Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 805

From where Sybil stood, she could see the color drain from Edna's face in an instant. In a split second, her commanding, smug composure crumbled into panic and disbelief.

"No... that's impossible... It's only been one day, how could—"

Sybil cut her off. "Public opinion turns on a dime. You came home yesterday, crashed into bed, and slept like the dead. Anything could've happened while you

were out."

"Carlson—that little rat! Causing trouble on the campus forum wasn't enough for him? He—he actually dared to take it public?!"

"Why wouldn't he?" Sybil retorted. "You threatened to ruin his future, to stop him from graduating. What's worse than that? When you back someone into a corner, sometimes they leap. He'd rather take his chances than sit here and wait for you to destroy him!"

Crack-

Edna slapped her hard across the face.

"Whose side are you on, huh? If I go down, you think you'll be any better off?!"

But this time, Sybil didn't cry out or fight back. She just slowly turned her head, the side of her face already swelling where she'd been hit. The force of it spoke for itself.

at me

flail, terrified, like a bird with a broken wing. Watching you wrap yourself up in your own

Edna raised her hand

caught her wrist, yanked it aside,

letting you hit me! I'm a person, not your slave, and not your

Sybil, are you trying

scoffed. "You think you're the queen of this place? Please. Even if you were, your reign is over. Face it, Aunt Edna-whatever power you had, it's collapsing fast. Faster than you can

raw, triumphant

hands shook as she waved her phone in Sybil's face, sneering. "You really think this-this little scandal can bring me down? I'm a tenured professor at Kingswell University! I've published dozens of papers, won awards, brought so múch recognition to the department. You think one student's lies can destroy me? If

mocking, laughter bubbling up again. "That's rich! You always called me stupid, but look at you! Take a

released an official statement. You've been fired! Do you even

"No... that can't be...

strode over, swiped at her phone, and held

data... Misappropriated authorship... Negligence

of contract... Revocation of teaching credentials...

department! My performance reviews are spotless! There's no way they'd fire

composure shattered. She began tearing through the living room,