"Then..."


    Nora nced at Judy, who continued, "Yeah, Arabe was really mad back then. I heard some rumors about Dorian and Sunny, like they were seen alone together. Arabe asked us if we knew any tough guys, you know, the kind who hang out on the streets.''


    Nora hesitated, "I told her where to find those guys, but I never introduced her. We don''t usually hang out with those kinds of people. Not long after, somepromising photos and videos of Sunny popped up on the campus forum. It wasn''t long before Sunny dropped out, and we lost track of her after that."


    Judy nodded. "I heard from others that Sunny attempted suicide but was saved. I don''t know the rest." Miranda listened without saying a word. Judy and Nora exchanged a nce, waiting for Miranda to speak. Miranda turned on her phone''s recorder.


    "Repeat everything you just said."


    Both girls looked at the phone with reluctance. Under Miranda''s pressure, they eventually repeated their earlier statements, not wanting to go through the harrowing experience again.


    After recording, Miranda put her phone away.


    "In a month, make sure everything you just said is posted online," she said, packing up her things as if to leave. "Of course, you can try to clear your names. How you spin it is up to you."


    Fear flickered across their faces.


    Miranda smirked, her pretty eyes glinting with mischief. "If I don''t see any revtions within a month, I''ll release this recording word for word."


    Judy and Nora froze, feeling as though the energy had drained out of them.


    Miranda''s message was clear. If they exposed the story themselves, they could still try to justify their actions. But if Miranda did it instead of them, there''d be no room for excuses.


    With her ultimatum delivered, Miranda left. She had what she needed.


    Sunny and Cathy seemed to be targeted by Arabe because of their interest in the Hawke brothers.


    Given Arabe''s usual behavior around the Hawke family, it was unlikely Dorian and the others kn wha??rabe had been done behind the scenes.


    But Arabe was crafty enough to twist things around. Just like before, when she used her brothers as her pawns.


    So, the incidents with Cathy and Sunny might not be unrted to the Hawke brothers.


    Miranda walked out of the alley, taking only a few steps before stopping. She turned to face the man who had been standing nearby since who knew how long, seemingly waiting for her.


    "Are you waiting for me?" she asked.


    The man standing there looked familiar; she''d seen him before.


    He''d been standing there long enough to witness everything she''d done. That was why she asked.


    Jasper, with his hands casually


    tucked into his pockets, had the air of a carefree yboy, grinning as he said ''Yeah, I was just surprised to see how ruthless you are."


    His eyes flicked to the alley behind her, making no attempt to hide that he''d seen everything.


    Miranda nced back at Judy and Nora. "They had iting. If you feel sorry for them, I can add you to their little group."


    Jasper, who had been smiling, immediately straightened up.