After several days of topical treatment, Shonna’s scars had faded considerably, yet they remained intimidating to behold. Nheless, this brave girl mustered the courage to return to campus.


    Upon encountering Tina, Shonna paused, thinking she was a fellow student at Ensford High, and greeted her with a smile, “Miss Reed, are you also a student here?”


    “Miss Reed is your Lead Teacher,” Mr. Stiller cheerfully informed Shonna.


    Mr. Stiller was overjoyed with ss 22D’s performance on the monthly test. He had always known that with Tina’s help, they would not only meet but exceed his expectations. Perhaps all of his students might even secure college cements, surpassing the original goal by arge margin. Many had doubted his decision to bring Tina aboard, but now their skepticism was silenced.


    Shonna expressed her surprise, “Lead Teacher?”


    Mr. Stiller nodded, suggesting to Tina, “Why don’t you show her to the ss?”


    With a simple acknowledgment, Tina led Shonna to ss 22D.


    On their way, Shonna was still trying to wrap her head around the idea that this girl, roughly her own age, was not only a magical doctor but also the new Lead Teacher people had been talking about for her deed of taming the unruly students of Ensford High’s ss 22D.


    “Scared?” Tina asked suddenly, as they passed other ssrooms where students pointed and whispered about Shonna’s scars.


    Shonna followed Tina’s gaze, their stares confirming the mockery she dreaded. It was once her greatest fear, but looking at Tina’s serene eyes, she felt an indomitable spirit rise within her.


    “No,” she replied with a smile. “Didn’t you say you don’t treat the weak? I will never let myself be weak again.”


    Tina nodded with a gentleugh, and they entered ss 22D.


    The first math ss had just ended, and the students of 22D were unusually quiet, deeply engrossed in their books or discussing math problems. Their recent test scores were a shock to themselves as much as to others, with the lowest ranking still impressively higher than before.


    Shonna had braced herself for a day of judgmental nces and mockery from her ssmates, knowing ss 22D’s notorious reputation. Yet, after Tina introduced her and showed her to a seat next to Velma, they only weed her with some apuse before returning to their studies.


    Unable to contain her curiosity, Shonna eventually asked Velma if her scars bothered them.


    “Why should they?” Velma responded quizzically. “Can your scars teach us partial differential equations or the chain rule for multivariable functions? No? Then it’s better to focus on our books.”


    Velma’s indifference was a shock. Even the infamous ss 22D was immersed in studies, leaving Shonna no room for self-doubt and only time for learning.


    Velma, ever the gossip, inquired whether Shonna’s family had sued Amber.


    “Yes, she almost killed me; she deserves to be in jail,” Shonna affirmed.


    After Amber’s arrest, Beatrice, Shonna’s mother, had provided evidence to ensure a harsher sentence. The Reed family had fallen into bankruptcy, unable to help Amber.


    Beatrice took it further, bribing prisoners from the same cell to ensure Amber received daily beatings, leaving her almost unrecognizable.


    As they talked, Velma’s expression changed upon spotting a familiar figure. “Isn’t that… Amber?”


    Impossible, Shonna thought, turning to see Amber, who looked worse for wear but was unmistakably out of detention.


    Amber approached with a sinister smile, “Shonna, we meet again.”


    “How are you not in detention?” Shonna asked, unsettled by Amber’s transformation from a proud peacock to a predatory vulture.


    “I was released, found not guilty,” Amber smiled darkly.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    “But still, you are expelled from the school,” Velma, fearless as ever, shielded Shonna, confronting Amber about her audacity to return to school after her expulsion.


    “Please be very careful about your words. Since I was found not guilty, how am I supposed to be expelled by the school?” Amber retorted sharply, warning Velma to be careful with her usations.


    “You shameless bit…” Velma apparently found it hard to ept such a result and was about to say something.


    Amber, however, suddenly raised her head, and the smile on her face was long gone.


    In the meanwhile, Tina, standing aloof on the third-floor corridor, was looking down at them.


    The sight of Tina rekindled Amber’s suppressed rage, reminding her of the humiliation and violence she endured in detention. However, she remembered Sean’s advice to bide her time, and to not underestimate Tina again.


    Taking a deep breath, Amber gave Tina a forced smile and walked away, leaving Velma and Shonna behind.