Within a few days, Sloane looked incredibly haggard.
Though she clarified that she was merely assisting the police with an investigation, the campus rumor mill was working overtime.
The theories were wild; the most ridiculous one claimed she had poisoned someone to death, and her powerful family had bribed the police to cover it up.
Sloane was too exhausted to even defend herself anymore.
She offered pale, tired smiles and stayed silent. She was just done.
When Claire ran into Sloane again, the older girl looked like a ghost whose soul had been sucked dry.
Perhaps out of sheer curiosity, Claire stared a little too long, and Sloane noticed.
"Claire," Sloane greeted weakly.
Though the past few days had been pure hell, her lifelong habit of maintaining a polite facade kicked in.
Seeing Sloane in such a pathetic state, Claire wasn't sure if she should feel pity or not.
"Are you doing alright, Sloane?"
Claire asked casually, but Sloane froze.
She was unsure if Claire was showing genuine concern or just mocking her.
Remembering the rumors she had allowed to circulate about Claire, the weight of her mistakes finally crashed down on her.
She carried her lunch tray and sat directly across from Claire. "Do you mind if I sit here?"
Claire had come to the cafeteria alone today.
Coincidentally, Sloane was also flying solo lately.
Unsure of what angle Sloane was playing, Claire didn't turn her away.
"Suit yourself."
Sloane sat down and looked at Claire with absolute sincerity. "I want to apologize for what happened before."
"I'm sorry!"
Claire raised an eyebrow. The proud heiress was actually lowering her head?
"I shouldn't have let those rumors hurt you. I finally understand how damaging they can be."
Under Claire's skeptical gaze, Sloane explained.
Claire understood perfectly. Sloane had tasted her own medicine and finally realized she was in the wrong.
But if apologies could fix everything, what were the police for?
Sloane had manipulated things behind the scenes, even if her pathetic admirer had done the dirty work.
Claire had already dealt with the guy, so technically, the matter was closed.
She guessed Sloane's apology was more about clearing her own conscience.
"Most people would choose to forgive when faced with an apology, but I believe it's perfectly fine not to forgive."
Claire locked eyes with her. "What do you think, Sloane?"
Sloane hadn't expected such a blunt response.
"Whether you forgive me is entirely your choice."
Claire smiled. "Exactly. If you're only apologizing because you suffered the consequences and felt the need to clear your conscience, then there's really no point
"I have a very stubborn temper."
Sloane opened her mouth but couldn't find the words.
She was getting a firsthand look at Claire's legendary sharp edges.
"Whether you accept it or not, my apology is genuine."
Sloane finally managed to say.
Claire shrugged. "Honestly, the rumors right now are just because the police took you in for
How are Morta
questioning. You didn't actually do anything wrong."
"Have you ever thought about asking the police to issue a statement clarifying things for you?"
Claire finished her last bite of food before dropping the advice.
Sloane satin stunned silence. It
with
wasn't until Claire walked away hertray that she realized what had just happened.
Had Claire really just taught her how to solve her problem?