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.

staring at me for?!"

icy. "I'm looking at you, Aunt Edna. Watching you flail, terrified, like a bird with a broken wing. Watching you wrap yourself up in your own web, so

Edna raised

wrist, yanked it aside, and shoved

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

trying to turn this house

this place? Please. Even if you were, your reign is over. Face it, Aunt Edna-whatever power you had, it's

laughed—a raw,

little scandal can bring me down? I'm a tenured professor at Kingswell University! I've published dozens

you?" Sybil shot back her voice mocking, laughter bubbling up again. "That's rich! You always

statement. You've been

went wide. "No... that can't be... The university

swiped at her phone, and

data... Misappropriated authorship... Negligence and misconduct... Inappropriate language... Dereliction

teaching credentials... Papers

department! My performance reviews are

shattered. She began tearing through the living room, knocking things to the