When They Beg, I Rise!

Lemira noticed the online whispers guessing her true identity. It was probably her classmates stirring the pot.

But she figured, attending the event tonight would blow her cover anyway.

So, why fret about it leaking early?

[As a classmate of Ms. Langston, I can vouch the voice in the livestream is a dead ringer for Lemira's.]

A troll was quick to counter: [If it's really Ms. Langston streaming on PixelStage, why wouldn't she be on VibeCast instead? Your lies need more work!]

[Ms. Langston nailed a twelve-hit combo in the game. With such talent, why would the Langstons ever let her strike out on her own?]

[Streamer Lemon trying to ride on Ms. Langston's coattails is laughable. As if everyone can pull off a twelve-hit combo.]

Most people still doubted Lemira was SweetLemon.

Reading through the heated forum debates gave Lemira a headache.

At that moment, she received a message from Jessica: [The trolls in the forum are unbearable, probably Evelina's mindless fans. Maybe you should step in and set the record straight?] Lemira chuckled in response: [Let's wait for tonight's event. The truth will come out, no need to waste breath on them.]

Even if she tried to explain, some would remain skeptics.

Glancing at the clock, it's nearly noon.

room where Thaddeus, yawning with his hair all over the place, greeted her: "Morning,

noon. Was the

Lemira was curious.

"Oh, it's a blast. If you're curious, I

warned as he stepped out of his study,

"Come on, she's college-bound. She's practically an adult, able to date freely. A night out at the bar is

face was stern: "Spare me the

your outfit ready for tonight? Maybe head

commented coolly: "She's attending an

dress

"I picked out a

for a stylist friend of mine. Go this afternoon, tell them you're a

"Thank you."

Langstons would have handled

crucial thing was tonight's event. Evelina

though Lemira didn't

this was her

since

Langston household. She didn't

want to be underestimated

about proving a point,