Awakening - Her Light Cannot Be Dimmed
870 Words
Sandra's fingertips drummed heavily against Catherine's desk, creating a grating sound that seemed to freeze the classroom air. Students in the back rows held their breath, eyes locked on this battlefield about to explode.
"Who do you think you are?" Sandra's voice trembled with rage as she leaned down, practically hissing through clenched teeth, "Some wild girl from Brook Village dares lay a hand on my son?"
Catherine didn't even lift her eyelids, her fingers still tracing the edges of her book pages, as if the rough paper deserved more attention than the confrontation before her. Her indifference completely enraged Sandra.
In the next second, Sandra raised her arm and swung down viciously—
Only to have Catherine catch her wrist effortlessly.
The moment the girl stood up, her aura turned ice-cold. She backhanded Sandra with a crisp, clean slap across the face.
CRACK!
Sandra staggered backward, clutching her rapidly swelling cheek, staring in disbelief. Muffled gasps echoed from the back of the classroom.
"You dare—" Zack roared, grabbing the pointer from the podium and charging at Catherine, but she simply sidestepped gracefully and delivered a devastating kick to his stomach. He grunted and crashed into Sandra, both tumbling to the floor in an undignified heap.
The subtle sound of cracking bone was drowned out by Sandra's screams. She nearly fainted from the pain as Zack frantically called classmates to help lift her. Even as they left, she couldn't resist hurling threats: "You wait, Catherine! This isn't over!"
The classroom returned to silence.
Catherine turned to scan the back rows, her deep eyes cold as winter frost. Students instinctively shrank against the walls, as if crushed by an invisible pressure. But she simply sat back down and opened her book.
Trial Mission Phase One: Achieve first place in monthly exams.
Only by completing thirty missions could she resurrect Lucas.
She would not allow herself to fail.
When the bell rang, students flooded toward the courtyard like a tide for the school assembly. Catherine closed her book, organizing the knowledge pathways in her mind clearly before following the crowd.
Ten minutes later, Saint Crane Academy's courtyard was packed with faculty and students. Vice Principal Richard, wearing a dark blue suit with graying hair, took the stage to speak. Students listened half-heartedly until the student representative—Theodore Harrison—walked to the podium.
He wore the school's British-style uniform, his brown hair catching the sunlight with a subtle glow, his features as perfectly sculpted as classical statuary. The crowd immediately stirred with excitement as girls whispered and tracked his every movement.
"It's Theodore! He's still so dazzling..."
"Too bad he's already engaged to that Catherine..."
"Why her? She doesn't deserve him at all! Theodore clearly said Rosalind was his ideal type!"
At the mention of Rosalind, eyes unconsciously turned to a girl in the crowd. She stood with elegant poise, her hair cascading like a waterfall, her gentle temperament reminiscent of a nymph from Greek mythology, drawing admiring gazes from surrounding boys.
"This year's beauty queen contest is a foregone conclusion, right?"
"Of course, Rosalind is the perfect goddess—who could be more flawless?"
Just then, commotion erupted at the courtyard entrance. Sandra and Zack appeared with their arms in casts, faces grim as they mounted the stage. Theodore stopped his speech while Vice Principal Richard hurried forward with concerned inquiries.
"Look what your students did!" Sandra pointed at her swollen face furiously. "Zack and I were beaten like this by Catherine Williams—you must answer for this!"
The crowd erupted in shock.
That once timid country girl had actually dared attack a board member and her son?
Theodore's brow furrowed as he instinctively felt annoyed by Catherine's recklessness. Suppressing his anger, he tried to defuse the situation: "Mrs. Sandra, Catherine comes from a rural background and lacks proper upbringing. Please don't lower yourself to her level."
"Forgive her?" Sandra laughed coldly. "Is this how the Harrison family handles problems? Perhaps the Davis family needs to reconsider our partnership with you."
At the mention of family interests, Theodore's expression darkened: "I'll make sure Catherine apologizes to you until you're satisfied."
"Bring her up here now!" Sandra shrieked. "Otherwise nobody's leaving happy today!"
Vice Principal Richard quickly grabbed the microphone: "Catherine Williams, report to the stage immediately!"
The crowd automatically parted, creating a path as Catherine walked forward with composure. Sunlight fell across her, outlining her delicate features and cold temperament. Whispers rose again:
"That's really Catherine? It's like she's a completely different person..."
"The photos didn't capture her presence at all... she's even more radiant than Rosalind!"
"What good is beauty? She's caused such trouble—the Harrison family definitely won't protect her!"
Catherine ignored the surrounding gossip, walking step by step toward the stage as if approaching her own battlefield.
The moment she stepped onto the platform, homeroom teacher Hannah rushed over, pointing at her nose and scolding harshly: "Catherine! How dare you assault a board member and fellow student? Apologize to them immediately!"
Catherine gave her a brief glance, her gaze finally settling on Theodore and Sandra.
A storm was about to break. Yet the corner of her mouth curved into an almost imperceptible smile.
- Writer
