Chapter 355:
Zaylee’s face flushed. “It’s not just a necklace! You failed to take it from me, so now you’re acting like it’s worthless. That thing means more to me than anything else I own. Even more than my life!”
At the word “sunflower,” Rylie’s eyes flicked toward Zaylee’s neck. The necklace dangled there, glinting under the light. “More than your life?” Rylie’s voice carried a dry edge. “What makes it so important?”
Zaylee lowered her gaze. A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she glanced over at Gorman. Her lips barely moved when she whispered, “Brad gave it to me. You were there. You know what it means.”
Melany knew that too. She gave Rylie a small nudge on the shoulder. “Maybe I should apologize.”
She hadn’t done it, but the idea of the Morgans getting upset with Rylie made her nervous.
Before anyone else could speak, Gorman jumped in. “That’s the right move. Admit what you did in front of the others, accept the consequence, and we can end this here.”
Zaylee gave a sweet nod. “The punishment may be a little severe, but if it keeps Melany from making the same mistake again, then maybe it’s necessary.”
Rylie didn’t flinch. “No. I won’t allow that. The decision needs to be made after both families have discussed it.”
Zaylee stared, caught off guard. “What exactly are you saying?”
Gorman explained, “Apparently, Melany’s sister recognized your family. She already made the call. The meeting should begin any minute now.”
Zaylee’s head snapped up. “You called my mom? How did you even get her number?”
Rylie’s stare was sharp. “Do you even have a mother? Isn’t Brad the only person you ever list?” She folded her arms. “All three emergency contact slots were filled with Brad’s name. That gave me no choice.”
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Zaylee went still. Her words stumbled out. “Rylie, you know how busy Brad is. You shouldn’t bother him with something so minor!”
Rylie’s tone sharpened. “Minor? You claimed that necklace means more to you than your life. If your life’s in danger, isn’t it right to contact your family?”
The argument sat at the edge of her tongue but never left. Zaylee clutched her uniform. “If he gets dragged into this, I’ll feel awful. Why do you always have to humiliate me?”
Rylie remained unshaken. “You keep making messes you can’t fix alone. I had to call someone. Do you see a problem with that? You didn’t even put your own mother’s name down. That says a lot.”
Gorman, who had stayed silent, finally spoke. “What’s going on with her mother? Is it her job or something?”
Zaylee’s face turned stiff. “It’s… complicated. Just difficult to explain.”
Her clothes were always polished. Her mother’s weren’t. The woman was dressed in plain, faded cotton, the kind worn by those in the countryside. The thought of her mother stepping onto school grounds made her stomach twist. She didn’t want anyone to know.
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