Chapter 3
The next day, I went to a class reunion.
One of my classmates talked about crazy stuff he'd encountered at work.
"You know, if a student's got problems, they're probably the healthiest one in their family.
"I've got this kid, Ryan Parker, repeating senior year. He's so gloomy it's scary, so I went to his house to check things out.
"But as soon as I got to the door, I saw his parents going at each other like it was life or death. Seriously wild.
"One had a knife, the other swung a stick thick as my wrist, and Ryan just sat on the doorstep with his head in his hands.
"Never seen anything like it. My first instinct was to turn around and call the cops
"But the second Ryan's dad saw me, it was like he had split personalities. Dropped the stick, put on this big, friendly grin like nothing happened.
"Whatever we talked about doesn't even matter. With parents that unpredictable, it's a miracle Ryan even shows up to school."
People kept calling Ryan a kid, but we were only a few years older.
I kept quiet. Their mess, not mine.
But reality slapped me in the face pretty fast.
My mom called. "Hey, your dad wants you home ASAP.
"Some woman showed up at the company this morning, yelling through a megaphone about how the Brightwell heiress is sleeping around... Anyway, it was all utterly filthy.
"Your dad's worried about your safety, so come home and stay put until he sorts it out."
With such a big scene, even if Mom tried to gloss over the details, it was impossible to miss.
I opened the local news app. The whole thing was trending—videos everywhere.
Linda was ranting nonstop, accusing me of using tutoring as a cover to hook up with both William and Ryan.
Then she was saying I was in my underwear with William in the living room, playing some "two-player game" while she was out.
The comments were savage.
[Guess the heiress got bored with the good life and decided to roll in the gutter?]
[I bet it's true. Rich girls have daddy issues—falling for older guys is a given.]
[If she's that desperate, hit up the nursing home. But wrecking families? Shameless.]
My hands slowly clenched into fists. Anger flooded through me.
I'd tried everything to avoid their drama, but this family clung to me like a disease—wouldn't let me breathe.
Linda caused a scene at my dad's company, not just wrecking my reputation but trying to drag Brightwell down.
No escaping their mess now.
"Honey, where are you? I'll send the driver and bodyguards," Mom said, calling repeatedly, voice anxious.
"Please don't. If anyone photographs me leaving with security, the afternoon news will make me look guilty—like I'm hiding something."
"Don't be ridiculous. Let them gossip—your safety comes first," Mom replied immediately.
I tried to reassure her. "Mom, relax. I've got this.
"There are probably as many paparazzi staking out my place as bodyguards. I've dealt with that woman—she's all bark, no bite. She wouldn't dare actually touch me.
"If Dad has to step in for PR damage control over someone like her, we're handing our rivals a golden opportunity. They'd cash in on this drama."
"So... what should we do?" Mom asked, still worried.
"Mom, remember that warning video you showed me a few days ago, trying to stop me from tutoring?"
"Yeah. That girl got harassed by the guy, and the wife refused to pay her, then accused her of seducing her husband."
"Exactly. I'll drop 300 thousand and make this go viral."
I let out a cold laugh. "Linda's from nowhere, so she doesn't care what people think.
"But the Evans family cares about reputation. Too bad for her—I'm filthy rich.
"If they want to play the public opinion game, fine. Let's show them what pay-to-win really looks like."