Gothic girl

"Saira, put your hand on your heart and ask yourself: who wronged whom? Who bullied whom?"

"From the day I came home, you've been deliberately picking on me, framing me, and inciting your friends against me. Do I need to recount everything that happened in detail?"

"Let's not even talk about the past. Just today, in the cafeteria, who started the provocation? If I hadn't fought back, you would have smeared my name all over by now."

"Even though I fought back, I couldn't escape your tactics. You spread false rumors online to ruin my reputation and now you come to me, pretending to be innocent and pitiful. According to you, it's as if I'm forcing you, persecuting you."

"Tell me, where's your shame?"

Zuri's words hit the four girls like a barrage of bullets, leaving them speechless. The surrounding students, upon reflection, realized that it was true. From beginning to end, it was Saira and her friends who targeted Zuri. Now, they came over playing the victim, making many feel nauseous.

"Saira and her friends are so disgusting."

"The guilty party complains first. They target others everywhere and still claim they're being bullied. Who's bullying whom?"

"I used to like Saira, but now... ha!"

"Zuri's been through a lot these days. In hindsight, it's likely that Saira and her friends orchestrated everything."

"Highly possible. Otherwise, why would Zuri, who just started school, be targeted out of the blue? She's not some poor student with no background."

"Analyzing it this way, Saira is too revolting. What goddess? More like a venomous snake."

"Zuri is truly pitiful. Saira enjoyed her life, and now she still bullies and targets her. It's tragic."

"Natalie and her friends are such fools. Saira isn't even the Lin family's true daughter, so why are they still sucking up to her?"

"You don't get it. Some people are used to being sycophants. They can't change overnight."

"Haha, that's spot on."

The murmurs came from all directions, reaching the ears of Saira and her friends. They had never been humiliated like this before, and their faces turned beet red.

"Who are you calling a sycophant?" Natalie angrily turned to the crowd, trying to find the person who spoke but couldn't identify anyone.

Seeing her anger, the surrounding students fell silent.

Just then, a voice dripping with nonchalance came from the back of the crowd.

"They're right. You are a sycophant."

As everyone turned to look, they parted to reveal a goth girl dressed like a gangster, with a lollipop in her mouth. She walked coolly, with metal chains around her waist that jingled with her movements.

Natalie's face turned even redder when she saw who it was. "Azura, don't go too far."

Azura chuckled. "No matter how far I go, I'm not as shameless as you."

Her eyes swept over the four girls, and she leaned in slightly, sniffing exaggeratedly, then made a face of disdain. "I smell something fishy on you."

Naya, dark-faced, retorted, "Azura, how dare you insult us? We haven't done anything to you."

Azura blinked innocently. "Your backstabbing and deceitful tactics aren't fishy enough?"

"You..."

Even with her strong composure, Naya was infuriated by Azura's words.

"Ring, ring!"

The bell for class rang, and the surrounding students dispersed.

Under everyone's gaze, Saira and her friends left in embarrassment.

Azura glanced at Zuri. "You're the Lin family's newly returned daughter. Not bad looking, the Lin family hit the jackpot."

"Class is starting," Jason said, looking a bit frustrated at the only girl still standing in the classroom. He knew who she was but had never met her in person. She was famous, a member of the Ye family from the capital. No one else in the academy dressed like this.

"Boring." Azura muttered as she left, her colorful hair swinging, and the metal chains clinking with her movements.

"That's Azura. I've never seen her before."

"I almost thought Azura knew Zuri."

"I've heard of her last year but never seen her."

"They say she didn't attend school for a whole semester. No, she came just for one day."

"Azura and Kaden, could they be siblings?"

"What are you thinking? Azura is from the Ye family in the capital. Kaden's background is nothing compared to hers. They're not even on the same level."

"Why did Azura come to Oceanic City?"

"I heard she was kicked out of the Ye family because she's an illegitimate child."

The classmates chatted animatedly, ignoring Jason's lesson.

Jason tolerated it for a while, but as their chatter grew louder, he turned and slammed his desk. The classroom instantly fell silent.

"It's class time. If you want to chat, do it after class."

When they finally quieted down, Jason resumed his lesson, but he had barely started when the murmurs began again. Jason's face darkened with frustration.

Just then, a cold voice cut through the chatter from the back of the classroom.

"Shut up!"

Everyone's eyes turned to Zuri. This time, no one dared to make a sound.

Back at the Lin household, Dalia was arranging flowers in the small garden. Seeing her daughter return, she smiled. "Saira, you're back."

"Yes," Saira replied, her voice choked with emotion.

Noticing her distress, Dalia immediately put down her scissors. "What's wrong? Did someone bully you?"

"Mom, why can't you be my real mom?" Saira cried, hugging Dalia tightly.

Dalia's heart sank. "Did someone say something behind your back?"

Saira shook her head, remaining silent.

"Was it Zuri who bullied you?"

"No, it's not that. Mom, don't blame her. It's my fault. I shouldn't be here, making her unhappy." Saira sobbed.

Dalia's face darkened. "What did she do to you?"

Saira shook her head, denying it.

Under Dalia's persistent questioning, Saira reluctantly revealed the 'truth'. "Natalie is my friend. She sued Natalie. Yes, Natalie was wrong, but it wasn't serious enough for a lawsuit. I asked her to back down, but she humiliated me in front of everyone."

Saira burst into tears again, and the servants, hearing the commotion, looked on with suspicion.