From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 90

**Chapter 4**

In a remarkable turn of events, the orphanage found itself under the benevolent gaze of the government, which initiated a sweeping series of reforms. The once dreary and neglected dormitories began to transform into spaces that radiated warmth and care. Professionals dedicated to nurturing the children’s physical and emotional needs were brought in, ensuring that we received not just basic care, but the attention and affection we had long yearned for.

Gone was the former director, a man whose iron grip had stifled our spirits and crushed our hopes. He now languished in a prison cell, serving a five-year sentence for his oppressive regime. The news of his downfall felt like a breath of fresh air, a much-needed reprieve for me and the others who had endured his tyranny. The weight of fear that had settled over us like a heavy blanket was finally lifting, and I could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from my fellow orphans.

As I navigated this newfound freedom, I reflected on my complicated relationship with those around me. They had been both my tormentors and, at times, my protectors—a paradox that left me feeling adrift in a sea of conflicting emotions. Now, with the director’s fall from grace, I watched as former bullies began to flock to me, showering me with compliments and desperately seeking my approval. It was almost comical to witness how quickly their loyalties had shifted, revealing the fickle nature of power and allegiance.

Meanwhile, the director’s five illegitimate sons were experiencing their own reckoning. Once reveling in their positions of authority, they were now on the receiving end of the same bullying they had dished out so freely. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction as I observed this shift. It seemed that the universe had a way of balancing the scales, and I was here to witness it.

A month passed, and then Rhett arrived, breathless and visibly anxious. His face was a canvas of concern as he approached me. “Scarlett, I need to talk to you. Ashley is sick, and I’ve been too busy taking care of her to come see you.”

As he spoke, he lowered his gaze, his usual bravado replaced by an almost apologetic demeanor. A pang of annoyance flared within me. Rhett had a knack for leaving me in the shadows while he tended to Ashley, offering just enough warmth to keep me tethered to him. It felt like a cruel game of hot and cold, and I was weary of being the one left out in the cold.

“Scarlett, I’ve found a school for you, and there are people willing to adopt you,” he said, his eyes a mix of hope and caution.

I forced myself to maintain a polite facade, though I felt a growing distance between us. “No need, thank you.” I knew that the government had already arranged schooling for us orphans, but his offer felt more like an afterthought than a genuine solution.

Yet, fate has a way of playing its cruel tricks. I soon discovered that Ashley and I had been placed in the same class. Within just three days, the air was thick with gossip, whispers swirling around me like a dark cloud. I became the subject of cruel rumors, the centerpiece of a narrative that painted me as someone who had “seduced the forty-year-old former orphanage director.”

Boys tugged playfully at my straps, while girls shot me looks filled with disdain, disgust, and an unspoken desire to cast me out. Ugly nicknames began to fly my way, with “the bus” becoming a favorite among my peers. I knew without a doubt that Ashley was behind this orchestrated campaign of humiliation.

I kept a close watch on the days ticking by, knowing that my biological parents, whom I had painstakingly managed to contact, would soon be returning to the country. The thought of their support loomed on the horizon, a beacon of hope that filled me with a surge of confidence.

However, during yet another recess, Ashley decided to escalate her taunts. She hurled her pencil case at the back of my head, her voice ringing through the air like a bell tolling for my downfall. “Hey bus, your clothes look new today—who did you get them from this time?”

Laughter erupted around us, cruel and mocking. “Hahaha, exactly!” one voice chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.

“So disgusting, this bus…” another girl sneered.

That was the final straw. I felt a rush of adrenaline as I rose to my feet, my heart racing with a mix of anger and determination. I marched straight toward Ashley, her smug expression only fueling my resolve. Grabbing her hair, I pulled her head down towards the mop sink.

“Ah! Ahhhhh… let me go!” she screeched, her eyes wide with fear.

A wicked smile crept across my face. “Your mouth is so filthy, always spouting those nicknames. Ashley Wilkes, we both came from the same orphanage.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Butler wanted to adopt me originally—I gave that spot to you! The orphanage director targeted you, and I stood up for you.”

“Now you repay kindness with cruelty, spreading lies and bullying me, you ungrateful wretch!”

“No, ah! It’s not…” she stammered, but I seized the moment, pouring dirty mop water into her mouth as she tried to protest.

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