“…I heard she’s the reason Dr. Benson got fired.”

“Always has to have things her way. I bet she manipulated everything…”

The classroom buzzed with a cacophony of whispers as Blair sat at the back, her eyes fixed on the desk in front of her, attempting to block out the judgmental glances that sliced through the air like daggers.

Raina had executed her work well, spreading seeds of discord like wildfire, while Janica and Anne—who had once stood by her side no matter what when she was still the princess of the Wilson group—remained silent. They had not uttered a word in her defense since the rumors began. Instead, they sat together with their heads down, as if pretending not to notice, opting to protect themselves rather than risk being associated with her.

The heavy creak of the classroom door sliced through the noise, followed by the sharp click of polished shoes. The buzz in the room ceased instantly. Everyone’s attention snapped to the front as the new head of faculty, Dr. Herd, entered, his presence commanding the room like a dark cloud poised to unleash a storm.

“Good morning, students.” His gaze swept across the room, lingering on Blair for a moment longer than on anyone else. “I am here to make a special announcement.”

Dr. Herd continued, his gaze sharp as he scanned the students’ reactions. “We have made adjustments to the list of students selected to attend the prestigious International Medical Conference in the next three months.”

A wave of murmurs rippled through the room, and the tension was palpable.

“So, was this Blair’s plan all along?” someone whispered loudly enough for others to hear.

“She always has to be in control. Causing people to lose their jobs is her method of achieving her desires.”

Blair’s hands clenched into fists beneath the desk. She could feel the bitterness bubbling up around her.

Dr. Herd, oblivious to the undercurrent of rumors, continued reading from his list. “The first on the list, Spencer Brook…”

The name dropped like a bombshell in the room. Gasps rippled through the students, and Spencer, who had just entered the classroom, paused and a satisfied smirk spread across his face as he took a seat next to Blair.

Dr. Herd continued reading the list, each name accompanied by a palpable tension. Blair could feel the weight of everyone’s gaze upon her. But as Dr. Herd reached the end of the list, there was no mention of Blair Wilson.

The silence that followed was deafening.

“Dr. Herd,” Spencer called out, his voice louder than usual. “Are you sure there wasn’t a mistake?”

The room fell into an even deeper silence, all eyes snapping at Spencer.

Dr. Herd, who had already begun gathering his papers, paused. His expression remained calm, nonchalant by Spencer’s interruption. “There’s no mistake, Mr. Brooks. The list is final.”

Spencer’s smirk faltered completely as he glanced at Blair, as though expecting her to step in and claim her spot. But Blair remained silent.

Spencer’s voice grew louder. “But Blair’s name wasn’t called! There has to be a mistake—she—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Blair, who had been sitting quietly, reached out and tugged the hem of his shirt, pulling him back down into his seat.

“Spencer, stop,” she whispered, her voice calm yet firm.

Dr. Herd, unfazed by Spencer’s outburst, finished collecting his papers and began walking toward the door. As he passed Blair’s row, he slowed, his eyes briefly scanning her face. The room fell even quieter, everyone holding their breath in anticipation of what he might say.

“Ms. Wilson,” he said, his voice low but carrying across the room. “I hope you’ll reconsider your decision.”

“I made my decision, Dr. Herd,” she said, her voice unwavering. “I have realized something important in life. Ambitions are necessary, but survival comes first. It’s not just about what I want to become—it’s about making sure I can continue to live. I need to be practical.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Her words hung in the air, sharp and resolute. It wasn’t the first time she’d spoken those words; in fact, they echoed the same response she had given to the University of Uriel’s chancellor when she was called after she filed a formal request of transfer from the medical course to business administration.

Dr. Herd face mask of consideration. “You understand that switching courses will change your career trajectory significantly, right? You’ve invested a lot of time and effort into medicine. And you have completed a significant number of credits.”

Blair had taken a deep breath, her hands resting calmly in her lap.

“Medical course is expensive, and I’m already struggling to make ends meet. I can’t afford to chase a dream that might leave me drowning.”

Dr. Herd’s eyes narrowed, weighing her words as if he could sense the deeper currents beneath them. “Let’s discuss this in my office. I urge you to consider your decision.”

As the last echoes of Dr. Herd and Blair’s footsteps faded, the classroom fell into a heavy silence, a thick blanket of reflection settling over the students. They sat at their desks, the usual chatter replaced by an uncomfortable stillness, each individual lost in their thoughts.

“You all always wanted her to fail! Was it her beauty and intelligence that made you feel so small? You thought seeing her struggle would somehow make you feel better, but all it did was reveal your own insecurities!”

With one last look at their faces, Spencer shook his head in disbelief and stormed out of the classroom.

A few glanced at Blair’s empty chair at the back of the room, the sight stirring a mix of guilt and unease. They had rejoiced in her fall, had whispered behind her back and cast judgment without considering the weight of their actions. They had laughed at her misfortunes, convinced that her calm facade meant she was unaffected.

“It’s not like she ever did anything to us,” one student uttered, breaking the silence. “She always helped us, remember?”

Another nodded slowly, guilt creeping in. “She tutored us when we were struggling… she even lent some of us money when we were in a bind.”

The realization hit like a tidal wave. They hadn’t hated Blair; they had envied her. The envy had twisted into something dark and cruel. When her ties to her family had frayed, they had celebrated, believing it would finally bring her down to their level. However, she stood resilient, proving that even without her privilege, she was a force to be reckoned with.

But now, as they reflected, they saw through the veneer of invincibility she presented. Blair was still human, still vulnerable. Beneath the surface of her composed exterior lay a person who struggled to survive, who could only pray when life became too complicated.

Janica and Anne exchanged glances, a silent acknowledgment of their shared guilt. The remorse on their faces was apparent, reflecting a deep-seated understanding that they had let jealousy and fear blind them to the truth of who Blair really was.

Dr. Herd had escorted her to her new classroom, offering a few reassuring words that she could return to her previous department if she changed her mind.

As she settled into the back seat of the business administration classroom, she took a deep breath, feeling the magnitude of her recent decisions pressing down on her.

To her surprise, the classroom was buzzing with familiar faces, and her heart sank when she spotted Ezra and Samantha entering together. Blair furrowed her brow as she glanced around the room. She had expected to be in an introductory class, perhaps reviewing the fundamentals of business concepts. However, as she surveyed her surroundings, she realized with growing dread that this was a third-year class.

As Samantha caught her eye, her smile faltered for a moment before she turned to Ezra, who appeared equally surprised.

Blair quickly looked away and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Being in a third-year class is a good thing, she told herself. I can complete my degree sooner and enter the workforce. However, beneath that reassurance lay a twinge of anxiety.

The university conducted a thorough evaluation of Blair’s transfer application. Considering her background as a former heir to the Wilson Group and her exceptional performance as a medical student, the administration acknowledged that she likely possessed the knowledge and skills necessary to exempt her from certain prerequisite courses.

As Blair attempted to concentrate on her thoughts, Ezra turned to her with a slightly puzzled expression. “What are you doing in our class, Blair?” he inquired, his tone a blend of surprise and concern.

“Really, Blair? Are you giving up all your ambitions just to chase after a man?” Samantha, standing just behind her, chimed in with a smirk, narrowing her eyes as she spoke. Her voice was laced with condescension, and each word dripped with disdain.

Samantha arched an eyebrow at her silence, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. “Let me guess—are you running out of options? Is that how desperate you’ve become?”

Now, Blair could see Samantha for what she truly was: a white lotus, all sweetness on the surface but thorny underneath. It stung—not the insult itself, but the ease with which Samantha now spoke, unguarded and venomous. When Blair was still the Wilson heir, Samantha had always maintained a sugary, polite facade, never daring to confront her directly.

“I have nothing to prove to you,” Blair replied with a smirk. She opened her laptop, feigning ignorance to the intensity of Ezra’s glare directed at her.

Ezra’s voice dropped to a low, menacing tone, so sharp that it cut through her feigned indifference. he said, his words deliberate and chilling.

Blair felt her breath catch in her throat, and the smirk faded from her face. She hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over the laptop keyboard, but his cold eyes made it impossible to ignore his command.

No one else could instill fear in her like this—not even Kennedy Wilson, despite all his power and ruthlessness. Ezra’s fury was far more terrifying than his grandfather’s public outbursts.