The silence in the room was suffocating as Mia sat with her head lowered, her hands trembling on her lap. Adrian’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned away, his expression a mix of anger and disappointment. Marcus crossed his arms, watching Mia closely, waiting for any sign of remorse beyond her tears.
Andrew broke the silence. “We’ll send all the evidence to the disciplinary board. They’ll decide the appropriate action. But let me make one thing clear this isn’t just about punishment, Mia. This is about understanding the harm you’ve caused.”
Mia didn’t respond. Her tears continued to fall, but there was no apology, no acknowledgment of the damage she had done. Instead, she looked up slowly, her face a mask of defiance despite the fear in her eyes. “It’s not fair,” she muttered, her voice hoarse. “You’re all ganging up on me because I’m not your favorite like Elena. She’s not innocent either.”
Gabriel, who had been silent until now, took a step forward. His sharp gaze pinned Mia in place. “Enough with the excuses, Mia. The footage doesn’t lie. Elena didn’t bribe anyone or push anyone into a pool. You did. Take responsibility for your actions instead of blaming others.”
Mia’s defiance faltered again under Gabriel’s cold tone. She slumped back in her chair, her tears falling silently.
Adrian, still standing near the monitor, exhaled slowly and turned back to face her. “Mia, do you even realize how close Elena came to serious injury-or worse? This wasn’t just jealousy or petty pranks. It was reckless, dangerous, and cruel.”
Mia finally looked up at him, her lip trembling. “I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt,” she whispered. “I just… I didn’t think it would go this far.”
“You didn’t think at all,” Marcus interjected, his voice firm. “You let jealousy and bitterness control your actions. That’s on you, and it’s something you’ll have to face.”
Adrian walked over to her, his expression still cold. “You’re lucky Elena survived both incidents without serious harm. But this isn’t about luck. From this point forward, you’ll answer to the disciplinary board, and they’ll decide your future here.”
Mia stared at him, her eyes wide with panic. “You’re not going to expel me, are you? Please, Professor Adrian, I didn’t mean it!”
Adrian didn’t flinch. “That decision isn’t mine to make. But I won’t shield you from the consequences of your actions.”
Marcus glanced at Adrian, then back at Mia. “We’ve seen enough for today. You’re dismissed, but expect a formal hearing soon.”
Mia stood slowly, her legs shaking as she clutched the edge of the table for support. She turned to leave, but at the door, she hesitated. Her voice cracked as she spoke, her words barely audible. “I’m sorry.”
No one responded. The room remained silent until the door closed behind her.
When Mia was gone, Adrian ran a hand through his hair, frustration radiating off him. “How did it come to this?” he muttered.
“It’s jealousy,” Marcus said, leaning against the table. “Pure and simple. Mia’s had it out for Elena from the start, but this time she went too far.”
Andrew nodded. “We’ll make sure the board sees all the evidence. Mia’s actions need to have consequences, not just for Elena’s sake but for the integrity of this institution.”
Adrian sighed deeply, his anger slowly giving way to exhaustion. “I just hope this is the end of it. Elena doesn’t deserve to go through this again.”
Gabriel spoke up, his voice measured. “She won’t. We’ll make sure of it.”
The room fell into silence again, the weight of the day settling over them. Though justice was on its way, the scars left behind on Elena, on the professors, and even on Mia would take time to heal.
Mia stormed out of the meeting room, her nails digging into her palms as she clenched her fists. Her face was flushed with anger, and her chest heaved with each breath she took. The humiliation burned like fire under her skin. She couldn’t believe how everything had spiraled out of her control.
“Elena,” she hissed under her breath, her jaw tightening. That girl was ruining everything. She wasn’t supposed to be here, wasn’t supposed to matter. But somehow, Elena had stolen the spotlight, turning everyone against Mia without even trying.
Walking briskly down the hall, Mia’s thoughts swirled with rage and frustration. She replayed the moments from the meeting in her head-the stern looks from Adrian, the cutting words from Marcus and Gabriel, and the cold judgment in Andrew’s eyes. They had all turned on her, and it was all because of her.
“Elena Harris,” she muttered again, this time louder, venom dripping from her voice. “She’s nothing. Just some pitiful girl who doesn’t belong here.”
Mia was from an elite family, her lineage filled with power and influence. She had always been the center of attention the one everyone admired, envied, and respected. She had worked hard to maintain her reputation, ensuring she stayed on top of every event, every competition, and every social circle.
But then Elena had come along, quietly yet steadily earning admiration from the students and even the professors. It had started with small things-a compliment from a teacher, a nod of approval from classmates-and before Mia knew it, people were talking about Elena’s determination, her skills, her courage.
Mia’s hands trembled as she thought about how her own position at the university was slipping. People were forgetting her, no longer fawning over her achievements or seeking her approval. Even Adrian, the one person whose attention Mia valued the most, seemed to look at Elena differently. He respected her. Admired her.
“She doesn’t deserve it,” Mia muttered, her voice cracking with frustration. “She doesn’t deserve any of it.”
For a moment, she leaned against the wall, closing her eyes to steady herself. Her jealousy was suffocating, but she wouldn’t let it show. Not outwardly. No, Mia had learned how to mask her emotions with poise and control.
When Mia finally returned to the meeting room, her face was calm, but her eyes glimmered with unspoken defiance. Adrian, Marcus, Andrew, and Gabriel were still there, reviewing the footage one last time. The tension in the air was palpable.
Adrian looked up first, his sharp gaze landing on Mia. “You’re back,” he said coldly.
Mia straightened her posture, her chin lifted slightly. “I came to apologize,” she said, her voice soft yet deliberate.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Really?”
“Yes,” Mia continued, forcing tears to well up in her eyes. She clasped her hands together as if pleading for understanding. “I know what I did was wrong. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I acted without thinking. I never meant for things to go this far.”
Her voice wavered at the end, and she wiped at her eyes dramatically. “I’m sorry, truly. To all of you, and to Elena.”
Andrew folded his arms, studying her with a frown. “That’s convenient, Mia. You only seem sorry now that you’ve been caught.”
Mia’s eyes flickered with a brief flash of anger before she quickly masked it with a sorrowful expression. “That’s not true,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve been feeling terrible about what happened. I just didn’t know how to come forward.”
Adrian stood, his expression cold and unyielding. “Mia, your apology means nothing when your actions tell a different story. This isn’t just about emotions. You bribed university workers to sabotage Elena, and the evidence is undeniable.”
Mia’s mask slipped slightly at Adrian’s harsh tone, but she quickly recovered. “I’ve said I’m sorry. What more do you want from me?”
Marcus leaned forward, his voice firm. “We want accountability, Mia. Not excuses. Not fake tears. What you did was dangerous, and if it weren’t for sheer luck, Elena could have been seriously hurt-or worse.”
Mia’s defiance flared again. “I’ve already apologized! But let’s not pretend like you’re all so impartial. You’ve been favoring Elena from the start. She’s nothing special, but you all act like she’s some saint.”
Adrian’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “You don’t get to deflect blame. This isn’t about favoritism-it’s about your behavior. You jeopardized someone’s safety out of jealousy. That’s on you.”
Gabriel, who had been silent, finally spoke, his tone cutting through the tension. “We have more proof” .
“I….” she began, but Adrian cut her off.
“Save it,” he said coldly. “We’ve heard enough.”
Mia’s shoulders sagged, her confidence shattered. She turned away, walking out of the room without another word, her head bowed in defeat.
As the door closed behind her, the room fell into silence once again. Adrian exhaled slowly, his anger simmering down but not completely gone.
“She’s going to have to face the consequences,” Gabriel said, his tone resolute.
Andrew nodded. “And we’ll make sure the board understands the full extent of what happened.”
Adrian’s gaze drifted toward the door, his thoughts lingering on Mia’s downfall. For a moment, he felt a flicker of pity for her. But it was quickly extinguished by the memory of Elena’s terrified face and the harm Mia had caused.
“There’s no room for this kind of behavior here,” Adrian said finally. “Not at this university.”
Marcus nodded in agreement, his voice steady. “We’ll make sure justice is served.”