To this day, Alicia still couldn't understand why the dean had suddenly changed his mind.
She stood frozen, cheeks burning with embarrassment as she nervously twisted a strand of her long hair, lips pressed into a tight line.
"I know exactly how poorly you're performing," the dean barked, his voice sharp as a whip. "Stop dragging down our grade's average. Show improvement in this month's exams—or else, we'll settle all accounts at once!"
Alicia's face went pale. She gulped audibly before stammering, "But sir, come on—what if I don't improve?"
Her forced smile melted like ice in the sun as she stared at the short, stern man, brows knitting together in frustration.
"No improvement?" The dean adjusted his glasses with a cold smirk. "Then prepare a 10,000-word self-criticism essay. And tr
