When They Beg, I Rise!

Orion's gaze was unfathomable, "You trust me this much, not afraid I might fool you?"

"What's there for you to fool me out of?"

Lemira looked at him squarely, "You're pretty much my only friend right now."

Orion's gaze briefly faltered. A friend? His lips curled slightly, and then he put on a stern facade, "Don't just trust people willy-nilly in the future, especially men." "Got it, I'm off."

Lemira waved, slinging her backpack over her shoulder as she left the infirmary.

Orion remained seated long after she'd left, his eyes catching the sight of the cake on the desk. Memories of a car crash scene, with a ruined birthday cake, flashed through his mind.

His head began to throb uncontrollably. Since that car crash, he hadn't touched cake again.

After a while, he got a call, "Mr. Everhart, Ms. Langston has safely arrived home." Only then did Orion hang up, his silhouette stretching long in the setting sun.

---

Back at the Langston residence, Lemira found Lucian sitting on the sofa, obviously waiting for her.

She greeted him without emotion, "Lucian."

Lucian looked up to find his distant yet defiant sister, unsure of what to say. He had suspected her of cheating when her grades suddenly shot up.

But it turned out her achievements were genuine. Except these years Lemira's were mediocre for her school grades, how come such drastic change?

Lucian realized Lemira had truly changed, and it wasn't just a phase of acting out. He felt both happy and lost.

The sister who used to center around him seemed gone. She was genuinely putting in the effort, not just being stubborn.

Lucian started to reflect, realizing he had looked at Lemira through filtered lens and indeed been neglectful of Lemira's feelings, especially with Alaric's stunt at school. Could this be why she changed so much? Lucian's voice was mixed, "Back so late, were you at the public library again?"

"Yeah."

Lucian sighed slightly, "Isn't it better here than at those public places? It's not safe out there with all sorts of people. Stop going to those libraries to study."

Lemira pressed her lips; there it was again, decisions made for her.

Lucian continued, "Evelina's grades have dropped badly, so I hired a tutor for her. You should join in. If Evelina struggles with anything, you can help her out. After all, you're classmates. When she was absent, you could take detailed notes for her." Lemira's gaze turned scornful. So, it was all for Evelina's sake; that was why she was asked to study at home.

Lemira stood tall, "I don't want that."

"Lemmy, I know that Alaric did wrong back at school, but you've already proved that you're capable. Eve is our family. Her dropping rank is because of the match, and since you won't join the team, you should make some sacrifice, assisting Eve with her grades. You've got the experience after all." Lemira only felt it absurd, "I refuse!"

Just two words would make her feel explaining was a waste of time.

Alaric burst out, pointing at her, "Lemira, have you no conscience? After all these years living off the Langstons, and you've contributed nothing. How can you be so shameless?"

Lemira found it ironic. In her past life, she had indeed tried her hardest for the Langstons, honing her gaming skills to lead the team to victory.

And what did she get in return? The result of Evelina's few tears could easily replace her, taking over the championship spot. This life, she wouldn't make the stupid mistake.

She coolly responded, "Fine, from today on, I'll move out of the Langston house and not use a dime of the Langston's money."

"Let's sever ties now," she thought.