She’s Back, and Hell’s Coming with Her novel Chapter 156

She actually seemed rather pleased.

“Sabrina, Martha’s steak and pizza are so much better than anything you’ll find in town. You should try some,” Celine said, pushing a generous portion toward her with an easy smile.

Sabrina’s heart skipped. If Celine was suddenly acting friendly, it could only mean trouble—and trouble aimed squarely at her.

She ran through the possibilities. Yesterday, she’d gotten into a fight with Giselle at the school gates, but that alone shouldn’t have prompted this sudden warmth.

Suppressing her unease, Sabrina dabbed her lips with a napkin, stood, and left the dining room.

Celine’s eyes followed her retreating figure, a sly, wicked grin curling at the corners of her mouth.

***

When Sabrina walked into the classroom, every gaze landed on her. She could feel the judgment in their eyes—contempt, scorn, delight in someone else’s misfortune.

Last night, Elena had gone online, using an anonymous account to post stories about Sabrina’s past. She’d taken Giselle’s accusations, embellished them, and made everything sound painfully vivid.

The gossip dropped after midnight, just as most of the boys were logging off from gaming for the night and scrolling through their feeds. With so many of Celine’s admirers at school, the rumors spread like wildfire.

By morning, Sabrina’s supposed scandals were all anyone was talking about, trending on every school forum.

As Sabrina strode in like nothing had happened, Ayla, Lacy, and the others couldn’t contain their glee any longer.

When she walked past them, Lacy sneered, “Knocked up, abortions, sleeping around—what a trainwreck.”

Sabrina stopped in her tracks and fixed Lacy with a gaze as cold as ice.

Lacy had been waiting for a chance to take Sabrina down a peg, and now she had the perfect excuse. Besides, she hadn’t started the rumors—she was just repeating what everyone else was saying.

Gossip could destroy someone, and that was no exaggeration. It wasn’t uncommon to see headlines about a celebrity pushed to suicide by public scandal. With just a few taps on a keyboard, people could drive someone’s life into ruin—and still find pleasure in it.

The more miserable someone else was, the happier they seemed to be. They pinned their own weakness, cowardice, and vanity on someone else’s pain, never caring about the consequences.

Sabrina had endured too much already. She wouldn’t let their malice get to her, but she wouldn’t let anyone walk over her either. If someone tried, she’d make sure they regretted it.

Finley, sitting in front, glanced back at her, concern in his eyes. “Don’t let it get to you. Everyone knows those are just lies.”

Sabrina gave a soft, almost dismissive hum of agreement.

He turned in his seat to face her more fully. “Most of the girls here don’t like you. I think it’s because you’re beautiful—they’re jealous. Don’t let them get in your head. Once you get into college, you’ll have your own world.”

Sabrina managed a faint, grateful smile.