I could hear the voices of the poor students in class.

She tore up her competition essay and stuffed it into my desk to frame me, sobbing as she cried, “I know you always look down on poor students like me…”

Everyone turned on me, even my childhood sweetheart,Taylor Becker.

He demanded that I apologize.

I shook my head, crying, and told them it wasn’t me.

At the same time, I heard the inner voices of those same poor students: “I love this kind of childhood sweetheart drama. Nothing better than a rich idiot protecting his precious girl.”

ThenTaylor’s sharp words snapped me back to reality: “Will it kill you to just apologize?”

I laughed through my tears.

I hope you’ll still say that after you hear her thoughts.

So when my voice finally had a chance to be heard, I didn’t hesitate—I choseTaylor.

——

It all started during the big break. The class monitor Anna Connor’s competition essay went missing.

The whole classroom was torn apart in the search.

Eventually, it turned up on my desk—ripped to shreds.

She looked pale and hesitant, as if she had gathered all her courage just to ask, “Desiree Johnson, I never did anything to you. Why would you tear up my essay?”

I was still trying to figure out what was happening.

Then she added, “I know you look down on poor students like me, but you didn’t have to destroy my work. That essay could’ve won. The prize money is at least 3,000 dollars. That’s enough to cover my semester expenses and even help pay for my mom’s medicine.”

“It might just be a meal to you, but it means everything to me.”

Her voice broke.

“No one chooses where they’re born. I don’t steal, I don’t cheat—I work hard. I got into this school on merit. Why do I deserve this?”

“Is poverty a crime? Does it mean I’ll always be beneath people like you?”

The class exploded.

“Why does Desiree always act superior?”

“Just because her family has money? That’s no excuse to bully others.”

“If she’s so powerful, why doesn’t she mess with Lou Horton, the richest girl in Boston?”

...

The atmosphere was spiraling out of control.

I quickly said, “Anna, I’ve never looked down on you or anyone else. I didn’t take your essay, and I definitely didn’t tear it. There’s been some kind of misunderstanding!”

And then I heard Anna’s inner voice:

“Of course you don’t know. I’m the one who tore it and planted it in your desk.”

“Rich, brainless brats. What’s the point of being born into a rich family when you’re all so easy to play?”

From the first day she transferred to our class, I could hear her thoughts.

Now, with the truth ringing in my ears, my fists clenched and my jaw tightened.

I couldn’t believe it—she had staged the whole thing.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said hoarsely, “Are you trying to say I tore up my own essay and planted it in your desk?”

One of her close friends muttered, “So shameless. Everyone saw what happened. She still won’t admit it.”

She was good at pretending—really good.

My face burned with anger. I shouted, “Anna, you know better than anyone what really happened. Why are you the one crying? I should be crying!”

“Have I ever wronged you? Why would you frame me like this?”

Just then,Taylor pushed through the crowd.

He walked straight to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

The smile froze on my lips.

He comforted her silently, then looked up at me, his brows knit tightly.

Coldly, he said, “Desiree, enough.”

Taylor didn’t ask a single question.

He stood beside Anna and looked straight at me.

“Why was Anna’s essay found in your desk and not someone else’s?” he demanded.

“It’s torn to pieces. Would it kill you to apologize and ask for forgiveness?”

“Your uncle and aunt sent you here to study—not to flaunt your money and act superior in front of poor students.”

Every word stabbed me like a blade.

The whispers around him turned into loud chatter.

“Taylor and Desiree are childhood sweethearts. If even he says so, this must be true.”

“How could she be so cruel? Tearing someone’s essay just to win a competition?”

“She can’t even spare her childhood friend? Seriously, Desiree, be a decent human.”

Then Anna’s voice echoed again in my mind: “I just love these childhood sweetheart stabs-back-the-other scenes. Nothing better than having a rich, dumb dog on your side.”

“Desiree, you’re such a failure.”

I looked in her direction.

Taylor’s tall frame made her appear fragile and small. She glanced at me too—with a smug, slithering smile like a snake lurking in the shadows.

There was no way I’d let this false blame stick. I straightened my back and said calmly,

“If I didn’t do it, then I didn’t. Innocence speaks for itself. Check the surveillance—truth doesn’t lie.”

A few classmates, more level-headed, murmured, “Looking at Desiree’s reaction… maybe she didn’t do it. Could there be more to this?”

Anna’s timing was flawless—her eyes welled up just right as she looked up pitifully atTaylor.

He patted her shoulder, turned to me, and scoffed.

“Oh? So tell me, how much did you pay to bribe the staff in the surveillance room?”

It felt like a slap to the face. My heart stung, and I stared at him in disbelief.

The more I looked at him, the more unfamiliar he felt.

This was the same person who once swore he’d stand by me no matter what.

And now? He stood against me—for someone else.

Anna tugged lightly at his sleeve and whispered, “It’s okay. Let’s go see what she wants.”

Even then, I still believed I could clear my name with the surveillance footage.

I was too naïve.

The staff in the monitoring room told us the cameras had been down since that morning.

I was frozen in place.

Taylor simply shrugged, as if to say, See? I told you so.

Leaning against the hallway railing, he looked relaxed—too relaxed—and sneered,

“Desiree, you really went all out to bully Anna, huh?”

“What’s the matter? Afraid she’ll take your place in my heart?”

I hadn’t done anything, but I was drowning in shame and helplessness.

My nose burned, and tears blurred my vision.

Taylor and I were neighbors growing up.

We didn’t talk at first, but one day he was getting bullied.

I swooped in like some little guardian, scolding the bullies until they ran.

His eyes lit up—he looked at me like I’d dropped from the sky and swore to protect me forever.

I laughed and said, “You can’t even protect yourself. How are you going to protect me?”

Because of that, he signed up for Taekwondo and Sanda classes.

Later, we were always together.

We had similar lives—parents too busy to come home even once every two weeks. Just nannies and silence.

I was lonely. Starved for affection.

Slowly, we walked into each other’s lives, shared our pain, and comforted each other in the dead of night.

He used to say I was his little princess, that no matter what happened, he’d always be behind me.

Always.

It was true. For ten years, I fought back against anyone who bullied me—even over a harsh word.

Eventually, it became second nature.

Until Anna showed up.

Taylor said, “Anna is small and delicate. Her family favors boys and neglects her completely. If it weren’t for her grades—and the teacher and police stepping in—she would’ve been married off to some old bachelor for dowry money. Now she has to juggle school and part-time work just to survive. Her life’s tough. Unlike you. You’re carefree and have everything handed to you.”

“If I don’t feel sorry for her, who will? Can’t you show a little understanding? A little empathy?”

His sense of chivalry and need to protect were triggered. He was enjoying the role of savior to someone who knew how to act vulnerable.

Just like now. Anna sobbed quietly, and his glare turned to me—cold and sharp.

“Why are you crying? You think that’ll make me pity you?”

“Does crying excuse what you did? Let me tell you, Desiree, I don’t pity you—I find you disgusting.”

Right then, I heard Anna’s thoughts again:

“Tsk, this guy’s such a scumbag. Even if he doesn’t believe in his childhood sweetheart, this is too much. If I were Desiree, my heart would’ve shattered.”

“And he claims no girl matters to him but Desiree. Look at this fool, one wave of my hand and he’s wagging his tail like a puppy.”

“But hey, who complains about having too many rich, dumb lapdogs?”

I cried—and laughed.

A wild thought crossed my mind: What would he do if he could hear her real thoughts one day?

I wanted to leave.

But Taylor grabbed my wrist, his eyes sharp.

“Trying to run?”

“Apologize to Anna.”

“I won’t. Why should I? I told you—I didn’t take her competition essay, and I definitely didn’t tear it.”

I stood tall, chin raised, tears held back, locking eyes with him.

The stares from our classmates pressed on me like a weight.

“Clearly, Taylor has feelings for Anna. Desiree got jealous and ripped her essay. Poor Anna.”

“Wow, Desiree’s vicious. I’m staying away from her—I don’t want her canceling my plans with Taylor too.”

“Apologize! You owe her an apology!”

No one heard me.

They were all trapped in their own narratives, casting accusations like stones. Each one crushed me a little more until I wished I could vanish.

And Taylor was the first stone to hit.

He slammed his fist into the wall beside him, his face twisted with rage.

“Fine. You won’t apologize? Then don’t come to me for anything. Don’t even tell people you know me.”

Anna flinched and clutched his hand, tears in her eyes.

“Don’t hurt yourself,” she pleaded.

“She doesn’t want to apologize, fine—but my competition essay’s still gone. I’ll have to rewrite it anyway.”

Taylor didn’t back down, but then the bell rang, and the crowd scattered.

I lowered my head and returned to my seat.

Next was English class—taught by the infamously strict teacher everyone called “the she-devil.”

A few days ago, we’d taken a baseline test, and today the teacher was collecting our answer sheets.

I was sure I had put mine in my bag, but now it was missing.

Panic set in, and sweat trickled down my neck.

The teacher’s face darkened.

I bit my lip and held out my hand.

Each strike from her pointer landed harder than the last—no mercy.

My palms turned red, welts rising across the skin.

Afterwards, her voice was as cold as ice.

“This won’t happen again. Go stand in the back.”