Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 34: Clarissa – The Rumor from Seventeen Years Ago
My fingers curled around the stall door handle. I should burst out and confront them... I meant explain the truth.
But my hand wouldn’t move.
Selene and her friend’s voices had rattled something deep in my chest, leaving my nerves humming and my thoughts spinning.
I was a bit hesitant.
It revealed the fact that there was a rumor circulating about me. A nasty one. And it was probably the reason they avoided me openly.
Experience taught me one thing. Once a rumor grows roots, words alone won’t pull it out.
Not when those words come from me, the accused one.
I would need a solid proof or someone credible enough to speak for me.
’But... where did this rumor even come from?’
For now, gathering information mattered more.
Selene and her friend were still talking. And every word was about me.
"So you think the adopted girl is taking the place of Shannon’s real twin?" Selene’s friend asked.
They even concluded that Shannon had a twin... Of course they knew insider stories. Best class kids always knew too much.
What they didn’t predict... was that I am that missing twin.
’Huft... am I really seen so lowly here?’
Selene answered calmly, "Could be. My father said that seventeen years ago, the Green family was looking for a baby with violet eyes. They searched for a while, but the rumor eventually died down. Then they introduced Shannon."
"So they never officially announced their daughter was supposed to be a twin?"
"Never. Even before Luna Green gave birth, the story everyone heard was that she was expecting a single daughter."
"No wonder no one talked about that violet-eyed baby again after Shannon appeared."
Staring at the plain white stall door, I finally understood why everyone believed I was truly adopted.
Because no one knew the Alpha Green family had been expecting twins.
But... it didn’t make sense.
Back then, Mother must have been the talk of every elite circle. She was the mate of the Alpha’s heir, the treasured daughter of the Beta, and granddaughter of a wealthy matriarch from another pack.
Her pregnancy should’ve been the crown jewel of gossip.
How could no one know she carried twins?
I shook my head. Some mysteries were meant to stay buried. What mattered was that my family had found me again. And once my inner wolf awakened, my status would become official.
As for Alpha Will... I would simply ignore him.
I still had Mother and my four siblings.
When the outside fell silent, I slipped out of the restroom and checked my watch.
’Great. Lunch break is almost over. And I haven’t eaten!’
Brukk!
I collided with someone rushing past. A small body toppled to the floor.
"Shannon!" I gasped.
I quickly helped her up. No wonder she fell. An omega crashing into another omega was an accident waiting to happen.
"I’m fine, Sis Clar," she said, flashing an adorable grin.
"...Sorry." I fussed over her without thinking.
She just giggled.
Hearing her laugh made my shoulders loosen.
Together, we headed for the lifter. She was going to the student council office in the building next door, while I needed the cafeteria on the fourth. Perfect, since I still had no idea how to use the lifter.
Inside, I remembered what I truly wanted to ask.
"Shannon... do you know there’s a rumor going around about me in the class?"
"A rumor?" Her smile faltered. "About you being adopted?"
I shook my head. "About me stealing your device."
Her eyes widened. "What? That’s impossible!"
She grabbed both my hands, distressed. "Sis Clar, don’t listen to that. Oscar must be spreading it among the Alpha kids. He’s trying to get back at you."
"Oscar. Again." I clicked my tongue. At this point, my regret for ever liking him felt like a permanent stain on my soul.
"I’ll help clear your name," Shannon promised, eyes blazing with determination. "Adrian too."
"Thank you." Without thinking, I patted her head. "It’s annoying, especially since even Selene heard the rumor. But if it’s really Oscar... the truth will come out eventually."
Even my old classmates had woken up to his tricks.
Once they realized every bad rumor about me came from him, they stopped taking anything he said seriously.
Best Class students had even sharper instincts. They’d sort out truth from trash soon enough.
"Still, I’ll do whatever I can," Shannon added.
I nodded and flashed a thankful smile.
...
This was only my second day in Best Class, and like before, I was barely keeping up.
When Mrs. Willette came in to teach Aether, she slowed her pace because I was falling behind.
Before all this, I was a top student.
Now, sitting in the very back row, I couldn’t even get a question in before others snatched the chance.
Mrs. Willette only gave me an understanding smile before leaving.
I sank into my seat, cheeks burning.
I hated feeling incapable. Especially in front of the only teacher who always believed in me.
I exhaled hard.
My hand rose automatically to my neck, searching for the familiar cool touch of my necklace. It became a habit, a small comfort when I felt anxious.
But my fingers touched nothing. I looked down... nothing!
"...Where’s my necklace?" I muttered.
I shot out of my seat, peering under the chair.
Kellan and Mira, who saw how anxious I was, offered to help search, and this time I didn’t refuse... even though I was trying to keep some distance from them. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
The three of us bent around awkwardly, checking the floor.
Rylas and Tessa joined too, though Tessa mostly pointed at random corners while ordering Kellan to look there.
Ten minutes later, the next teacher walked in. We scrambled back to our seats.
"It’s not in the classroom, Clar. Where did you go earlier?" Tessa whispered.
"Restroom. And cafeteria," I whispered back.
"Then check those too."
"I will. Thanks."
Suddenly, Mr. Woods’s roar thundered from the front of the room, his glare slicing straight through me.
"CLARISSA. GET OUT OF MY CLASS!"
...
