Reborn as the Villainess

Chapter

22

As soon as those words left Eleanor's mouth, Betty's face turned more gloomy, and she complained inwardly, 'Seriously, doesn't Eleanor get that she is supposed to give her teacher an out? What the hell is wrong with her?

Catching on to what Eleanor said, Liam chimed in, "Yeah, Miss Mille, weren't you the one who said that Eleanor got in here through connections? Now, she's first in the whole grade-what's the deal with that? Didn't you also say that if she hit 700, she'd be our class president? You're not going back on your word, right?"

Betty clenched the chalk in her hand and forced herself to stay calm. "Fine, from now on, Eleanor will be the class president. Now, let's get to the test." She brushed it off with no apology or anything.

Liam was about to spring up and say more when Eleanor put her hand on his arm and shook her head. She figured it wasn't worth stirring the pot.

Her grades were solid enough to secure her place in Class A, and those online rumors about her getting in through the back door would probably die down now. She didn't need to provoke Betty any further.

Liam had become a big fan of Eleanor's. Seeing Eleanor's gesture, he quelled his anger but mumbled, "Eleanor, you're just too nice. If it were me, I'd surely teach her a memorable lesson."

Eleanor replied with a helpless smile, "That's not necessary." She really didn't get why those teenagers were so hot-headed.

Felix, sitting behind Eleanor, couldn't help but notice the two of them leaning in and chatting away like they had all the time in the world. Liam even leaned in to whisper something that made Eleanor giggle. Felix couldn't help but clench his fists, and the plastic pen snapped under the pressure in his grip.

He cursed in his mind, 'Is Eleanor really that clueless? Doesn't she know we're having a class? Just because she scored first doesn't mean she can slack off now. Would scoring first this time guarantee she can do it again? What's there to chat about with that dimwit? And how could she even smile at him? She never smiles at me.'

*Eleanor, Eleanor, bad news! You gotta see this!" Katie rushed over, still holding her water cup and not even bothering to fill it. She shoved her phone in front of Eleanor.

Just as Eleanor was about to catch a quick nap during the break, she was jolted awake by a loud shout. Her mind was still in a fog until she saw the glaring headline on the phone screen: "Top Student Eleanor Caught Cheating!"

Scrolling down, she found some old report cards from the original body owner, all full of failing grades. There were also negative comments under the post.

[I knew it! Her grades can't be legit. Who can be so amazing to score full marks in three subjects?]

[Guess she couldn't cheat on the essay, so she missed points in English Language Arts.]

[Fraud, get out of Aloria High School!]

Eleanor put on a slight smirk and thought this pathetic attempt at slander was childish. It was so obvious who was behind it. 'But Gloria can even dig up those past report cards and try to get herself out of the mess. Heh, she's not as dumb as I think, Eleanor muttered inwardly.

As the class buzzed with the drama, Janet stormed in, holding a report card like a trophy and yelling, "Eleanor, how dare you cheat!"

Wow, that's quick. They need more patience, to be honest, thought Eleanor. She raised her eyebrows, handed the phone back to Katie, and leaned back in her chair, unfazed by the accusation. "You say I cheated? Where's your proof?"

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Chapter 22 DD., 64%

With a scoff, Janet slammed her phone on the desk, showing the report cards. "This is the proof. You were failing every subject before, and you suddenly scored so high? If that's not cheating, how can you explain this?"

Eleanor lazily lifted her gaze, à teasing glint showing in her eyes behind her glasses. She retorted calmly, "Do you even know what proof means? Proof can prove the facts of a case-like testimonies or physical materials. What you've got here doesn't count as proof at all." "Y-you..." Janet's fingers trembled in anger as she heard Eleanor's defiance.

Just then, Gloria strolled in from the back, her innocent demeanor radiating kindness as always. She tugged on Janet's sleeve and said softly, "Janet, don't be mad. Sure, Eleanor didn't do well before, but she must've worked really hard to get such a high score this time. I believe in her."

Eleanor scoffed to herself, 'What a perfect double-faced bitch.

Janet was practically ready to explode, and she shouted, "Gloria, you're way too nice, you know? You're falling for her lies- she definitely cheated!" With a smug look directed at Eleanor, she added, "Well, it's fine if you don't admit it. I already told Mr. Evans and the dean of students. They'll be here soon, and we'll see how tough you are then."

Gloria hadn't expected Janet to be so ruthless.

But she thought, 'The bigger the scandal, the more fun it would be to watch Eleanor squirm. It'll be great if they can prove Eleanor cheated right there and have her kicked out of Aloria High School. That way, my brother and parents will be disappointed in her, and I can reclaim my spot as the only cherished daughter in the family!Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Eleanor rolled her eyes at Gloria's barely contained grin. 'Seriously, this girl is all brawn and no brains. She really thought she had a solid plan for public opinion. If this were the old Eleanor, she might've fallen for it. But sadly, I've been different now.'

At that moment, a loud, confident voice broke through. "Why are you guys standing at my place?" Liam had just come in from a basketball game, and seeing a crowd around his desk made his brows furrow with irritation. Janet and Gloria hadn't expected Eleanor's neighbor to be Liam. They quickly stepped back to make room for him.

Liam, tall and handsome, walked past them with a basketball in his hand. His sweat glistened on his forehead from the intense game, exuding energy and a bit of charm. Gloria felt her cheeks heat up the moment Liam walked past her.

She had feelings for Stephen, but he was too cold and hard to get to know. If she could leverage Liam's crush on her to wiggle her way into the Lloyd family and get everything she dreamed of, why not?

Her gaze

then landed on the sherbet Liam was holding in his left hand, and she smiled to herself, thinking that was definitely for her.

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