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.

the chair and jogged over to the door. She gave it a quick double–knock, and the sound rang out in

open, revealing Eugene. He looked a little caught off guard,

side was tucked

he shifted to

time with her schoolwork” he explained, his voice softening. “So she can’t leave with you today. If

took a step back, wrinkling her nose. “Mr. Lambert,” she

down at her, one eyebrow raised. “Why?” he asked,

nose again. She was always extra sensitive to smells, and this time was no

but he didn’t 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

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

ducked into the restroom, then she slipped into the office and hurried over

Chapter 23

shook her head, her

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

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

strange, tense energy in the air. She didn’t want Mandy to be here when Eugene returned, so she took Mandy’s hand and began leading

gasped, surprised by how strong Quinlyn was. In just a few seconds, they were almost at

following her. “If you don’t leave now, I’ll tell everyone you’re tattletales

she said, her voice firm.

being called out was enough to make

restroom, he found the office empty. “They’re getting

his gaze falling on the ruler and marbles still on the

another teacher, clutching his stomach, came back for some medicine. Spotting Eugene, he smiled and said. “Mr. Lambert, giving extra lessons again! You’re

quietly moved the stuff on the table to a lower shelf and walked over, smiling These kids are the future,” he said “Happy to help

you are rare,” he said, impressed “I’m having lunch with the principal. You should join us–it could be a great chance to make a good

teacher was already pulling him along. “Let’s go. We don’t want to keep the