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Novel Catalog
Chapter 54
“You did a good job on the SATs, Bonnie. We haven’t made you any good food yet. Tell me your favorite food, and I’ll make it myself,” Vera said, trying to be gracious and match Harold’s compliment.
But as they turned their attention to Bonnie, Trina could only glare at her from across the room. It wasn’t just Gresham and Vera who were acting differently now; even Hadwin was looking at Bonnie with a new, almost thoughtful expression. It made Trina’s stomach churn.
She couldn’t let this go on. She had to do something.
“Congratulations, Bonnie! I have no idea how you did it,” Trina said, forcing a smile. “Maybe it was luck, or maybe you just happened to study the bits that were part of the SATs. Either way, you did it. So, you’re free to take any of my jewelry to celebrate your success.”
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Gresham and Vera exchanged pleased looks, nodding in approval.
“That’s thoughtful of you, Trina,” they said, their voices full of false sweetness.
Bonnie, however, remained indifferent. She couldn’t be bothered with Trina’s fake pleasantries. She knew exactly what was going on here. Trina might have had more intelligence, but she would never have Bonnie’s integrity, no matter how hard she tried to play the part of the good girl.
“You’re so thoughtful, Trina,” Bonnie replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “So thoughtful that you accused me of bringing a counterfeit painting. So thoughtful that Grandma even tore it up. So thoughtful that you gave Fernanda my student ID and humiliated me in front of everyone.”
Trina froze, caught completely off-guard. Gresham and Vera’s faces stiffened in shock, and the air around them became thick with tension.
“D-Don’t try to accuse me of something, Bonnie. I didn’t give Fernanda your student ID. Ask her yourself. You’ll see.” Trina stammered, but there was no convincing anyone now.
Fernanda, who had been standing by awkwardly, opened her mouth to defend Trina, but Bonnie cut her off before she could speak.
“Think before you speak, Fernanda. Are you sure you want to clean up Trina’s mess for her?” Bonnie said with a cool gaze. “How would you have known my student ID if Trina hadn’t given it to you? Were you going to tell me you sneaked into my room to get it?”
Fernanda went pale and stumbled for words.
Bonnie pulled out her phone dramatically. “If you have stolen it, I’ll have to call the police.”
Fernanda’s eyes widened, and she jumped back defensively. “What a load of crap! How would I have done that? Trina gave it to me!”
The room went dead silent as Gresham and Vera whipped their heads to look at Trina, their faces filled with disbelief. Trina had always been the “good girl,” always the perfect daughter in their eyes. They couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I-I didn’t…” Trina’s voice wavered. She was now visibly panicked. “Mom, Dad, I can explain…”
Bonnie leaned forward, her voice dripping with mockery. “How are you going to explain this, Trina? Are you going to tell us Fernanda lied?”
“I didn’t lie! Trina gave me Bonnie’s student ID, I swear!” Fernanda tried to clear her name, but her voice trembled under Bonnie’s steely gaze.
Tears welled up in Trina’s eyes, and she collapsed into a heap of emotional turmoil. “How could you say that, Fernanda? I gave it to you because you promised you wouldn’t tell anyone. You were the one who wanted to reveal her score to everyone! I told you to keep it between us, but you insisted on projecting it on the big screen.”
Fernanda crossed her arms, unfazed. “Yeah, you’re right. I wanted to project it on the big screen. But could I have done that if you hadn’t given me her student ID? It all comes back to you, Trina.”
Trina’s face turned pale, realizing Fernanda was absolutely right.
“That’s too much, Fernanda!” Trina snapped, but there was no venom in her voice now, only desperation.
“I’m too much?” Fernanda retorted, voice raising in irritation. “Don’t you think you’re too much? At the end of the day, Bonnie’s your sister. I know she’s not really your sister, but you’re still family. Every time you humiliate her, you humiliate the entire family, including yourself. Is that so hard to understand?”
The words hit Trina harder than she had anticipated. Her entire body stiffened as the full weight of Fernanda’s accusations sank in.
“You understand perfectly,” Fernanda continued, “You just don’t care. You gave me Bonnie’s student ID on purpose because you wanted to humiliate her.”
Trina’s face flushed crimson as she realized the truth in Fernanda’s words. She couldn’t argue. She couldn’t defend herself.
Her gaze flicked to Gresham and Vera, who were both looking at her now with expressions of deep shock and disappointment.