The hallway erupted into loud whispers as students eagerly gossiped about the confrontation.

Dorian Draven suddenly pushed his way through the crowd. "Show's over! Move it!"

He still carried that signature arrogant, rich-boy swagger. His aggressive tone was enough to intimidate the lingering students, sending them scattering down the hall.

Turning to Lemira, Dorian crossed his arms. "Did the Sinclairs really kill your parents?"

"Yes," Lemira replied evenly.

Dorian looked her up and down. "Then you're pretty damn lucky to still be breathing."

Lemira shot him a sharp, sarcastic smile. "If the monsters who did it get to live perfectly fine lives, why shouldn't I?"

Dorian choked on his words for a second. "Look, if you need any help taking them down, you can come to me."

Lemira stared at him as if he had lost his mind. What was his angle?

Dorian cleared his throat awkwardly. "Don't overthink it. I'm just offering a favor. Though, if you want to thank me, you could let me take you to dinner."

Lemira scoffed loudly. "I'll pass on the favor. If I say yes, your mother will probably show up tomorrow demanding I stay away from her precious boy."

His reputation as a spineless mama's boy was legendary across the city.

Dorian's face flushed with anger, and he stepped into her path. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? I'm offering you a lifeline, and you should be thanking me. Do you really think the Everharts are going to keep protecting you now?"

Lemira's expression turned frigid.

She glared at him. "My business has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"You should be flattered I even looked your way. Without the Everhart family backing you up, do you honestly think you can take on the Sinclairs?"

Dorian leaned in, his eyes mocking. "The Sinclairs and the Everharts are in bed together. The Everharts will protect them, and you are going to lose."

Lemira's eyes narrowed. "Get out of my way."

She had zero patience for his garbage.

Feeling thoroughly embarrassed and rejected, Dorian's ego snapped. "You're just Orion's used castoff, Lemira. Do you seriously think you're some kind of untouchable royalty now?"

Lemira shoved him aside and kept walking without missing a beat.

Furious, Dorian yelled after her, "You don't even know, do you? Orion and the Sinclair family will be sealing a marriage alliance soon you're nothing but a delusional nobody

you'll

dreaming of a crowver

wear!"

sŵnovels

Lemira's footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second, but she didn't look back.

She found Dorian's words utterly laughable. Orion marrying Sophia Sinclair?

That was ancient gossip from a lifetime ago.

But as she sat down in the lecture hall, her face was pale.

Janice leaned in, whispering, "Don't listen to him. Everyone knows Dorian is a total creep and a mommy's boy."

Lemira frowned, her mind drifting back to what Stella had tried to tell her that morning about the Everharts.

She had been too heartbroken to listen at the time.

But if Dorian was suddenly running his mouth about a marriage, had something actually happened?

After class, Lemira headed back to her dorm, but Stella wasn't there.

She wanted to ask her what was going on, but she refused to call and ask. That

would only make it look like she still cared about Orion.

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was Lucian.

"What do you want?" she answered dryly.

"It's about Mom and Dad's case. We need you to come home and talk. Asher and have some leads

regarding the crash, but we need to know what your lawyers are

planning so we can coordinate our strategies."

Lemira stayed quiet for a moment. "Fine. I'll be there later."

Since Stella still hadn't returned, Lemira grabbed her bag and headed straight to the Langston Estate.

It felt like a lifetime since she had last walked through these doors.

Stepping into the grand foyer, she

walked directly to the family memorial table and stood before her parents' portraits to pay her

coming soon. The truth will finally come to light, and the people who did this will pay."

respects. "Mom, Dad the tel. ne

From the stairs, a heavily pregnant Evelina waddled down, a smug smile plastered

on her face. "Without Orion Everhart backing you up, how exactly do you plan on getting this grand revenge?"

Evelina's voice dripped with condescension.