Chapter 100
Amber cut through the crowd, her gaze scorching into Claire’s back.
Before Claire could react, Amber seized her wrist and yanked her into a corner. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, voice sharp enough to draw glances from nearby guests.
Claire studied Amber’s flushed, stormy expression, arched a brow with a smirk, and held out her hand. “Well? I believe you owe me a gift.
They had agreed on this yesterday.
Claire wondered if Amber had forgotten about it. If that were the case, she’d be angry, for she had stayed up all night excited about this.
Amber batted her hand away and pouted, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
“What’s the rush! It’s in my backpack. I’ll show you after school.”
Claire huffed, “No, I want it right now. Amber, you promised you’d give it to me this morning. I got to school super early just to wait for you, and you even showed up late!”
For a split second, guilt flashed in Amber’s eyes, and her face looked a little awkward.
Sleeping with Sienna was just too comfy for her.
Sienna’s scent was all over the blankets, and she just couldn’t bring herself to get up. That was why she almost ended up late.
“Alright! I’ll give it to you in a bit,” she snapped.
Claire crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as she fixed Amber with a withering stare. “Don’t tell me you forgot my gift, Amber.”
Amber immediately denied it. “No, of course I prepared!”
She had gotten candies that Sienna gave her yesterday–she hadn’t even let herself eat more than a couple.
“Then show it,” Claire pressed.
“I’ll go get it,” Amber muttered, spinning on her heel and marching back to the classroom. She rummaged through her backpack before pulling out ten candies and thrusting them toward Claire.
Her gaze dropped, long lashes shadowing the embarrassment flickering in her eyes.
“Your gift,” she mumbled.
Claire took the candies from her, which looked gorgeous with unique wrappers.
Then she took out a box and handed it to Amber. “This is my gift for you–cookies I made myself.”
She had gotten up at five in the morning to bake them, and these were the best ones she’d ever made.
Amber took the box, opened it, and the rich milky aroma of the cookies wafted out. She let out a soft sound of approval,
“Good.”
After exchanging gifts, the bell rang, and they each returned to their classrooms. Claire unwrapped one of the candies and tasted it–her eyes instantly lit up with delight.
She’d assumed the candies Amber gave her were just something store–bought, but the moment she tasted it, she was surprised by how delicious it was.
She decided she’d have to pester the butler to get her these exact candies.
Mia found there was a faint, almost imperceptible smile on Claire’s face as she went around collecting homework.
She shot her a knowing grin and said, “Claire, you’re in a really good mood today, aren’t you?”
Claire normally carried herself with the stern poise of a homeroom teacher. But now, with her eyes sparkling and an unguarded smile playing on her lips, she looked like an entirely different person.
For the first time ever, she even gave the students who hadn’t finished their homework a few extra minutes to catch up.
She was about to greet Mia with a friendly nod, but then she suddenly remembered the love letter–everyone thought it was from Amber, but it was Mia who wrote it. She wondered why Mia framed Amber.
As someone straightforward, if something didn’t add up, she would confront it head–on. Turning sharply toward Mia, Claire cut straight through the pretense. “We both know you wrote that love letter.”
She wasn’t askin
a question; she was stating a fact.
Mia’s smile froze for a split second before vanishing completely, her tone turning stiff. “Claire, what are you talking about? I don’t get it.”
Mia’s eyes turned red as she looked at Amber, her voice trembling with hurt. “Amber, I want to believe it wasn’t you, but Claire swore up and down that you told her I wrote that letter. She even embarrassed me in front of the whole class, saying all kinds of things about me…”
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