Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System-Chapter 245: Apologize

Then stopped.

Everyone was staring. The whole room was so quiet, it made her ears ring. Her cheeks burned bright red as she finally whispered,

"...No. I didn’t tell her. I... I never said it out loud."

A wave of whispers spread across the room like ripples in water.

"Wait, what?"

"So Olivia didn’t even know?"

"Then why did Moana yell like that?"

"That’s so unfair to Olivia..."

Some people looked straight at Moana now, their faces scrunched up in confusion and annoyance.

"She’s just jealous."

"Seriously, how can Olivia be blamed for something she didn’t know?"

"If she never said anything, then it’s not Olivia’s fault."

Moana’s jaw tightened. Her face turned red with anger and embarrassment. But she wasn’t ready to lose.

She stepped forward again and said loudly, "There’s no way Olivia didn’t notice! I mean—she’s Eleanor’s best friend! Are you telling me she didn’t notice how Eleanor looked at Leo? How she smiled when he walked by? How can a best friend not know?!"

Everyone went quiet again.

The question kind of made sense.

People looked at each other.

Even Eleanor looked up, unsure what to say.

But Olivia?

She didn’t panic.

She just gave a small smile... and asked calmly, "Okay then, Moana. If you think best friends always know who the other likes—then tell me."

Moana blinked.

Olivia’s eyes stayed calm but sharp.

"Tell me who I like."

Moana froze.

"I—uh—I don’t know," she stammered. "I’m not your best friend! How would I know?"

Olivia nodded. "Exactly. You’re not my best friend. And even you don’t know who I like."

Then Olivia turned to Eleanor.

"Eleanor," she said gently. "Do you know who I like?"

Eleanor looked startled. "W-What?"

"You’re my best friend," Olivia said softly. "So tell me. Who’s the guy I’ve had a crush on for the last month? The one I told you about... more than five times."

Eleanor’s eyes darted left and right. "I... I thought... you said you weren’t into anyone."

Olivia gave a small laugh. "That’s not true. I told you. I like someone. He’s from a class I just joined—art theory, remember?"

Gasps rose from the crowd again.

Some students leaned in. "Wait... she told Eleanor?"

"So Olivia has a crush too?"

"She literally said it more than five times?!"

Olivia sighed. "Yes. I even described how he always doodles in the corner of his notes. And how he lent me his charcoal pencils. And how he smells like fresh laundry."

Eleanor’s eyes widened. She remembered—now she remembered. Olivia had said all that. But back then, she didn’t think it was serious.

Olivia turned back to the crowd. "If Eleanor—my best friend—could forget who I like... then how could I know she likes Leo if she never even said it once?"

The room went silent again.

This time, the silence felt heavier.

And then...

Someone clapped.

"Olivia’s right."

"Yeah, that makes total sense."

"I’d feel bad too if I was blamed like that..."

"I would’ve cried already if I were her!"

More students started nodding and whispering in agreement.

Moana’s face crumpled in frustration.

She turned to Eleanor.

"Well? Are you seriously not gonna say anything?! You’re just gonna let everyone side with her now?!"

Eleanor stood still. She looked around, saw all the eyes on her, and saw that the tide had turned.

She swallowed hard... then walked forward, eyes watery, lips trembling.

And suddenly—

She hugged Olivia.

"I’m sorry," Eleanor whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear. "I didn’t mean it like that. I was never calling you a fake friend. I promise! It’s all... It’s all just a big misunderstanding!"

Gasps rang out again.

Moana’s eyes widened. "Eleanor?!"

Eleanor kept her pitiful expression on as she clung to Olivia’s arm.

"I was just confused," she added. "Please don’t be mad. Moana was just trying to stand up for me... but she got too emotional. That’s all."

Now, everyone looked at Moana.

She looked like she’d just been pushed off a cliff.

"W-Wait, what? Eleanor! You—!"

But no one was listening anymore.

Someone in the crowd muttered, "She caused all that drama for nothing."

"She was just trying to stir things up..."

"She should apologize to Olivia."

Olivia didn’t say anything. She just stood there, letting Eleanor hug her, her face unreadable.

Moana opened her mouth to shout something again, but before she could speak—

Eleanor gently held up her hand and said softly, "Moana, don’t apologize."

Everyone blinked.

"Huh?"

"What does she mean?"

Eleanor turned slowly toward the group, her eyes looking all sad and pitiful, like she was about to cry.

"It wasn’t Moana’s fault," she said in a trembling voice. "It was mine."

’If I ask Moana to apologize now, she will realize that I was using her all along. I have already lost this round, If I lose my pawn too... it would be too much loss.’

She looked down at the floor, her voice getting quieter and shakier.

"I... I told Moana that I liked Leo. I told her how I felt... and then, when she saw what happened just now, she thought Olivia had done it on purpose."

"She only misunderstood," Eleanor whispered, her hands twisting in front of her. "She just wanted to protect me..."

Some students looked at each other and frowned.

"But still," a boy from the crowd said, "if it was a misunderstanding, shouldn’t you apologize to Olivia?"

"Yeah," a girl added. "Olivia didn’t even know, and now her name is being dragged through the mud. That’s not fair."

Eleanor flinched.

Her fingers clenched, and for a second, her eyes flashed with something cold—something sharp.

But she quickly lowered her head, hiding her face as she spoke silently in her mind.

’Make me faint instead. I’m not going to humiliate myself in front of everyone like this.’

As long as she faints, everyone will think that Olivia was going too far by presurrizeing her best friend to the point that she fainted.

[Understood. Executing now.]

Just as Eleanor lifted her head and turned toward Olivia, ready to fake a humble bow—

Her knees suddenly wobbled.

Her body tilted forward.

And with a soft gasp—

Thump!

Eleanor collapsed right onto the floor.

"ELEANOR!!"

Several students screamed.

A girl ran forward. "She fainted!"

"Quick! Someone check her pulse!"

Another student knelt down beside her and pressed two fingers to Eleanor’s wrist. "She’s breathing! Her heart’s beating—but she’s out cold!"

"Maybe she fainted from stress or something?"

"Or maybe from embarrassment..."

"No, no—she looked really pale even before that!"

"Anyways... it was a bit too much for Olivia to punish Eleanor by making her kneel.."

The room turned into a whirlwind of worried voices and fast-moving feet.

But in the middle of all the chaos...

Olivia stood still.

She looked down at Eleanor, her expression unreadable, calm—almost too calm.

Then she took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"She’s my best friend," Olivia said clearly, her voice soft but firm. "I’ll take care of her."

Everyone turned and looked at her.

"Olivia, are you sure?"

"She just fainted in front of everyone..."

"She put you in this mess, and now you’re helping her?"

But Olivia didn’t answer them.

She just knelt down, carefully slipped her arms under Eleanor’s back and legs, and picked her up.

The room went quiet again as everyone watched Olivia carry Eleanor toward the infirmary, her face calm as ever, but her eyes... cold and unreadable.

Behind them, students whispered.

"She’s still helping her after all that?"

"Olivia’s too nice."

"She’s a real friend, that’s for sure."

Eleanor, who heard their words, rolled her eyes. Olivia was too smart. If Olivia had acted even a bit panicked or had lost her composure, everyone would feel that Olivia was unreliable.

However, now that Olivia had taken the initiative to help Eleanor, she had transformed into a gentle and kind best friend.

’It’s alright. I am not at a loss anyway. I didn’t have to apologize at all, and even Moana will not feel she has been used. Not to mention, now everyone might even feel some pity for me.’

Of course! Here’s the continuation of your story in middle school-friendly English, with tension, drama, and a hint of humor:

Soon, Olivia reached the infirmary, carrying Eleanor in her arms like she was light as a feather.

The nurse looked up from her desk in surprise. "Oh dear! What happened?"

Olivia gently laid Eleanor down on one of the beds and brushed the hair out of her face. Her voice was calm and polite as always.

"She fainted," Olivia said softly. "From stress, I think. Could you please give her something to help her calm down? Maybe... an injection?"

Eleanor, who had been pretending to be unconscious the whole time, felt her heart jump.

Injection?!

Her fingers twitched.

The nurse stood and walked over quickly. "Ah, yes. I have just the thing. It’s a small shot—goes in the arm. It’ll help with nerves and fatigue. Good idea, Olivia. Her blood pressure must’ve dropped."

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