Amidst the lively gossip, Anne’s voice cut through the din with an idea that quickly caught on. “Hey, how about we make this more interesting? Let’s place a bet on whether Blair will come back to finish her studies or if she’ll drop out.”

The suggestion quickly excited everyone. The cafe’s energy shifted as students turned their attention to the proposal, their curiosity piqued by the prospect of turning Blair’s downfall into a game.

“Let’s do it!” someone called out, their enthusiasm infectious. “I’m in for two grand on her dropping out. There’s no way she’ll come back.”

Another student nodded eagerly. “Yeah, I’m betting 5 grand she’ll disappear. I mean, can you imagine her walking back into this place after all the embarrassment?”

The bets quickly piled up as more students joined in, their voices overlapping as students eagerly put their stakes that she wouldn’t show her face around the campus again.

Spencer Brooks, who had been observing with a smirk, finally spoke up. “I’ll take the opposite bet. I’m wagering she’s already in the classroom while you were busy gossiping about someone else’s life.” His voice carried a sharp edge of mockery as he added. “After all, she has never been late a day at school.”

He leaned back, his smirk widening as the bet unfolded. He crossed his arms, clearly amused by the situation. His eyes gleamed like he already knew the result.

The room fell into a brief, intrigued silence as the students processed Spencer’s unexpected bet. A flicker of doubt crossed their faces. Could it be that the rumors weren’t as solid as they had believed?

One student’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait... What if all this talk about her being kicked out is just a baseless rumor?”

The tendency spread among the group. They knew Blair well enough to understand that she wouldn’t easily let such an insult slide. If she had been so publicly shamed, her pride might have driven her to take striking revenge.

With classes about to start, students reluctantly left the cafe, their minds still preoccupied with the morning’s heated discussions.

As they entered the classroom for their medicine lecture, the mood shifted to one of anticipation and lingering confusion, their collective breath catching in their throats. There, seated in the front row—Blair Wilson.

She was in her usual spot, the one she had claimed as her own and where she always sat to command attention and exude her presence. Her elegant posture and serene expression were unmistakable.

For a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. Their eyes were wide with disbelief. The sight of Blair, so calm and composed in her familiar seat, was as shocking as seeing a ghost.

“Is that... is that Blair?” someone stammered, unable to tear their eyes away.

Janica, trying to make sense of the situation, muttered, “But how? The rumors... we thought she’d dropped out.”

Of course, they knew it was Blair Wilson! No one else exuded a noble beauty like her that seemed almost ethereal in the natural light streaming through the large windows. Her straight, dark hair cascaded down her shoulders and framed her face with an elegance that spoke of timeless sophistication. And her amber eyes, their golden hues catching the light in a way that made them appear almost otherworldly. Those eyes, framed by perfectly arched brows, were both piercing and inviting.

Raina, Janica, and Anne exchanged uneasy glances as they approached Blair, their previously casual demeanor now tempered with a forced cheerfulness.

Raina took a deep breath and forced a warm smile. She approached Blair with an air of practiced nonchalance, as though the morning conversation had never taken place. “Blair! It’s so great to see you again. We were all wondering how you’ve been after the quite long summer vacation.”

Anne, trying to maintain the facade, added with exaggerated cheerfulness, “We miss you. I mean, I miss everyone!”

Janica, equally eager to smooth over the morning’s gossip, joined in. “Oh, Blair, you look amazing! That outfit is stunning—” She paused as she thought she saw a cat’s fur in her dress. “Just like always.”

Her tone was sweet, and she gave Blair a friendly pat on the shoulder.

Blair turned toward Janica, her amber eyes softening with genuine warmth. As she uttered her heartfelt thanks, “Oh. Thank you!” her face illuminated with her signature optimistic smile.

The trio exchanged puzzled glances as Blair thanked Janica with genuine warmth. Typically, she would usually accompany her gratitude with a display of new wealth, showcasing her opulent lifestyle.

Janica, her smile faltering slightly, tilted her head and asked with a hint of curiosity, “Thank you for what?”

“Did you just help me with that fur on my dress?” Blair asked, her tone light and her eyes wide with innocent curiosity.

“C’mon, Blair. We know you’re allergic to fur,” Raina said with a chuckle, as though she’d just heard a funny joke.

“So you patted my shoulder to comfort me? That’s so kind of you,” Blair said, her voice full of genuine appreciation. “You always know how to make me feel better.”

“Of course, because we’re your friends,” Anne said, her face bright with a smile. The eagerness to pry was obvious in the way her eyes flicked between Blair and the others, who shared the same look of anticipation, clearly hoping for more details.

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Blair took a deep breath, her expression shifting to one of solemnity as she met their eager gazes. “Actually,” she began, her voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of sadness, “my family disowned me. It’s been really tough.” She hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with the weight of what she was about to reveal. “I’m bound by a non-disclosure agreement, so I can’t share all the details. But I want you to know that it’s been a difficult time for me.”

As Blair’s revelation hung in the air, the classroom fell into silence. The room was that every whisper seemed amplified. Everyone fixed their eyes on Blair, holding their collective breath as they waited for more details.

Raina, with a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, nodded sympathetically but couldn’t hide the glint of satisfaction in her eyes. “Oh, Blair, I’m so sorry to hear that. It must be incredibly tough for you,” she said, her voice dripping with false empathy.

Janica chimed in. “It sounds like you’ve been through so much. I’m sure everything will work out on time. Just remember, we’re here for you.”

Anne’s eyes narrowed slightly as she processed Blair’s revelation, her tone laced with skepticism. “Blair, I have to ask—are you sure you’re not playing some kind of prank on us? It just seems so hard to believe that parents who’ve always spoiled you and treated you like a princess would turn their backs on you like this.” She leaned in, her expression a mix of doubt and genuine curiosity. “I mean, it’s not something you’d expect from a family that’s been so indulgent and loving. Are you really telling us the truth?”

Blair’s face lit up with a hint of relief as Anne’s words resonated with her own thoughts. She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded document. As she unfolded the paper, she held it up for everyone to see. “I understand it’s hard to believe,” she said, her voice carrying a note of quiet determination. “That’s why I brought proof.”

The document, a legal-looking form, displayed clear markings of official seals and signatures. It outlined the terms of her estrangement, detailing the legal agreements and the conditions of her separation from her family.

The document circulated among the students, causing a quiet murmur of surprise to spread through. “So, where are you living now?” Raina asked, her tone softening with concern.

Janica nodded in agreement, her voice filled with empathy. “And how are you managing on your own?”

Blair opened her mouth to respond, but before she could fully explain, the door to the classroom swung open with a loud creak. Spencer Brooks strode in, a self-satisfied grin plastered across his face. He seemed to bask in the attention he’d just drawn from the now silent room.

“Well, well, well,” Spencer drawled, his voice dripping with smugness. “Looks like I was right after all. I won the bet!” He made a show of holding up a stack of papers, presumably the betting slips, as if they were trophies.

Blair’s face tightened, her relief from sharing her predicament replaced by a sharp pang of irritation.

“What bet?” she asked, her voice filled with controlled anger.

“Oh, you know how it is,” Spencer said, shrugging his shoulders dismissively. “Students gossip, and sometimes things just get blown out of—”

Before he could complete his sentence, Blair’s hand shot out with sudden, fierce precision. Her palm connected with Spencer’s cheek in a stinging slap that cut through his words.

“Is exploiting someone’s struggles for your amusement?” she was confronting Spencer with the full force of her emotional turmoil. “I knew you didn’t like me, but I never thought you’d stoop so low as to exploit my suffering like this.”

The students watched in stunned silence, unable to tear their eyes away from Blair. They had always known her as confident and poised, but this was a side of her they had never witnessed before. Her face was a turbulent storm of raw emotion—her eyes, usually so composed, now glimmered with unshed tears, reflecting a deep, unspoken pain.

Spencer smirked, his face showing no sign of the sting from Blair’s slap. “At least I’m not surprised to see you here—” He glanced at her friends, surrounded her and added, “especially since everyone else in this room bet you wouldn’t show your face again. Funny how your so-called friends seemed to wish so.”

Blair took a deep breath, her voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of warning. “Spencer, if you’re trying to use my situation to turn my friends against me, you’re making a grave mistake. It’s one thing to hate me, but dragging my friends into this is crossing a line. I suggest you focus on your own behavior and leave my friends out of it.”

She glanced briefly at her friends before turning her gaze back to Spencer and smirked proudly.

Her eyes lit up with an almost visible excitement as she continued, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. “And anyway, I never saw what happened to me as a downfall! I’m still the same person I’ve always been—strong and brilliant. In fact, this whole situation has only fueled my motivation even more, and I haven’t been expecting anyone’s help!”

She took a dramatic breath; her smile widening as she leaned in slightly, clearly eager to share her plans. “I’ve got this incredible list of goals, and let me tell you, it’s not just about bouncing back—it’s about coming back stronger than ever! I’m talking about achieving things that will blow everyone’s expectations out of the water!”

Blair’s confidence was almost electric as she continued, her words flowing with an infectious energy. “I’m not just going to meet my goals; I’m going to surpass them. Watch me. I’ve always been driven, but now? Now I’m unstoppable. So, if you think this setback has anything on me, you’re in for a surprise. I’m on a mission, and it’s going to be spectacular!”

As she continued to elaborate on her incredible ambitions, the scene shifted abruptly. The vibrant energy of her confident speech faded away, replaced by the stark contrast of her shabby apartment. Blair found herself back in her small, cluttered living space, her grand plans now seeming a world away.

She opened her front door, her enthusiasm still lingering, only to be greeted by an unpleasant sight—a cat’s poop right on her doormat. A groan of disbelief replaced the cheerful tone of her recent speech.

Blair fumbled with the paper towels, still reeling from the abrupt shift from her grand ambitions to her current reality.

“Acho!” The sneeze erupted with such force that it seemed to shake the apartment.

She glanced over at the doormat, where the offending mess lay. With a dramatic face, she addressed the kitten with the size of her palm, her voice taking on an exaggerated tone of distress. “Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve ruined my day and now my plans. And do you know what else? I’m allergic to fur!”

Blair’s eyes watered as she continued to sneeze. She turned towards the door, hoping to enlist the help of her neighbor. “This is just fantastic,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I need someone to help me clean this up!”

She knocked on the door of her neighbor’s apartment, hoping for a sympathetic ear. “Hello? Anyone I could really use a hand here!?”

There was no response. She knocked again, her voice growing louder. “Come on! I’m practically begging here!”

After several moments of silence, Blair sighed and took a step back, looking around the hallway. The dim lighting and peeling wallpaper seemed to enhance the eerie atmosphere of the building. It was at that moment that Blair remembered the notorious difficulty people had in renting her apartment because of a horror rumor.

She shook her head with a rueful smile. “Oh, right? No one wants to come near this place. I forgot about that little detail.”

With a resigned sigh, she turned back to her apartment, muttering to herself. “Guess I’m on my own. Just me, the cat poop, and a never-ending list of goals.”

Despite the situation, Blair couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. It was just another day in her chaotic life, balancing lofty ambitions with the messy realities of her haunted apartment.