Emily Blair couldn't help but think, Andrew Lane really was head over heels for Isabella Austin. He was meticulous, considerate—even now, he'd do anything to make sure Isabella didn't suffer a single slight.

But no matter how hard he tried, after tonight, Isabella would be branded a plagiarist for a long time to come.

The internet was a vast, wild place. Even if Andrew managed to hush most of it up, a few damning threads would still slip through the cracks.

Emily hadn't even left the campus when her phone rang-Ms. Carter was calling.

"Emily, could you come to the principal's office?"

"Of course," Emily replied.

As she approached the office, she could already hear soft sobs coming from inside Isabella's, unmistakably.

The room was crowded: several faculty heads, all three other event hosts, everyone looking grim and tense.

Emily knocked, and immediately every eye in the room turned to her-everyone except Andrew Lane.

He was draping his suit jacket over Isabella's shoulders, his hand gently resting on her as he murmured quiet words of comfort.

Emily met the principal's gaze calmly. "You wanted to see me?"

The principal frowned, suspicion written all over his face. "Emily, I've already asked the others. None of them played that last piano track. Was it you?"

All eyes focused on her.

Emily smiled, unruffled, and nodded. "Yes. Is there a problem?”

At her answer, Andrew finally looked up. His eyes were cold, sharp-a man used to being in charge, radiating pressure.

The principal's frown deepened; he glanced nervously at Andrew before lowering his voice and fixing Emily with a warning look. "Who told you to do that? If you act on your own and something goes wrong, you have to take responsibility."

Emily widened her eyes in feigned innocence. "Did I do something wrong?"

She lowered her gaze, putting on a wounded look. “Desire was a piece I'd practiced for months. I was supposed to play it at the anniversary concert, but then you switched me out at the last minute. I just thought, if I can't perform it myself, at least the piece should still be heard."

Her words made the administrators exchange uneasy glances. After all, it was true -they'd replaced Emily's performance with Isabella's without warning.

Emily bit her lip and looked up, her eyes pleading. “Maybe I shouldn't have taken matters into my own hands, but it's just a piece of music. Did I really do something wrong?"

The principal hesitated, his suspicion clear. “You really don't know what the problem is?"

Emily's expression was blank as she shook her head.

He clearly didn't buy it. "No matter what, this whole mess started with you. You need to clear things up online."

Emily pressed, "Clear up what, exactly? For whom? What am I supposed to clarify?"

Her persistent questions forced them to say out loud what no one wanted to admit— that Isabella had been accused of plagiarism.

From the corner, Ms. Carter watched Emily in silence, her face unreadable, her eyes coolly assessing.

The principal, growing more agitated, shot another anxious look at Andrew Lane. Seeing Andrew's darkening expression, he rounded on Emily and barked, "Emily Blair, people are accusing Ms. Austin of plagiarism! You need to set the record straight-Ms. Austin would never plagiarize!"

Out of sight of the others, Emily's lips twisted in a sly, mocking smile.

"Why should I clarify anything? If Ms. Austin didn't plagiarize, then the truth will speak for itself. No need for a public statement-otherwise, it just sounds like she's trying to prove a negative."

She flashed a knowing look at Andrew and Isabella. "Isn't that right? I believe Ms. Austin can handle it just fine."

Her sarcasm was so thick that no one in the room could miss the real message behind her words.