Chapter 5 The Lie That Ruined Us

Angela's POV

"It was Aaron," I said quietly. "Aaron attacked me."

The room fell silent. I didn't dare look up, but I could feel the shock in the air. When I finally raised my head, Aaron's devastated stare hit me like a blow.

Across the room, Victoria Bennett smiled-a small, knowing smirk, like she'd already predicted this outcome. Ian had a smug grin too, the look of someone who thought he'd already won.

I wanted to punch him, wipe that expression off his face, but I couldn't. Victoria's threat and the deal that could save my family had me trapped.

"Angela, what are you talking about?!" Aaron's voice cracked. "I was the one who saved you from Ian!"

His words cut deep. Guilt wrapped around my throat, tightening. I'd betrayed him. I'd destroyed him. He protected me, and I dragged his name through the dirt.

"Aaron," Principal Davies interjected, voice calm but firm. "Is that true? Did you try to assault her?"

Aaron stood up, but before he could answer, the door swung open. A guy walked in-Jayden, the friend who called me to the art room last night.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said. "I... I want to give a statement."

Principal Davies leaned forward. "Go ahead, Jayden. Who asked you to lure Angela to the art room? Was it Aaron or Ian?"

Jayden froze. His eyes flicked toward Ian. Ian looked uneasy now, his smirk fading.

But then Jayden looked away.

"It was Aaron, sir."

The room erupted instantly.

Victoria Bennett's smile stretched wider, like she had just cornered her final chess piece.

"That's not true!" Sarah shot to her feet, her voice shaking. "Aaron would never do that!"

"Angela," Sarah turned to me, her eyes filled with pain, tears streaming down her face. "You know him. You know this isn't true. Please... please tell them."

I stared at my lap, unable to meet her eyes. Her tears only made the guilt worse.

Victoria rose, her voice cold and commanding. "Principal Davies, I'm sure you know what needs to be done. Aaron is a danger to this school. Justice must be served."

Principal Davies sighed heavily. "Aaron, your actions violate this school's rules and values. We cannot overlook this."

"So, I have to inform you that you're being expelled from the school effective immediately."

"What?!" Sarah screamed. "This isn't fair! You can't destroy Aaron's future!" She collapsed back into her seat, sobbing uncontrollably. Aaron tried to hold her, trying to calm her down.

It was all my fault. I had done this to him.

I couldn't take it anymore. I bolted out of the room, lungs burning, chest tight.

I didn't want to hear anything else. Why did all of this have to happen to me? I just wanted to be honest. I just wanted to be safe. Why was that so hard?

The hallway felt suffocating. I sank into a corner, burying my face in my knees as tears kept pouring. I wanted to disappear.

Then I heard footsteps approaching-slow, deliberate.

"So this is where you've been," a voice said.

I lifted my head and saw Evelyn, Caroline, and Brianna standing in front of me. Evelyn smiled, sharp and cruel.

"Tough day, huh?" she said mockingly. "Almost assaulted? Who would've thought Aaron could go that far?"

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "What do you want?"

Evelyn crouched down and tossed an envelope onto the floor in front of me. "Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to settle our little bet."

I froze. The weight of her words pressed down on me. The bet. The stupid dare she gave me-to make Aaron fall for me in exchange for a ton of money.

"Congrats," Evelyn smirked. "You won. You got him to fall for you, hard enough to lose his damn mind."

"Leave me alone, Evelyn," I muttered.

"Does he even know you only went after him because of a bet? Is that why he snapped and almost assaulted you?" she taunted.

"A bet? What bet?" A familiar voice echoed behind us.

I jolted to my feet.

"Angela." Aaron's voice was low, but it cut straight through me. "What the hell is going on?"

I froze, breath catching in my throat. "Aaron..." I whispered. I tried to steady myself, but my heartbeat was so loud it drowned out everything else. My knees felt weak, barely holding me up.

The secret I'd buried so deep... was out. I never thought it would come out like this. I'd already hurt Aaron enough. If he found out about the bet-I would destroy him completely.

Evelyn smirked wide, the kind of smile meant to humiliate. "Oh, this is interesting," she said, glancing at her friends before looking back at me. "Let me guess. Aaron still doesn't know about our little bet?"

I shot her a sharp glare, mouth opening, but nothing came out. My mind was spinning, desperately searching for a way out of this nightmare.

"Aaron," Evelyn went on, "Angela only got close to you because of a bet we made. Do you really think she was interested in a broke nobody like you?"

"Evelyn!" I snapped, but my voice came out thin and shaky-more like a plea than a warning.

"So I was just a game to you, Angela?" Aaron asked quietly, but I could hear the hurt beneath every word.

My chest tightened with guilt so heavy it felt suffocating. I couldn't lie anymore-not when everything was already falling apart. For a moment, the world went silent around us. I wanted to deny it, but the truth was what it was.

Evelyn's laugh broke the stillness. "Oh, Aaron. You actually trusted her? She's been playing you this whole time."

But then her laughter died the moment Aaron turned and shot her a look sharp enough to cut glass.

"Shut up," he said, voice low and commanding. "Leave."

Evelyn froze, then forced a shrug. "Fine. We're leaving."

She turned away, her friends trailing behind, leaving the air feeling ten times heavier.