Pursuing Her (Sophie and Tristan)

Chapter 5 Tell Me Who She Is

simple as they seemed.The academic head promptly assigned Sophie to the worst-performing class in the school. After receiving her school uniform, Sophie was handed over to the homeroom teacher of Senior Class 8, Derrick Hayes.Before Josiah left, he said to Derrick, “I’ll have to trouble you to keep an eye on Sophie, Mr. Hayes.”“It’s no trouble at all, Sir! You should head back. I’ll lead Sophie to her class soon,” came Derrick’s courteous reply.That was the only answer he could give, seeing as every student at Jipsdale Premier High had a wealthy or influential parent that the teachers could not afford to offend.Derrick happened to be in charge of the third lesson of the day for Senior Class 8, so he personally escorted Sophie to her new classroom.When he arrived at the classroom, he announced, “Hi, everyone, we have a new student in our class. She’ll introduce herself. Please give her a warm welcome.”Sophie walked onto the podium at the front of the room and wrote her full name on the board.Then, she declared, “Hi, everyone, my name is Sophie Tanner.”Sophie Tanner? Her new classmates immediately whispered furiously among themselves.“Isn’t she the Sophie Tanner who was expelled five years ago?”“I think so! She used to be in my class.”“I heard she had an abortion around tenth grade. Do you know if it’s true?”“It was! Back then…”Derrick piped up, “All right, everyone, settle down. There’s a seat at the end of the classroom, Sophie. You can take that.”Sophie obediently went to the last row and ignored the spiteful glares directed her way.The students in Senior Class 8 did not produce spectacular grades. Naturally, most of them came from elite circles.Their upbringing meant they were the farthest thing from cowards. Once Derrick ended his lesson, Queenie Lane sauntered to Sophie and taunted, “It really is you, Sophie! I can’t believe you’re thick-skinned enough to return to Jipsdale. If I were you—”“Shut your trap, Queenie,” Sophie cut in abruptly. Queenie had always been a member of Willow’s clique and had had her fair share of picking on Sophie in the past.Sophie was nursing a headache after a sleepless night in an unfamiliar house, and she was in no mood to entertain Queenie’s prissy attitude.Alas, Queenie did not fear Sophie at all. She grabbed Sophie’s hand and continued, “We’re not in Horington anymore, Sophie. Did you think you were something in Jipsdale?” She still believed Willow’s sister was as meek as before.Sophie’s beautiful eyes narrowed dangerously.In the blink of an eye, she twisted her hand and grabbed Queenie’s wrist, swiftly bending it backward.“Ahh!” Queenie yelped in pain.Their classmates noticed the threat in Sophie’s eyes, and no one dared to step forward to break up the fight.Sophie declared, “I don’t want to cause trouble, but I’m not a target for you to pick on, either. Remember this, Queenie. I’m not the same Sophie from five years ago. Not just anyone can trample over my dignity. Oh right! I’m sure you remember what you all did to me five years ago. I’ll make sure you all have a taste of your own medicine soon.”She suddenly felt as though coming back had been the right decision.After that, she shoved Queenie roughly, causing the latter to fall to the ground.Queenie was dumbstruck.Sophie was utterly fearsome.I can’t allow Sophie to remain in Jipsdale. We have to get rid of her!Sophie spent the last two lessons of the class sprawled across her desk, asleep. After school ended, she grabbed her bag and left.She had just set foot outside the school gates when she spied Felix waiting outside.Mr. Langston must’ve changed his mind because of them!Before Felix had said a thing, Sophie decisively got into the car beside him.Felix did not utter a single word of the speech he had prepared.With impatience brimming in her gaze, Sophie announced, “Tristan Lombard, right? I saved you last time, and you helped me today, so we’re even. Don’t look for me again.”She believed Felix and Tristan were complex characters, and she did not wish to be involved with them further.Meanwhile, Tristan replied, “My life is worth a fortune.” He merely asked Felix