The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 161

One look at Penelope’s designer outfit was enough to tell you she could afford a laptop without batting an eye.

“You must be Timothy’s sister. He never mentioned you,” the guidance counselor said, forcing a smile. “We asked you to come in because there seems to have been a little misunderstanding between the students…”

“You call it a misunderstanding?” Penelope arched an eyebrow. “Because from what I overheard outside, it sounded more like a mob trial where you were trying to bully my brother into confessing to something he repeatedly denied doing.”

“Well, a student named Colin reported his expensive laptop missing. Shortly after, an identical one was found in Timothy’s locker. It certainly looked suspicious.”

“‘Found’?” Penelope scoffed. “What right did any of you have to search someone’s private locker without their consent?”

The counselor fell silent.

“At best, that’s a shocking lack of manners. At worst, it’s a gross invasion of privacy. And if we’re going to throw around accusations, maybe I should suspect the search party of planting it there!”

“Now, that’s taking it too far.”

“Is it? You’re all faculty at this university. When I suggest Colin might be a thief, you rush to his defense. But when he claims my brother is a thief, you take his word for it. Does that seem fair to you?”

Her rapid-fire questions left the faculty members speechless and shifting uncomfortably. Penelope’s presence was overpowering; even her gaze felt like an attack.

“I’ve never heard of him having a sister named Penelope. Who are you really?” Colin demanded with a frown.

Penelope glanced at him. He had the same entitled, punchable face as his sister, Rebecca.

“Timothy, who am I?” she asked without turning to face him.

Timothy pouted, not wanting to answer.

She instructed Colin to hand over the laptop. He refused at first, but after a sharp word from the counselor, he grudgingly complied.

Penelope wasn’t satisfied. “That laptop belongs to my brother. It was in his locker until they illegally searched his belongings and decided it was theirs. From the very beginning, this has had nothing to do with him, yet you’ve all berated him, falsely accused him, and even…”

Her eyes fell on the bruise forming at the corner of Timothy’s mouth, and her voice turned to ice. “Even assaulted him.”

“It’s my laptop! A charity case like him could never afford it!” Colin insisted.

Just then, a shrill voice echoed down the hall, growing louder with each passing second. “Which motherless bastard laid a hand on my son?”

Mrs. Winters burst into the room, spotted Colin, and immediately rushed to his side. Seeing a faint bruise on his cheek, she launched into a tirade.

“Who did this? Who hit my son? Have you no shame? My boy is so well-behaved, he wouldn’t hurt a fly! And you, teachers! What kind of school is this where students can be assaulted? If my son is seriously hurt, I’ll have all of your jobs!”