Chapter 3 You Never Learn
1167 Words
A sharp pain shot through his back—but Stephen barely noticed it.
His mind was completely consumed by Elizabeth.
She'd gone pale with fear, small and fragile in his arms.
Feeling someone catch her, Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes.
She met Stephen's gaze—innocent and wronged.
'This is my adopted sister.'
Stephen stared, almost dazed.
'I feel so sorry for her.'
"Stephen, what the hell are you doing?" Lorna's heart clenched at the sight. She barely managed to keep her composure.
Stephen quickly pulled his hand back—but his eyes never left Elizabeth.
"Are you okay?"
They asked at the exact same moment.
Elizabeth smiled, then pressed her lips together. "Thanks for protecting me, Stephen. I'm fine. I accidentally knocked into my thermos just now. Don't get the wrong idea. That hot water must really hurt. Let me take you to the nurse's office."
'This is practically begging for attention.'
Lorna was grinding her teeth.
But on the surface, she put on a face like she was about to cry. "Stephen, you're doing this right in front of me—with another woman. Did you even think about how I feel?"
Stephen sighed, walked over, and patted Lorna's head. "Don't be silly. You know you're the only one in my heart."
Lorna finally smiled at those words.
Stephen then added, "But Eliza is my adopted sister. I have to protect her, too."
Lorna's smile froze.
Elizabeth wasn't done. "That's right, Lorna. You don't have to doubt who I am anymore, do you? Stephen and I really are just adopted siblings."
Stephen frowned. "What doubt?"
People around him quickly filled him in.
Lorna watched his face go cold. She heard everyone speaking up for Elizabeth.
'This is bad. The situation is turning against me.'
She said, "Stephen, I'm sorry. It's just—I care about you so much. I was scared someone would take you away from me... But now the misunderstanding is cleared up. I believe she's not my sister. Eliza, I'm so sorry. I mistook you for someone else. Can you forgive me?"
Lorna looked guilty—as if she really knew she'd messed up.
But Elizabeth saw right through it.
'She's just protecting her sweet-girl image. After all, a guy as powerful as Stephen would never fall for some crazy, unreasonable bitch.'
So Elizabeth smiled. "It's okay, Lorna. You and Stephen worked things out. I don't mind taking a little hit."
That's what she said—but she quietly lowered her head. From Stephen's angle, all he could see was her wiping away a tear when she thought no one was looking.
For some reason, Stephen's heart ached.
From what everyone had told him just now, he already knew the hot water wasn't an accident.
Lorna's friend—Laura—had thrown it on purpose.
But Elizabeth chose to cover for Lorna, just so he and Lorna wouldn't fight anymore.
His back still stung. Even someone with his training could barely take it.
'How much worse must it be for fragile Eliza?'
Stephen's face turned cold. "Lorna, that was out of line."
Lorna hadn't expected him to say that after she'd apologized. She froze.
Then came something even more surprising.
Stephen asked, "That friend of yours who threw the hot water at Eliza—who is she?"
Everyone's eyes landed on Laura, who was trying to back away.
"I..." Laura panicked. She wanted to defend herself.
But Stephen was never the type to let someone off that easily.
"Go withdraw from school." His tone left no room for argument.
Laura completely lost it.
Stephen's family was the school's biggest investor. Even the principal had to greet Stephen.
Back in the day, following Lorna around, Laura could do whatever she wanted.
And now—she was getting kicked out, just because she messed with Elizabeth.
Laura looked at the other students for help. But instead of speaking up for her, they just made snide remarks.
"Laura, you went too far this time. No matter what, you don't throw hot water on someone."
Laura glared at Wyatt—the guy who had just said that.
'He was the one who threw a ball at Eliza's head. Now he's switching sides?'
But this wasn't the time to argue. Terrified, she grabbed Lorna's arm. "Lorna, can you help me? Please. I only threw that water because of you."
Lorna almost had a heart attack hearing that. She saw Stephen about to ask her something.
Pushing down her panic, she gave a bitter smile. "Stephen, Laura went too far, throwing that hot water at Eliza. But she thought I'd been wronged. She did it for me. Stephen, for my sake—can you let her off just this once?"
Stephen said, "Fine."
Laura let out a breath of relief. But then Stephen spoke again. "Lorna asked for mercy for you. That doesn't mean you're safe. From now on, don't ever show your face in front of Eliza again. And you will apologize to her."
Elizabeth saw the look on Lorna and Laura's faces—so bitter, so humiliated. A flicker of amusement passed through her eyes.
'Round one. I win. But this is nothing.'
Laura couldn't accept it. Her voice came out tiny. "Sorry..."
Elizabeth pressed her lips together and lowered her head without saying a word.
Just as she expected, people started defending her.
"Sorry? You call that an apology? Who can even hear you?"
Laura ground her teeth and raised her voice. "I'm sorry. Eliza, please forgive me."
After saying that, she felt completely humiliated. She stared at Elizabeth like she wanted to tear her apart.
Elizabeth put on a magnanimous smile. "It's fine."
She turned to Stephen. "Problem solved. Stephen, let me walk you to the nurse's office."
Stephen nodded. He looked at Lorna standing to the side—and in the end, his heart softened. He took her hand, ready to go together.
Lorna finally felt a little better.
'See? I knew it. Stephen still cares about me.'
She turned to Elizabeth and gave her a triumphant smirk.
'No matter how good you are at pretending, so what? I'm his real girlfriend. You're just an adopted daughter. You really think you can break that taboo?'
Elizabeth saw it. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
'Lorna. Still trying to provoke me? You never learn. Fine. Let me show you what a real high-level sweet-act girl looks like.'
She followed behind them. As she passed Laura, she deliberately bumped her arm.
When Laura looked over, Elizabeth flipped her off—quick and clean.
And she said, her voice low, "You look so pathetic when you apologize."
'She was faking this whole time?'
Laura couldn't believe it. She instinctively reached out to grab Elizabeth. But the moment her hand extended, Elizabeth lurched forward—as if Laura had pushed her.
Stephen heard the noise and turned around.
The next second, Elizabeth crashed into him. They fell to the ground. And in front of everyone, their lips barely brushed.
- Writer
