Fake heiress Real heroine

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

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With that, Harriet stomped off, her ponytail beaming behind her. A few boys tried to drag Quindyn away, waving their superhero toys in her face. But she just stored her ground.

“Wait,” she said, her mind racing. “Where’s the teacher’s office

Launch had emptied the halls, leaving only a few stragglers shuffling toward the stairs

The teacher’s other was halfway down the hallway Quinlyn saw the nameplate and noticed the eene silence

seemed like no one was there,

The closed curtains only added to her confusion, but she was sure Mandy had come this way.

She didn’t want to knock, so she quietly dragged a chair from the next classroom, stood on it, and squinted through a crack in the curtain

The room was dim, but she could just make out shapes shifting in the shadows. Eugene was the first to catch her eye–tall and already stripped of his suit jacket. His white shirt was dusted with chalk, and he was working on unbuttoning it

She figured he was just changing out of his dirty clothes, but then she noticed Mandy standing by the desk, and something

felt off.

It reminded her of back home, where the old bachelors would sometimes strip down in front of girls without thinking twice. The older women would catch them and call them “creeps”

And it wasn’t just Mandy in the room. There were a few other girls with ponytails, all standing there quietly with their heads down.

there for a beat, then hopped off the chair and jogged over to the door. She gave it a quick double–knock, and

He looked a little caught off guard, but he quickly grinned. “Hey, Quinlyn. What’s up?” he asked, his tone

off and only one side was

widened, and he shifted to the side, blocking her view

explained, his voice softening.

nose.

paused, his smile faltering just a bit. He looked down at her, one eyebrow raised. “Why?” he asked, his tone curious.

She was always extra sensitive to smells,

want to make a fuss. He waved dismissively. “Alright, I’ll wash my hands. You go get something to eat,” he said, walking past her toward the restroom without even thinking

figured most kids her age would never step into a teacher’s office, and anyone inside would definitely wait for his permission to leave. But he had no idea

and hurried over to Mandy. “Are you getting extra

Chapter 23

her eyes wide and

pressed on. “Are you scared: Is there something in here?

was ordinary–just a phone on the table and Quinlyn saw nothing to be afraid of. But the silence from Mandy and the other girls was eerie,

didn’t want Mandy to be here when Eugene returned, so she took

gasped, surprised by how strong Quinlyn was. In just a few

looked back when the realized no one was following her. “If you don’t leave now, I’ll

nobody likes a tattletale,” she said, her voice firm.

and the thought of being called out was enough to make them grab their backpacks

“They’re getting bold,” he muttered, running a hand through his

the ruler and marbles still on the table–remnants

Eugene, he smiled and said. “Mr. Lambert, giving extra lessons again!

stuff on the table to a lower shelf and walked over, smiling These kids are

rare,” he said, impressed “I’m having lunch

lit up as he nodded eagerly. But before he could grab his things, the teacher was already pulling him along. “Let’s go. We don’t want to keep the principal waiting, the