Chapter 40

Marian started trying to blend in with the other kids. At first, the children were happy to see her willing to talk. Even the teacher thought Marian had just been nervous on her first day and that’s why she hadn’t spoken much.

Now, on her second day, she was actively engaging with the other kids, which the teacher saw as a big improvement. The teacher even reminded the other children to be kind and include Marian.

So, despite the bad first impression, the kids were still willing to play with her. But as time went on, they began to notice something: no matter what game they played, Marian always tried to dominate.

For example, during group activities, she always wanted to be the leader, bossing everyone around. If another child didn’t know a word, she’d be the first to call them stupid.

By the end of the morning, every kid in her study group had been insulted at least once. She had a whole arsenal of insults: calling one kid dumb, another clueless, and yet another “cross–eyed.” The kids she insulted were the same ones who had eagerly welcomed her earlier. In just two classes, their enthusiasm for Marian had completely evaporated.

A few of the kids secretly discussed the situation and, during lunch, approached the teacher to say they didn’t want to be in Marian’s group anymore. The teacher asked why but didn’t think too much of it, assuming it was just a personality clash. She moved Marian to a different group.

In the new group, Marian continued with the same behavior. She loved showing off and had a knack for putting others down.

But these kids weren’t pushovers. If they’d grown up in households where they were constantly belittled, maybe Marian’s tactics would’ve worked. But these children came from wealthy, influential families and had been treated like little emperors and empresses since birth. They weren’t about to let Marian boss them around.

Instead of falling in line, they started to dislike her. By the end of the day, Marian had managed to alienate half the class. The second group of kids also banded together and asked the teacher to move Marian out of their group. The teacher was. puzzled but agreed, moving Marian to a third group.

There were only four groups in the class, with seven kids in each. After being shuffled around so much, Marian began to realize her approach might be the problem. So, in the third group, she changed her strategy.

She held back her urge to show off and insult others, keeping her mouth shut and behaving herself. For the rest of the day, the kids in the third group got along with her without further complaints, and no one asked to switch groups

Still, managing to upset half the class in one day was quite the achievement

again

After school, as Marian left the classroom, she wasn’t surprised to see Yvonne surrounded by a group of kids from another

class.

laughing, with Yvonne at the center like a little celebrity. When they reached the school gate, the

“Bye, Yvonne!”

“See you tomorrow!”

see you after the

held onto Yvonne’s hand before leaving. “Yvonne, you promised you’d come to my house on

her voice soft and sweet. “I’ll make

away by her nanny. Yvonne then spotted her family’s car and ran over, her little backpack

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26 Mar

Chapter 40

bouncing behind her.

Jeremy

was surprised to see someone else inside besides Jeremy–Oliver, the

with regret. If things hadn’t gone wrong the day, he would’ve

hair. He asked her about her day, and Yvonne answered every question obediently, sitting

picked up by her driver. She noticed Oliver wasn’t

family’s

puppy? Is it the one from the orphanage? Did the Adlers adopt it, or did

it to them!

her. But as she thought it over, she realized something didn’t add up. If the Adler family had real evidence, they would’ve already told her family. And so far, she hadn’t heard anything. Nina still

to distance her family from

Oliver from adopting a dog from the orphanage, Marian threw a tantrum as soon as she got

Oliver couldn’t help but notice how different the house felt compared to his last visit. The Adlers home used to feel cold and lifeless, but now it was filled with the scent of flowers,

so close–knit, the envy of everyone. His easygoing dad, his gentle mom, and his laid–back older

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