Chapter 73

"Ouch!" Violet exclaimed, tumbling to the floor.

Lifting her head, she locked eyes with Emilia. Violet's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, their redness making her look wounded and betrayed.

No words slipped from her lips, but the silent accusation in her tearful stare spoke louder than any complaint.

People standing nearby exchanged glances, their attitudes toward Emilia shifting on the spot.

"Why would she shove someone out of the blule?That's downright cruel. What a shame. For someone who just set a new record here, her attitude is disgraceful."

"She probably thinks she's untouchable now that she's broken the record. It's a joke, really. Life hands talent to people like that?" "Don't be fooled by her looks. Sure, she's stunning,but underneath that, she's heartless. If she's willing to humiliate someone right here, I can't imagine what she does when nobody's watching."

Emilia found herself surrounded by pointing fingers and icy stares.

Sebastian rushed to Violet's side. "Violet!" he called out, his hands helping her to her feet.

Violet kept her head bowed, quiet sobs slipping out,while she carefully revealed her scraped hand for everyone to see.

A faint, satisfied smile tugged at Violet's mouth, her eyes gleaming with hidden triumph. Right here, in the open, she was determined to ruin Emilia's reputation.

"You're bleeding..." Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he swung around to shoot Emilia a murderous glare.

His anger erupted. "Did you really come here, Emilia,just to start something with Violet because you heard she would be at the academy? You wanted to hurt her so you could get your sick satisfaction, isn't that right? You're foul. You're already in the mud and want to drag the rest of us down there with you. Pathetic!"

Sebastian looked about ready to lash out, but Violet caught his sleeve and spoke up, her voice trembling,barely holding back tears. "Sebastian, please, don't blame her. I was the one who lost my balance. Emilia had nothing to do with it."

Violet's intervention wasn't for kindness. Deep down,she hoped to throw more fuel onto the flames.

"Why would you say that?" Sebastian shot her a look of disbelief. "You always stand up for her, and she only gives you grief in return."

"I..." Violet's gaze dropped, and her teeth pressed into her lip, matching her phonily wounded expression.

Without missing a beat, Sebastian aimed another sharp glare at Emilia. "You're getting off easy because Violet spoke up for you. You owe her an apology." There was something in the way he barked his demands that reminded Emilia of Rodger. She found it downright grating.

With a dramatic flourish, Emilia pretended to clear out her ear, then flicked her eyebrow up and grinned."Give me one reason I should say sorry. She admitted herself that she fell on her own-so why am I getting blamed?"

Violet hadn't counted on Emilia twisting her own statement back at her. She ground her teeth together, careful not to let anyone notice. The more Emilia pushed her point, the more she managed to sour the crowd against herself.

Sebastian was bound to back her up, and it was clear the others would rally behind her as well. People rarely looked for the real story. Most just felt sorry for whoever seemed most helpless. She understood exactly when to let her weakness show, and she wielded it like a secret weapon.

Emilia, though, never softened. Her stubbornness grated on everyone around her. Men, especially, seemed to bristle at women who refused to play gentle.

There was a certain power in appearing delicate-it made men want to step in and protect the weak.Emilia never figured out how to make that work for her. She clung to her sense of justice with both hands, but that only made her situation worse every time.

"If you don't apologize right now, you might find yourself shown the door," warned Sebastian.

Violet chimed in, her voice coated in false concern,"Sebastian, please don't do this."

He straightened his shoulders and replied, "I won't let anyone walk all over you. You'll get the fairness you deserve today."

With a flicker of amusement in her eyes, Emilia answered, "Alright then. If that's what you want, P'll say sorry."