Looking at Phoebe–so quick to forget her health and worry about someone else–Trina felt a mix of frustration and helplessness.


    “Mom, why do you have to help Tracy? She’s not worth it.”


    Phoebe’s excitement faded into calm.


    She knew Trina never approved of her running around on Tracy’s behalf. They had argued about it more than once.