Chapter 16 Covering For Her
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But to Mike, Taylor’s trembling body looked like heartbreak, like Jesse had ripped open an old wound. His eyes burned with anger.
“Are you talking about that warehouse?” Isadora asked cautiously. “The one where someone died?”
Her memory of that time was hazy, but the name alone stirred unease.
“Yeah,” Jesse replied coolly. “Funny thing about that place–the locks were designed so you couldn’t shut it from the outside if someone was inside. So, how did it end up locked? Don’t tell
me…”
Her gaze slid toward Taylor.
Taylor’s whole frame jolted violently.
“Enough! Stop it!” Mike barked, his voice like a whip.
“Jesse, you’ve gone too far! Why dig up Taylor’s trauma like this? Her brother died for you! Have you no conscience?”
“Mike!” Taylor clung to him desperately, her body shaking. “I want to go home.”
Without a second thought, Mike swept her into his arms and strode off.
Corey trailed behind them, his eyes full of disappointment as he threw Jesse a sharp look. “Jesse, you really crossed the line this time.”
Jesse didn’t move or speak. She just watched them leave, the corner of her mouth curling into a cold, mocking smile. Blind. Every single one of them. Can’t even tell whether Taylor’s shivers came from grief or fear.
A low, bitter laugh slipped past her lips. In their eyes, even if Taylor drove a knife into someone’s chest, it would still be called self–defense.
Isadora, nervous, reached out as though Jesse might shatter in her hands. “Jesse…
Jesse closed her eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them again, every trace of pain was gone, leaving only ice.
“I’m fine.” Jesse’s voice was steady as she turned to Isadora. “Do you know where I can find the records about that fire?”
Isadora shook her head. “No. Someone died, and the school didn’t want any bad press. Once
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Chapter 16 Covering For Her
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the noise died down, they erased everything. No official files left.”
Jesse’s eyes narrowed. “No records at all?”
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“Yeah,” Isadora went on, lowering her voice. “The board held several closed–door meetings. They settled it quietly with the family and buried the whole thing.”
Her eyes widened as a thought hit.
“That explains it! Taylor’s scores weren’t anywhere near Houston University’s cutoff. She only got in because of her brother’s death!”
Jesse stiffened. She had survived that fire but spent a month in the hospital after. There were details she never knew.
Isadora was heating up now. “Her results were more than fifty points under the line! Yet the school let her in, just like that. And then after enrollment, she magically won scholarships every semester, snagged award after award. None of it makes sense.”
Jesse muttered under her breath, a mocking edge to her tone, “Of course it makes sense–she’s got fools covering for her. She doesn’t need to study to be at the top of the class.”
She remembered clearly.
Every time, her brothers forced her to take Taylor’s tests. Later, they would scrub away the evidence of cheating.
The excuse was always the same: Taylor was too proud to live off others, and she had to win scholarships on her own.
However, the stress wore Jesse down, making her sickly thin.
And whenever she complained, they guilt–tripped her.
Taylor’s brother saved your life. You owe her. What’s one little test?
The cafeteria was noisy, so Isadora didn’t catch Jesse’s muttering.
She patted her shoulder, full of support. “But you’re the one who’s actually brilliant. For finals, you’ve got to crush that fake nice girl.”
As class president, she knew the real numbers–Jesse had scored almost a hundred points above the cutoff. If Jesse stumbled, it was always because of Taylor.
However, a few classmates nearby overheard their talk and started snickering.
“Jesse? With those bottom–of–the–barrel grades, she thinks she can beat Taylor?”
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Chapter 16 Covering For Her
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“Dream on! Taylor’s been on full scholarships for two years straight!”
The mocking voices cut through the hallway, but Jesse only looked on with cool indifference, her expression unreadable.
Isadora, fiery as always, couldn’t hold back. She spun around, fists clenched. “Jesse, back then-”
“Isadora.” Jesse’s calm voice stopped her.
“But they’re trash–talking you to your face! You can’t just let it slide!” Isadora’s cheeks flushed red as she rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight.
“There’s still a month until finals.”
The quiet certainty in Jesse’s tone made Isadora pause. The tests would speak louder than any argument.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Isadora realized, nodding. “Finals are in a month. We can’t waste time. Let’s hit the books–we’ve already lost two hours today.” She tugged Jesse toward the door.
Behind them, another voice piped up mockingly. “With Jesse’s brains, last–minute cramming won’t save her.”
Both girls heard it.
Isadora stiffened, torn between snapping back and ignoring them, but Jesse moved first–she flashed a small, confident smile.
“There’s still a month. Let’s see if Taylor can keep her spot at the top.”
Her words carried sharp certainty.
This time, Taylor would stand on her own in those exams. Without Jesse taking the tests for her, there was no way she’d hold onto her perfect record.
One of the girls overheard Jesse and thought she was planning to sabotage Taylor during finals. She quickly ducked into a corner, whipped out her phone, and dialed Taylor in secret.
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