Chapter 4

I couldn't say it out loud.

Emily looked a bit confused, but seeing me frown, she stopped asking. "It's okay, it's okay, just a way to address someone..."

"Mommy still needs to go check on your grandmother. Sweetie, you just stay in your room."

Emily left reluctantly.

Less than two minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

I opened it to see Sophia with red-rimmed eyes.

"Alice, I heard about Alex playing that trick on you. I gave him a talking-to. I'm so glad you're okay."

"But you should still go see Grandma. After all, she's an elder." As Sophia spoke, she reached out to take my hand.

If Olivia saw me now, she'd probably have a stroke from anger.

And here Sophia was, playing peacemaker while trying to use me to build her reputation as a reasonable person.

Not happening.

I didn't bother saying much and slammed the door shut.

The next day.

Alex and Sophia rode together to school.

Alex was in 11th grade at Crestland Academy.

Sophia was in my grade, 12th grade, going to college next year.

I got into the Bentley and watched their Maybach drive away, but my driver didn't start the car.

Well, I remembered now.

Even though everyone knew Alice was Alex's biological sister.

Alex had announced at Crestland Academy that he would only recognize Sophia as his one and only sister for life.

And Alex had ordered Alice's driver to wait fifteen minutes after their car left before starting, to make sure they arrived at different times.

I looked at the driver in front. "Stop them."

"Huh?" The driver was stunned.

If the driver's seat wasn't too small for my current body, I wouldn't even give him a chance to waste words.

"Pass them. Make them follow behind my car." I said each word clearly.

Probably having heard about yesterday's incident where I punched a bodyguard, kicked the coffee table until it cracked, and made Olivia faint, the driver didn't dare disobey.

He stepped on the gas, successfully overtook Alex's car, and I had him block the Maybach's path, keeping them behind us the whole way.

At school.

When I got out, I saw Alex looking annoyed but not daring to say anything, and Sophia forcing a smile.

I raised my hand, smiled, and waved at them. Under their complicated gazes, I entered the school first.

The original Alice was in Crestland Academy's worst class, Class F. The next monthly exam would be a chance to switch classes. While being in any class wouldn't affect my performance, my current environment would affect my mood.

Like right now.

I saw my seat covered in trash, with the chair missing a corner that had been crudely fixed with tape.

Before I appeared at the classroom door, I heard classmates gossiping. Boys and girls were all making fun of "me."

"I just saw Alice coming upstairs. Will this idiot sit right on the broken chair? Let's wait and see!"

"No way, is she really that stupid? That chair is so obviously broken!"

"Haha, you're overestimating Alice's intelligence again. Have you forgotten? With that pig brain of hers, she can't even write her own name!"

A burst of laughter.

It stopped abruptly when I appeared at the classroom door.

Not from guilt, but in anticipation of a good show.

They were all waiting for me to break the chair and embarrass myself.

I walked over to the chair.

"Who broke it?"

The people who had just been laughing all froze.

I slammed the chair on the desk, broke off the damaged leg in front of them, and threw it at the wall. Instantly, it left a dent in the wall.

I heard many people gasp.

"Not talking? Then I'll leave a dent in each of your heads. The Baker family has money anyway, we can afford it," I continued.

Though they didn't answer, their eyes all looked toward the same male student, David Jones.

He often led the bullying of Alice.

Behind him was Alex's instruction.

I walked toward David. "Should I break one of your legs, or will you apologize and do whatever I tell you to do from now on?"

David's face went pale as he chose to apologize. Then I made him do a handstand next to the trash can for the whole morning class.

When the teacher asked, David said it was his own idea.

This was the lightest punishment I'd ever given to someone who annoyed me.

As "V," when someone deliberately provoked me, I preferred quick and clean solutions. They either ended up crippled or dead.

But as "Alice Baker," I couldn't be so reckless.

Before lunchtime, my stomach was already growling.

This body, really...

I felt a bit helpless, experiencing for the first time what it meant to be hungry enough to eat a cow.

I bought a whole wheat sandwich at the convenience store and found a quiet corner with high walls to eat.

Unfortunately, this peace was broken after just a moment.

"Who are you trying to impress?"

"Get on your knees and be my chair! Otherwise, you're not getting your meal card back, haha!"

It was Alex's voice.

As Crestland Academy's school bully.

He had picked on John Williams, who had the poorest family background but the best looks in the entire school.

John was kneeling on the ground with his head down, his expression unclear.

Alex had his back to me.

Hearing footsteps, David turned around and his face went pale when he saw me.

He swallowed and patted Alex's shoulder. "Alex, your... your sister is here."

"What?"

When others mentioned his sister, Alex assumed it was Sophia. When he turned and saw me, his expression changed.

He looked uncomfortable.

"What do you want?" Alex said weakly.

Another lackey's eyes widened, clearly never having seen Alex act so timid toward me.

"From now on, no more bullying classmates," I said calmly.

Alex was unhappy but didn't quite dare show it openly. "What's it to you?"

"Oh wait, I remember now. You like him, right? You even confessed to him!" Alex wanted to laugh but didn't dare.

"Hey, John, you got saved by a bear." Alex blurted out without thinking.

John kept his head down, saying nothing.

A bear, huh?

I smiled instead of getting angry. Alex's eyes trembled as he sensed trouble and turned to run.

"Boss??"

"Alex, where are you going?"

I took off after him and grabbed Alex by the back of his collar. "Loser, you run so slow."