Olive rolled up her sleeves, showing bruises. "If Shawn hadn't shown up, those thugs would've hurt me worse."

Her accusations echoed in the room, and I found myself questioning my hearing.

Each word made perfect sense on its own, but strung together, they became an indecipherable riddle.

'Bullying her? Me? I copied her exam answers and sent thugs to harass her? Where are these wild stories coming from?'

"If you're paranoid, see a shrink!" I snapped. "Don't drag me into your delusions!"

Shawn's voice cut through, sharp and cold. "Enough!"

He glared at me, his guilt giving way to anger and disgust. "Those thugs confessed you paid them to go after Olive. I thought you were just jealous, but this? It's a crime."

I stared, incredulous. "So, you believe her and some random thugs over me?"

He paused. "I believe what I see."

My heart sank, the crowd's snorts filling my ears.

The department head roared, "I can't believe my department has a student like you. You don't deserve to graduate. Leave the ceremony now! We'll announce your punishment later."

I locked eyes with Shawn, oblivious to the surroundings.

He looked away, muttering, "Go home, Scarlett. Don't interrupt the ceremony and embarrass yourself. We'll talk about this later."

I trembled, asking, "You sure you won't regret this?"

He didn't answer, just left with Olive.

I became the school's laughingstock, and all my friends avoided me.

With a broken heart, I bought a plane ticket to join my parents abroad. Before boarding, I mailed Shawn the ring he had given me.

At the reunion, I faced Karl and the gawking classmates. "If you dragged me here for this, I'm done."

I stood, grabbing my purse. Karl blocked my path. "Wait, Shawn's coming. He wants to talk."

I frowned. "I've got nothing to say. I'm married."