Chapter 108 Seeing Chloeâs distraught expression, Ethan softened. He turned to the investigators.âI know Chloeâs character. She wouldnât cheat. Besides, her grades are so poor; thereâs no reason for her to cheat.â
Chloe was stung by his words. Her poor grades were because of the esports tournament, but she feigned gratitude.âThank you, Brother, for believing me.â
The lead investigator was unfazed. âWe have to follow procedure. Please cooperate.â Why were they so eager to investigate Alice but so resistant to investigating Chloe? The rumors were true. The Winds favored the adopted daughter over their biological child.
Ethanâs face hardened. âNo, you canât just investigate anyone. We have a lawyer.â
âMr. Windham, obstructing the investigation will be considered in our evaluation. Are you trying. to hide something?â
âWhy would I hide anything? Chloe is sensitive. An investigation could traumatize her.â The investigator pressed, âBut you werenât so hesitant when we investigated Alice, were you? Your favoritism is obvious.â
Alice directly confronted Ethan. âYeah, you can investigate me for cheating, but not Chloe? Who says people with poor grades donât cheat? What if she only got zeroes without cheating?â
gaze was cold and sharp, laced with sarcasm.
Her Ethan was taken aback, his expression uncomfortable. âI believe Chloe is a good kid.â Unlike Alice, whoâd always competed with Chloe for attention. This behavior wasnât surprising.
Alice scoffed. Yes, in her past life, Ethan had believed Chloe, too.
Luke looked at Ethan. âBrother, I also believe Chloe. To avoid suspicion, itâs best to cooperate with the investigation.â
H Chloe was panicking, but thought they lacked evidence. Sheâd cheated for years without getting caught. Even when caught once, someone had taken the blame.
Feeling wronged, she said, âBrother, itâs okay if I suffer a little. Just donât let anyone smear the Windsâ reputation.â
Ethan exploded. He insisted to the investigators, âWhy should you investigate just because you say so? Do you have evidence?â
âWe do. The exam hall has security cameras.â
Alice felt a thrill at the mention of cameras. A casual accusation, and sheâd struck gold? Chloe, the white lotus, cheated and still got such low scores? Amazing.
Chloe froze, her face paling. Her hands trembled. Had she been caught on camera? Impossible!
Ethan was incredulous.âShow me the video.â
The investigator showed a video on their phone.âClear as day. She exchanged notes with the girl in front of her.â
Alice smirked. âThe videoâs quite clear.â Chloeâs cheating was undeniable. She was curious to see Chloeâs denial and the Windsâ
reactions. She was anticipating this.
Chloe was terrified, collapsing to the floor. Sheâd been so careful to avoid the cameras! How was this possible? She was doomed. If the Winds rejected her, her future would be ruined.
Chapter 101 Ethan, shocked, looked at Chloe.âWhatâs going on? Chloe, what did you do?â He couldnât believe sheâd done this. Heâd defended her, and now this; it it was humiliating!
Chloe hung her head, unable to answer. What to do? If she couldnât explain, she was finished! She couldnât be kicked out! She couldnât lose her privileged status!
Alice raised her voice, âChloe cheated! Itâs obvious! Brother, are you blind? Cheating! Do you know what that means? Should I explain?â
Ethanâs face turned green. His confidence had evaporated.
Chloe flinched, her face ashen. The word âcheatingâ felt like a knife piercing her heart. It should have been Alice facing humiliation; why had it been reversed? This wasnât right! Ethanâs pride was wounded. Heâd believed Chloe, and now this video was slapping him in the face.
The investigator said sarcastically, âIs the evidence clear enough? We need Chloe to explain the situation.â
Ethan, defeated, couldnât say anything. This was humiliating.
No matter how the investigator questioned, Chloe remained silent. She dared not answer, fearing the consequences.
Alice shouted, âChloe, you think silence will solve everything? The evidence is clear. The school will find out, and youâll be expelled!â
âStop it!â Chloe covered her ears, screaming. She hadnât expected to fail. She shouldnât have reported Alice; then no one would have looked into her own actions.
eyes Then, Chloeâs widened as a thought struck her. She stared at Alice.âDid you report me? Only Alice would do this.
Alice smirked, âWhat are you talking about? Why would I report you?â She wouldnât admit it.
Chloe, grabbing at a lifeline, cried, âAlice, I know you dislike me, you think I stole your family. But you canât do this!â
Ethan looked at Alice. âAlice, confess. Why would you be so cruel to your own family?â Alice scoffed.âCruel? I didnât force Chloe to cheat.â
indebted to the Winds! Chloe hung her head, desperately needing a solution. She would use the Windsâ compassion. After all, her father had saved Aliceâs life and was indebted