Chapter 14: Getting Expelled
Eira entered the classroom with a gloomy face.
Callian hadn't come home last night. She told herself he'd probably been busy, caught up in work, but a nagging feeling wouldn't leave her.
She slid into her seat and pulled out her phone, almost without thinking. The screen lit up with news alerts, and her heart sank.
"Callian Reed Spotted with Mysterious Woman in Late-Night Stroll."
Another headline popped up.
"Who's the New Woman by Callian Reed's Side?"
Eira's fingers trembled as she scrolled through the articles; her breath got caught when she saw a photo.
Callian was with a woman, close, the two of them almost whispering to each other.
And he was wearing the same jacket from yesterday. Her heart felt heavy; her chest was being crushed with invisible water, drowning her lower with every word.
Just then, the professor called her name, pulling her out of her thoughts.
"Eira, the president of the university has requested to see you in the meeting hall. Right away," he said.
A murmur spread through the class.
A few students booed quietly, and someone whispered loudly, "Ooo, she's gonna get kicked out."
Eira took a shaky breath and stood up, avoiding the stares around her as she walked out of the room.
She reached the meeting hall, feeling the massive rocks of unease in her stomach.
As she entered, she froze.
Vanesa was seated with a smug look, beside her mother, Beatrice, who wore an icy, triumphant face.
Next to Beatrice sat Henry, quiet and unreadable. The university president stood there; he seemed like he was pleading for something.
"Good morn—"
The president cleared his throat. "You're Eira? Then please, sit down."
She took a seat, glancing from face to face; her heart started pounding faster.
The president looked at her, almost begging for her understanding in this situation. "Miss Eira, I… I have no choice. There are allegations against you for bullying Miss Vanesa, and… and there are many witnesses. I'm afraid you may be expelled from this university."
Eira's eyes widened. "What? This is ridiculous! Where's the proof? I haven't done anything!"
Vanesa sniffed like a dragon. "Proof? The way you even got into this university is suspicious, Eira. Who did you bribe to end up here?"
Eira clenched her fists. "I don't have to explain myself to you, Vanesa. I got in fair and square."
Beatrice leaned forward. "Enough, Eira. You've caused enough trouble here. We have reports from students who have all seen how you've treated Vanesa. This behaviour won't be tolerated by our family!"
Eira turned to the president, completely ignoring Beatrice. "This isn't true! I've done nothing to her. Why are you just taking their word for it?"
The president looked down, clearly torn apart. "Eira, these accusations… they're serious. And the witnesses are many. I… I don't know what else to do."
Vanesa scoffed, folding her arms. "Of course you don't, because you're guilty. Acting all innocent, playing the poor victim, but everyone here can see right through you."
Eira glanced at Henry, wondering if he was going to say anything. But he only sat there silently.
Beatrice continued, "Someone like you has no place here, Eira. You're out of your league, and just because you're married to Callian, it doesn't prove your status."
Eira's voice shook as she looked directly at Vanesa. "This is a setup. You're just trying to get rid of me because I'm not from your world, and you think that makes me easy to push around."
Vanesa smirked. "You've got one thing right—you don't belong here."
"Of course…" Eira muttered to herself.
Then Henry finally decided to raise his voice. "It's absurd for this university to allow someone so low to sit among students of real calibre. Do you think her kind deserves to be here?"
The president looked uneasy but cleared his throat, trying to hold his ground. "This student, Eira, earned her place here. She was at the top of her class and won a full scholarship based on merit. She's—"
Beatrice scoffed loudly, cutting him off. "Merit? Oh, please. I don't care what grades she supposedly earned. This girl doesn't belong here."
"Let me make this clear: if you intend to keep this… girl here, it could mean serious consequences for this university. Financial consequences."
The president's face paled, visibly beaten between the threats and his obligation to fairness.
Meanwhile, Eira looked at Henry; she felt her heart harden with every word of his.
'So this is the real you…?'
Any pity she had felt for him at the auction was gone. In that moment, she saw him for who he truly was.
He and his family didn't deserve her kindness, nor her respect.
Eira straightened in her seat. "So that's how it is, then? All this wealth, and yet you're threatened by a simple scholarship student?"
Vanesa frowned, her mouth tightening. "Threatened? Hardly. You're just a stain on this university's reputation."
Eira looked directly into her eyes. "A stain? Coming from a family who built their fortune on… what, exactly? Ever wonder how the rest of us know you're rich? Or do you think your money just appeared out of thin air?"
The room fell silent.
Beatrice's face turned cold, almost blue, but she tried to cover her reaction with a glare that was supposed to threaten Eira. "What are you implying, Eira?"
"Oh, nothing specific," Eira mockingly replied. "Just that… sometimes fortunes are built on secrets. Secrets like… oh, I don't know what really happened to Beatrice's brother. Quite a mystery, isn't it?"
Henry's face stopped moving; he looked like he was being possessed by a demon. "How dare you? And where did you hear such… lies?"
Eira leaned back in her chair, a small smirk forming on her lips. "Because my name is Eira Reed… Hax."
Nothing could defeat the silence now… not even a bird that bumped into a clear window.
"Yo-you…"
"Yes." Eira looked directly at Henry. "My name is Eira Reed Hax."