Uncle John stood in the principal's office, his face grim as he handed over the folder containing the evidence he and Sophie had gathered. Mr. Sanders flipped through the contents, his expression growing more severe with every passing moment.
"This is serious," Mr. Sanders said, closing the folder and setting it on his desk. "Mona's actions have gone far beyond schoolyard mischief. We'll need to address this immediately."
Uncle John nodded. "I agree. Mary is in a coma because of what Mona and Ryan have done. This cannot go unpunished."
A few minutes later, Mona was summoned to the office. She strolled in with an air of confidence, though her smirk faded as she noticed the stern expressions on the adults in the room.
"Mona," Mr. Sanders began, his tone sharp, "we've uncovered evidence of your involvement in blackmail, harassment, and manipulation. These actions are not only a serious breach of school policy but also a criminal offense."
Mona's eyes widened. "I—I don't know what you're talking about!" she stammered.
Uncle John leaned forward, his voice firm. "Don't lie, Mona. We have the video you and Ryan took of Mary at the ceremony, and we know about your plans to use it to blackmail her. We've also spoken to students who witnessed your bullying. The evidence is overwhelming."
Mona's face turned pale as the words sank in. "It wasn't just me!" she blurted. "Ryan was the one who came up with the idea!"
"Ryan will be dealt with," Mr. Sanders said. "But this meeting is about you, Mona. Your actions have had devastating consequences for Mary and for this school."
As the principal outlined the disciplinary measures—immediate suspension, a permanent mark on her record, and exclusion from all school events—Mona felt her world collapsing.
The news spread quickly, and by the time Mona left the office, the entire school was abuzz with gossip. Students whispered and pointed as she walked through the halls, her head bowed in shame. Those who had once followed her now avoided her, unwilling to be associated with her disgrace.
At lunch, a group of students openly mocked her. "Looks like the queen bee has lost her crown," one of them sneered. Mona clenched her fists, her humiliation deepening with every snicker and whisper.
But the worst was yet to come.
That evening, as Mona sat in her room, trying to block out the day's events, there was a knock at the door. Mrs. Florence opened it to find two police officers standing on the porch.
"Good evening," one of them said. "We're here to speak with Mona about her involvement in a blackmail and harassment case."
Mrs. Florence's expression hardened. "What has she done now?" she demanded, stepping aside to let the officers in.
Mona appeared in the doorway of her room, her face pale. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"You're under investigation for criminal harassment," one of the officers said. "We'll need you to come with us for questioning."
Mrs. Florence turned to Mona, her eyes blazing with anger. "I knew you were trouble, but this? Do you have any idea what you've done to this family? To yourself?"
"Mom, please," Mona begged, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen!"
But Mrs. Florence was unmoved. "Don't call me 'Mom' right now. You've disgraced this family, and you've brought this on yourself."
As the officers placed her in handcuffs, Mona's sobs echoed through the house. Mrs. Florence watched silently as her daughter was led away, her face a mixture of anger and disappointment.
Mona's arrest sent shockwaves through the school and the community. For years, she had been the untouchable queen bee, feared and admired in equal measure. Now, she was a pariah, her name synonymous with cruelty and betrayal.
In the days that followed, more students came forward with stories of Mona's bullying, painting a picture of a troubled girl who had used her pain to hurt others. It became clear that her toxic behavior was a product of her harsh upbringing.
Mrs. Florence had always been a stern, unyielding woman, quick to criticize and slow to praise. After the death of Mona's father, her grief had turned into bitterness, which she often directed at her daughter. Their home had been a cold and unforgiving place, filled with harsh words and emotional distance.
Mona had grown up feeling unworthy and unloved.