Amber didn’t want to hand it over, but the next instant, the teacher snatched it right out of her hand. “All of you to the office. Now,”

Amber followed them, but Mia suddenly grabbed her arin, her eyes full of worry. “Amber, is this all my fault? Maybe I should go talk to Wendy instead. I’ll exin everything. It’s all on me. You shouldn’t have to deal with this.”

Amber bknew /bbMia’s /bfamily was struggling financially, and her parents had high expectations. Even a minor mistake would earn her harsh reprimands.

She patted Mia’s shoulder reassuringly, b“/bMia, it’s okay. Don’t worry. I won’t tell them you did it. This is on me. I messed up. If you really took the me for me. I’d feel guilty.”

Tlet Mia down by not finishing the task. bI /bcan’t let her bear the consequences for my mistake, Amber thought. Amber always took responsibility for her actions.

Wendy snapped, b“/bWhy did you start this fight? Exin yourself.”

b“/bWendy, I swear it bwas /bAmber who started it. We didn’t beven /bdo anything at all. She just lunged at us out of nowhere and started hitting us. It hurts so much.”

*Exactly, Wendy. All we did bwas /bcatch her trying to give Adrian a love letter, and shepletely freaked out and attacked us. Look. She even scratched my neck.”

“ire was just trying bto /bcalm her down, but Amber wouldn’t listen. She straight up pped ire across the bface/bb.” /b

Just then, ire stormed in, her bface /bflushed with fury. b“/bAmber, have you lost your damn mind? How dare you hit me.”

Wendy was furious. “Amber, first you neglected your studies, and now you’re caught up in puppy love and even assaulting your ssmatesb? /bThis bis /buneptable. Get your guardian here immediately.”

Wendy turned to ire and ordered, “Go get Susan now.”

“bYes/bb, /bma’am,” ire replied promptly.

Amber clenched her fists stubbornly and snapped, “I won’t call anyone. They started it with their insults, and that’s why I hit them. They totally had iting.”

Bang. Wendy brought her palm down hard on the desk. “Amber, you’re utterly incorrigible. How dare you defy my ordersb? /bYou have no say in this.”

Amber clenched her jawb, /bsaying nothing.

Susan Ward rushed in. “What happened? What’s going on here?b” /b

Wendy was furious. “Susan, this bis /byour student. How do you even manage her? Her grades are already terrible, but today she barged into my ss to act up.

“She wrote love letters to my student and even assaulted the girls. This isn’t over. I’m calling her guardian and informing the principal. She ispletely out of control, wild and untamed. Does she look like a student?”

Susan stepped forward to shield Amber. “Yes, Amber, you did go a bit too far today. Fighting is wrong. But there must be reasons behind this. Amber, tell us how the argument started. Why did you hit them?”

Amber looked up at Susan, biting her lower lip. “They insulted me first, and I threw the punches. I’ll answer for my own actions. No need to call my guardian; I’ll bear all the consequences myself.”

Wendy could barely suppress a scornfulugh when she heard this. “You? Take responsibility? Dream on. I haven’t seen a single redeeming quality in you–just arrogance and self–importance, over and over.

“Take responsibility? With what? Mark my words, Amber. If you’re not expelled for what happened today, count yourself lucky. Just wait. The principal will be here any minute.”

Susan demanded, “What bexactly /bdid you say to Amber that made her resort to violence against you?”

The girls who got beaten stammered for a moment before selectively recounting the incident, emphasizing how Amber had attacked them

“Amberb, /bbI’ll /bbe calling your sister. All involved parents will handle this matter,” Susan announced. She rubbed her temples in frustration.

Jocelyn bolted straight to the school office bafter /breceiving the call.

Just thinking about bJocelyn /bbgave /bbSusan /bba /bsinking feeling in her gut. ‘With such a negative influence at home, how could Amber not be affectedb?/bb” /bshe

wonderedb. /b

Susan decided to contact Amber’s parents and ask them toe. “Hello? Is this Mr. Hart? I’m Amber’s teacher. She-

Aiden hung up the phone and nced at the doorway, Linda still hadn’t returned, so he called Sienna.

iLana /ianswered the call. The moment she heard that Amber was in trouble at school, she immediately reported it to Sienna.

Sienna said, “Let’s bgo/b. We’re heading there right away.”

Lana replied promptly, “Right away, Ms. Ennab./bb” /b

Jocelyn bwas /bthe first to arrive at the office. Spotting Amber, she immediately strode over and pulled her into a protective embrace.

Staring down everyone in the room, Jocelyn demanded fiercely, “Who did this? Who daredy a hand on Amberb?/bb” /b

b“/bbSo/bb, /byou’re her bsister/bb? /bLet me be clear. This bis /bextremely serious. Not only did she assault my students, but she’s also involved in puppy love. Worse still, she refuses to apologize. I now have grave concerns about her behavioral issues,” Wendy said sternly.

Jocelyn scoffed coldly, “Are you even qualified to bteach/b? Amber would bnever /bhit anyone for no breason/b. If she hit them, they absolutely deserved it.

Just Just look at her bface/bb. /bShe got hurt, too. You all ganged up on her. I’m calling the police. This bis /bclearly bullying.”

“What’s your attitude? Her mistake is right there for everyone to see, and you still-“Wendy was furious.

“Amber, don’t worry. I know it’s all their fault. We’re not apologizing for anything,” Jocelyn reassured her firmly.

Susan rubbed her temples. Jocelyn was utterly unreasonable.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Amber hit my daughter. This isn’t bover/b. You’re paying for this, and I’m reporting it to the principal to get Amber expelled.”

“Exactly. Where’s the justice? Just look at my daughter’s face. She’s practically ruined it.”

Jocelyn shot them a disdainful look. “What’s that got to do with usb?/bb” /b

b“/bbY/bb–/bYou’re beingpletely unreasonable.”

“We demand ountability. Where’s the principal? We want him to handle this personally, or no one’s getting any peace at this school.”

Jocelyn ruffled Amber’s hair and scoffed, “So what? Do you really think Amber gives a damn about this dump of a school? Let me make this clear. Even if Amber never bsets /bfoot in here again, she’ll still be way above your league.”

Jocelyn gently told Amber, Don’t be afraid, Amber. With me here, worst case, you will just drop out of this school. Your happiness is what matters most. No one can threaten you.”

Amber nodded hard. No matter what happened, Jocelyn would always have her back.

“Thank you, Jocelyn,” Amber whispered.

“Jocelyn, this isn’t the proper iway /ito handle this situation. We need to get to the bottom of what happened,” Susan reasoned.

Jocelyn lifted her chin and dered loudly, “What’s there to figure out? It’s crystal clear they’re the ones at fault. bIf /byou expect us to apologize, in your dreams, no way that’s happening.

“Even if Amber has to leave this school, I won’t let my little sister suffer any injustice.”

Amber’s eyes welled up with tears bas /bshe looked at Jocelyn, deeply moved.

“Amber, let’s go,” Jocelyn said firmly, grabbing Amber’s hand and pulling her toward the door.

Wen

byous /b

ehavio

I imme