Her blood simmered. Her jaw was clenched so tightly that more pressure and it might have broken it. She couldn't speak. Even if she hadn't clenched her jaw, she wouldn't have been able to because her body trembled, glaring at the members of the Staff of the university.
She felt so bare and exposed. A prize been hung up for everyone to see and criticize as she stood in the middle of the respectable professors, who sat down as Dean Sinclair explained everything to them.
They checked the security footage and it was like she had predicted. She wasn't sure what she was in the video because her eyes were blazed with fury and only saw red.
The other professors had been called to speak on behalf of Kayla to lighten her punishment. The best comment she got was that she always turned her assignments in late but she asked for an extension period.
She wasn't a bad student nor was she the best student. Her relationship with her professors was non-existent. She didn't care for them nor did she warm up to them because to put it frankly, she didn't care. Teach her and grade her papers so she could pass. That was the life that worked for her. This was the reason most people thought she was a stuck-up rich snub.
The worst part was Professor Maynor gave an ultimatum. "If you don't expel her then I'll have to leave!"
The problem was why did this man hate her so much? She had offended many people in her life but he didn't make the list. Their relationship was strained because she came to his classes late but he wasn't special as she went to all classes late, except for Oliver's.
"So what do you have to say to yourself, Miss Hastings?" One of the professors asked, staring at her up and down, disappointed.
"I. Did. Not. Cheat." That was all she could say, as her chest heaved. "I am not a cheater and I would never do it! Someone is trying to frame me!"
"Who would be trying to frame you? Last I understood you don't have any kind of connection with your classmates so why would they have any feelings for you, feelings as strong as hatred?" Maynor glowered at her. A mocking smile tugged at his lips, beautifying his ugly face.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe you. Because you seem willing to leave your job because of something like cheating. Tell me, professor, why are you so adamant about me leaving this school!?"
"You… you! The audacity of this girl! Can you see?" He looked to his colleagues, scoffing, "Can you see how preposterous this girl is? Accusing me, her professor!"
"Why can't I accuse you? You accused me so I'm just returning the favor since you keep attacking me! What? Don't like the feeling?" Kayla inclined her head, a sneer on her face.
"You have to expel her! She is rude and doesn't feel an ounce of remorse!" A female professor chimed in righteously.
"Remorse!? Why would I feel remorse for something I didn't do!? You all should be the ones investigating this issue not accusing me falsely!"
Innocent or not, Kayla was making things worse. The Dean sighed deeply. She wasn't giving the professors a good impression of her by talking back.
Kayla's reasoning was simple. They didn't like her, so they didn't care if she spoke to her nicely. Whatever people thought about her meant shit. They believed she did it so why bother?
"Is it agreed that we are going to rusticate her?" Maynor confirmed, a smug smile on his face as he glanced at Kayla. Kayla ground her teeth, slowly.
"Would you like to say something to defend yourself, Miss Hastings?" The Dean asked, exasperated.
Before she could speak, the door of the office opened to reveal someone she hadn't expected.
"Mum?" Kayla did a double-take to ensure she wasn't seeing things.
Ariana Hastings gracefully walked into the room with a flattering smile and dressed impeccably. A green gown that hugged her figure and black heels to match her black lipstick. Her Auburn hair was curled with a portion resting on her shoulders.
"Mrs. Hastings. We are sorry to disturb you but you or your husband needed to make your way down here." Dean Sinclair said politely.
Ariana's eyes scanned the room and saw all the professors were grim and none of them spared Kayla a kind look.
"What is this about?" She asked after she was offered a seat. Kayla found it hard to control the snicker that left her lips. Why was she here? She didn't need her parents to be here because she knew how this would go.
"Your daughter, Kayla, was found cheating in my exam Hall!"
"What? Is this true, Mitchie?" Kayla rolled her eyes.
"Of course, it's true, Mrs. Hastings." Another professor answered and Ariana gave him an icy look. "I was not asking you professor." she turned to Kayla, "Is this true?"
For fucks sake! "Yes, it's true! It's true! I did cheat! Isn't that what you want to hear Mother!? What difference would it make if I said I didn't do it!? You already believe that I did." She snapped her head away from her mother's shocked face.
Ariana knew that her daughter wasn't very fond of her and they didn't get along but she didn't know that their relationship was this far gone that she would yell at her in public. What exactly happened to cause this divide between them?
However, years of etiquette, helped Ariana school her features. "My daughter has always had a temper since she was young but do forgive her. Nonetheless, I wholly believe that my daughter would never cheat on her papers. Thus, questioning her is equal to questioning the Hastings name."
Not many people knew that their family was having financial struggles. The Hastings family was one of the oldest families in the country and their status was close to the 'Big Six.'
Oliver was the anomaly in the group. But what shocked Kayla was that her mother was defending her. She blinked again. Why would her mother do that?
"We have evidence to prove that your daughter cheated and with the way things are looking, it's in your and your daughter's best interests to confess."
"Are you threatening us, Dean?" Ariana narrowed her eyes, and her left eye twitched. "My daughter would do no such thing so I suggest you reassess your evidence."
Maynor chuckled. "I finally know where your daughter gets the personality trait from."
"I beg your pardon?" Ariana looked affronted and Kayla eyed him.
"Your precious daughter has been caught cheating and you shamelessly defend her? You're both cut from the same cloth."
"Professor Maynor," Dean Sinclair warned.
"Remember who you are speaking to, professor."
"Or what? You'll wipe me off the face of the earth? Do you think your power holds any weight here? Power that you don't even have anymore. It's the way your daughter throws her weight around that leaves her to not have any allies in this crucial moment."
Ariana inhaled sharply, rising to her feet, "Friends? Why would she need friends? What is the use of having such allies when she has her family to back her up? So let me make myself clear," Ariana's Hazel eyes swept across the room, "My Mitchie is innocent and we will find evidence and you will all apologize for your actions. I take your leave!"
Kayla followed her mother stunned. Why would her mother pretend so much for her? If she had agreed that Kayla did cheat, she could have gotten off easily, which was what she expected.
"Mitchie, are you okay? Can you believe the nerve of those people? Especially that bald man, claiming you would cheat?" Kayla wasn't a genius like her sister. She didn't fancy reading, that much Ariana knew about her but when she studied, she got good marks.
"You can stop the act now. No one is looking." Kayla let out a breath, rubbing her temples.
"What act? I get called that my daughter was found cheating and I had to face those vultures and that's all you have to say to me?" Ariana gasped, hurt flashing in her eyes but Kayla didn't flinch.
She deadpanned, "I've not been your daughter for the longest time, just a tool for you and father to use to save your only daughter's life."
"Your sister has suffered more than you could ever know. She almost died and you were the only one that could save her. We needed your bone marrow, Mitchie. Stop dragging your sister into this and blaming us for something that we didn't do!"
"I'm not ready to have this conversation with you, mother. Not today. Not ever. Thank you, seriously thank you for coming but I'll figure things out and won't expelled. Someone's just trying to frame me." Kayla licked her lips, calming herself by counting in her head.
"Who? Who would try to frame me? Let me help you." Ariana held Kayla's hands but the latter, wrenched her hand away, coldly
"I don't need your help. You already have so much to do for Evie's wedding planning," She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Are you still upset about that? Evie and Wyatt are-"
She held up her hand, shaking her head.
"I want to help you, Mitchie because you are my daughter and I care for you." She said softly but when she tried to stroke Kayla's cheek, she flinched. Her heart tightened. Where did it go wrong?
"You don't even know that I don't like being called Mitchie nor do you know anything about me. Bye, mum. Evie probably needs you more. Wedding planning and all." Kayla hesitated but turned around and left her mother standing there.
That was a lie. She did care. She loved her daughter but now her daughter didn't love her. Why had Mitchie changed so much? What happened to the girl who climbed into her bed to comfort her when Evie had a relapse, telling her that it would be okay? Ariana sniffed, blinking the tears away.
A tear slid down Kayla's face. It was for the best. She needed to push them away before she… she left.
She wiped her tears with her sleeve. She didn't need all that now. She was going to find out who framed her and why because her expulsion letter had already been sent to her e-mail. Two days. She had two days to set the record straight.
Whoever put Maynor up to this would pay a hefty price. She knew the man had a personal agenda against her, for whatever reason and there was only one person that hated her as much as she hated them, Reigna fucking Powers.
"Jack I need your help. Tell Rosa and Cherry too. Meet me at Brown's cafe in the next thirty minutes." She told him over the phone. No one messed with her and didn't end up paying for it.
She needed to act fast before Oliver found out because if he did, God knew what he would do.