Chapter 150-1
Not A Small-Town Girl
The next day.
Although still a day for military training, Danielle noticed some odd stares at the playground. Unfazed, she continued her tasks, unconcerned by the attention.
Emma approached, her face a mixture of emotions. "Danielle," she said, "I saw posts about you on the campus network. Betraying David like that was a terrible thing to do. But donât worry, Iâll help you cover it up."
Danielle fixed Emma with an icy stare. "What am I supposed to be hiding? What have I done?"
Emma took a deep breath and said sincerely, "I understand why youâd be drawn to the senior students. We all know theyâre impressive. And if you were trying to get out of training, especially with that instructor⦠Look, the point is, we wonât tell anyone. Donât get me wrong.â
Danielle sneered, "Who do you think you are, putting on airs like this? And let me warn you, donât even think about taking whatâs mine.â
Danielle, Iâm just trying to be nice. Why are you being so mean to me?" Emmaâs eyes were red, as if she had been wronged.
Some students defended Emma, saying to Danielle, "How could you act this way? Emma is only worried about you. Itâs unfair to blame her for your own indiscretion.â
"Thatâs right, beauty isnât everything. Her personal life is a mess, and now sheâs taking it out on others..."
They all pointed their fingers at Danielle.
Danielle sneered at Emma, who was feigning weakness. "Not a Foodieâ is your account, isnât it? I suggest you stop these games. You wonât like it if you push me too far."
Emma froze, certain Danielle was bluffing. "I donât know what youâre talking about," she denied.
"At that moment, the instructor approached and blew the whistle, saying, "Everyone, line up and stand at attention for an hour."
Maximus noticed everyone staring at him, but he brushed it off and said seriously, "You have three days of military training left. These final days will test your teamwork."
As Maximus prepared to announce the rules, a senior officer approached. "Mr. Cole," the officer said, "the battalion commander requests your presence in his office."
Maximus glanced at his classmate standing at attention. "Cover me," he said. "Iâll check it out."
Battalion Commanderâs office.
Maximus Cole rushed up to the door, straightened his clothes, and knocked.
"Come in," said the battalion commander.
Maximus was surprised to find the school principal in the battalion commanderâs office when he arrived. "Commander, did you want to see me?"
The battalion commander glanced at Maximus, offering him the phone. "Want to say anything?"
Maximus was stunned when he picked up his phone and saw the scandal that had been brewing all night about him and Danielle. How had he gotten mixed up in a scandal with her? His expression instantly turned serious.
He explained, "Commander, Danielle and I are innocent. These posts are nothing but slander. Sheâs Major Elliotâs younger sister. I knew her previously, so we were just catching up.
"This post is slanderous and has created a hostile environment for Danielle at school. I request that the school take severe disciplinary action against those responsible."
Ryan had complete faith in Danielleâs character. He believed these students should prioritize their studies instead of vying over trivial matters.
"Mr. Tucker, Maximus is straightforward. I trust him completely and believe he would never do such a thing. I also urge the school to conduct a thorough investigation and provide both the instructor and the girl with a proper explanation." The battalion commander firmly believed in Maximus, and he was as certain about the instructorâs innocence.
More importantly, he trusted Elliot implicitly and believed his younger sister must be just as good-hearted. He couldnât stand to see her mistreated.
"Ryan wanted to protect the girl from being treated unfairly at school, so he would use this chance to improve the schoolâs culture.
----
âRest assured, Mr. Cole. I will find the person behind and deal
with it accordingly," said Ryan.
âIâm alright, but I canât let Danielle get dragged into this."
Maximus was so angry that he wanted to physically confront
the person responsible.
----
Moreno Universityâs cafeteria.
After morning military training, Danielle and her friends went to
the cafeteria for lunch, where they noticed more and more
people staring at them strangely.
âAva remarked sarcastically from the next table, "The nerve of
some people! Sheâs still eating in the cafeteria? I wouldnât be
able to show my face after that."
Nancy, who was standing nearby, also chimed in, "She has no
shame. She can still eat after that? I bet sheâs here to flirt with
guys since this is when they all come to eat."
âItâs no surprise the instructor made me run laps for someone
elseâs mistake. I guess that post was true after all," Ava said
sarcastically.
People gathered to watch the fun.