The Queen They Buried

Chapter 62

Carmen had just stepped into the classroom when she was instantly drowned in a flood of prying stares and hushed whispers.

A person asked, “Did you hear?”

Another said, “Everyone’s heard about it by now, alright? She cheated in the state competition and got Alec kicked out of the Painting Association. As for that Rithol Art School incident, like she didn’t know someone swapped her project. She probably just hired a ghostwriter.

“And that’s not all. She probably just got back from the new principal’s office. Those bullies who got someone killed were expelled, and word is, she was pulling the strings behind the scenes too.

“Appearances can be so deceiving! She always acted like such a sweet and generous person, who would’ve thought she’d turn out like this?

“The Wilson family is really unlucky, favoring this worthless trash over their own flesh and blood.

“Man, Aubree is totally killing it these days!”

One foot in the classroom, the other rooted outside, Carmen stood frozen, her fingers digging into the straps of her backpack until her knuckles turned white. Head slightly bowed, her eyes blazed with barely contained fury.

She thought, ‘Aubree is becoming more and more of a threat. Last night, Dad and Daxton even made me promise, in front of the whole family, that I’d find an opportunity to apologize to her! How humiliating is that?

‘Why should I apologize to Aubree? I didn’t do anything wrong!

‘Not only that, but Mom actually had my custom–designed gown altered for Aubree! How dare she? That dress was mine!‘

Carmen seethed as the gossip swirled around her. She thought, ‘It’s all Aubree’s fault! Why couldn’t she have just stayed missing after being abducted? Why did she have to come back and steal my family, my identity?‘

Lizzie Kim snapped, “That’s enough! Don’t act like you all haven’t taken favors from Carmen before!”

A person said, “Everyone knows you’re Carmen’s biggest suck–up.”

Lizzie’s face flushed crimson with anger. Unable to argue with so many people, she rushed up to Carmen, grabbed her, and pulled her toward the classroom. “Don’t mind them, Carmen,” she said urgently, “They’re just jealous of your family’s status, and the fact that you’re with Alvin.”

A person said, “Hilarious! Didn’t you see how annoyed Alvin was with her last time?”

Carmen finally snapped. She shook off Lizzie’s hand, stepped forward, and delivered a stinging slap across the speaker’s face. “Since when do you get to judge my life?” she spat, her voice trembling with rage.

The girl who got slapped was just as hot–tempered and instantly swung back to return the blow, but a quick–thinking classmate grabbed her arm.“Let it go, let it go,” the classmate urged, “She’s got the whole Wilson family behind her. Hit her today, and you’ll be the one paying for it tomorrow.”

The girl said, “What a joke! Mark my words, you’ll never measure up to Aubree, not in this lifetime!”

‘Aubree, why is it always her?‘ Carmen seethed inwardly, her frustration reaching a breaking point.

deaf to Lizzie’s words of comfort. The farce only came to a temporary halt

of the lesson. Her mind

me apologize to Aubree? Fine then,

flickered

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7

Chapter 62

was followed by an extended break. Seniors could use the time freely, but nearly everyone stayed in the

textbooks.

from the

she saw who had come for her,

to her. Aubree immediately took a wary half–step

trying that ‘you pushed me down the stairs‘ trick again?” Aubree

her voice soft and pleading. “Sis, you’ve got me all wrong. I

her face up, putting on the most pitiful, doe–eyed

you really think that’s possible?” Aubree rolled her eyes. She

that’s possible either.” Carmen suddenly smirked, her tone doing a

raised her hand and delivered a stinging slap to her own face. The sharp crack echoed unnervingly through the stairwell. “Sis,”

her cheek as tears welled up in

at the Wilson family, who the hell is she putting on this show for?‘ she thought, unable to

leave, only to be stopped by that

What the hell is this?” Daxton

and silently mouthed, “Dearest sister, my brother is here at school today, just

the entrance. The moment Daxton arrived,

Carmen thought smugly, ‘No matter which brother shows up, they’re

eye, Carmen

charged forward, yanking Carmen behind him protectively. “You’re bullying

impressed that Daxton could still move so swiftly after the beating she’d given him, or to roll her eyes at how he never seemed

her eyes,

pent–up rage from old and new grievances, Daxton lunged forward, only for Bryan to intercept him at the last

what really happened just now? If it wasn’t your fault, I’ve got your

was speak, and

bit flustered. She simply hid behind Daxton,

gang used to beat people up here all the time

I slapped myself? No cameras here to prove

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Chapter 62