Clarissa shuddered at the sound of her voice. The more she listened, the more off it felt. She yanked her arm free, her patience thinning.

  "Lyra," she said, voice cold, "I am not your sister. From now on, call me Clarissa or Clarissa classmate—nothing else."

  Lyra bit her lip, head lowering like a scolded child. Her whole demeanor shifted, soft and pitiful, like a wife wronged by her cruel husband.

  "Sister… I mean, Clarissa," she whispered. "I know… I know I took Dorian from you, and you’ve always hated me for it. But that’s our problem. You can do whatever you want to me, but please don’t drag innocent people into it, okay?"

  Clarissa’s patience snapped. Her fever was making her head feel like it was splitting in two, and now she had to deal with this melodrama?

  She exhaled sharply. "Lyra, who told you I still give a damn about Dorian?" Her eyes narrowed. "And what does this have to do with you? I exposed June because she locked me in a bathroom. Why are you acting like I did it just to get back at you?"

  Lyra flinched.

  Clarissa leaned in slightly, voice dropping lower.

  "Be honest with yourself. Have I bullied you today? No? Then who are you putting on this little performance for?"

  The words hit like a slap. Lyra’s lips trembled, and for the first time, she looked genuinely shaken.

  Clarissa had always been intimidating, but standing there now, her striking face framed by her dark hair, her eyes cold as ice—she was downright terrifying.

  Lyra instinctively stepped back. And the next second, she stumbled into a firm, waiting embrace.

  Clarissa’s expression didn’t change as she watched Dorian step forward, his arms protectively wrapped around Lyra. His gaze locked onto Clarissa, dark and filled with barely contained hostility.

  "Clarissa," he said, voice clipped. "Are you trying to start shit with Lyra again?"

  Clarissa nearly laughed. Oh, of course. This was textbook—a classic scene straight out of some trashy romance novel. The evil ex bullying the pure heroine, only for the righteous male lead to swoop in and save the day. How predictable. How boring.

  Clarissa crossed her arms, ignoring the way her body swayed slightly from the fever. "Mr. Dorian. Long time no see."

  Dorian’s frown deepened. "What the hell are you trying to do?"

  "Me? Nothing. I just want to go home and rest. But Lyra decided to stop me at the school gate."

  Dorian let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "And you expect me to believe that?"

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  Clarissa’s eyes narrowed. "Believe it or not, move. You’re in my way."

  "You—" Dorian’s temper flared, but before he could say another word, Lyra clutched his sleeve.

  "Dorian, please… don’t be mad. Clarissa didn’t really do anything…"

  Clarissa smiled coolly. "See? Even Lyra admits it. So why don’t you step aside and let me leave?"

  Dorian’s expression darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. The way he looked at her now wasn’t just disinterest—it was full of open disgust.

  Clarissa didn’t care. She was exhausted, burning up, and done with this scene. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving them standing there in silence.

  Dorian watched Clarissa’s retreating figure before turning to Lyra. "Did she really not bully you?"

  Lyra shook her head. "No. My request was too much, and it makes sense that my sister wouldn’t agree."

  Dorian frowned. "What happened?"

  Lyra hesitated, biting her lip, as if struggling to say it out loud.

  Dorian took her hand gently. "You can tell me. You’re my fiancée now."

  A faint blush crept onto Lyra’s cheeks as she hesitated a moment longer before finally explaining.

  "June acted out in a moment of impulse… to vent my frustration. But I know she didn’t mean any harm. I was planning to have her apologize to my sister, but I didn’t expect Clarissa to report it so quickly. Now June’s lost her scholarships and poverty subsidies because of it."

  Dorian’s jaw clenched. Of course Clarissa would do something like that.

  "June’s had a hard life," Lyra continued, her voice soft. "She was there for me when I had no one. I can’t just stand by and do nothing."

  "Silly girl," Dorian sighed, brushing his thumb over the back of her hand. "Why would you even ask Clarissa for help? You know what kind of person she is—cold and vindictive. She wouldn’t show kindness even if her life depended on it."

  Lyra lowered her gaze. "She’s not a bad person. She’s just… willful." Then she looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Dorian, can you help June?"

  Dorian exhaled, clearly reluctant. "She messed up, Lyra. She can’t just walk away from the consequences. The punishment stays." He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "But if she struggles financially in the future, I’ll help her out."

  "But June is my best friend," Lyra insisted, voice growing more anxious. "This will affect her studies, her chances at getting a good job…"

  Dorian’s expression darkened. "Lyra, you need to stop worrying about other people’s problems. You’re a Lancaster now. You can’t keep associating with people like her."

  Lyra froze. A cold weight settled in her chest. He could fix this in a second if he wanted to. He had the power, the influence. But instead, he was brushing it off—like she didn’t matter at all. Does he not love me as much as I thought?

  The Lancaster family barely tolerated her. The Harringtons—Dorian’s family—looked down on her, thought she was incompetent, an outsider who didn’t belong in their world. And now, the moment she needed help, Dorian was refusing her too?

  Would he start looking down on her next? Her fingers trembled as she pulled her hand away from his grasp.

  Dorian frowned. "What’s wrong?"

  Lyra’s eyes flashed with anger. "What do you mean ‘people like her’? June is my best friend! I didn’t accept my place in the Lancaster family for money—I don’t care about any of that. Do you think less of me because of where I came from? Is that it?"

  "Lyra, that’s not what I meant—"

  "Forget it! I’ll handle this myself!" She turned and ran.

  "Lyra!" Dorian called after her, but she didn’t stop.

  Tears blurred her vision as she rushed onto the main road—right as a massive truck came barreling toward her.

  "Watch out!" Dorian lunged, yanking her into his arms just in time. The truck’s horn blared as it sped past, missing her by mere inches.

  His heart was pounding. "Are you insane? You almost got yourself killed!"

  Lyra sobbed into his chest, trembling. "I’m sorry, Dorian… I just… I’m so scared."

  Her voice broke. "I’m scared you’ll start looking down on me, that I’ll never be enough. I can’t do anything. June is suffering, and I—I can’t help her. I feel so useless…"