Two Reborn, One Throne novel Chapter 34

The School Clinic.

A dripping wet Lucian rushed in, carrying an equally soaked and "unconscious" Joanne. The school nurse was startled. "What happened to her?"

Lucian couldn't admit he'd been provoked by Amber, so he lied. "Cleaning accident. Please, check on her. Is she okay?"

The nurse quickly examined Joanne but couldn't find anything medically wrong. Just as she was about to suggest letting her rest while Lucian went to change his clothes, Joanne slowly fluttered her eyes open.

Lucian immediately leaned in, helping her sit up and pulling her against his chest. "Joanne, you're awake. Does it hurt anywhere else?"

Joanne’s acting was flawless. Feigning weakness and confusion, she whispered, "Lucian... where am I? Oh god, Lucian, what do we do now? Is Amber going to tell Grace that I stole the money? You have to believe me, I really didn't. Why is Amber framing me? I know I have a bad reputation, but she can't just dump this on me."

"Lucian, maybe... maybe I should just go to the hospital and beg on my knees for Grace's forgiveness. I should have gone today anyway. Don't stop me, let me go."

The tears flowed freely, as if they cost nothing.

The nurse looked slightly bewildered but knew better than to pry into high school drama.

"No, you're not going. You shouldn't even have..." Lucian wanted to say she shouldn't have returned the items at all. What he bought for her was hers. But he blamed himself for not making that clear.

"Don't worry, I told you I'd handle it. I know you're terrified my mother will punish me, but I've already spoken to her. Once I win the fifty thousand dollars from the Physics Olympiad next week, she won't be mad anymore. So..." He reached out, affectionately tapping her nose. "From now on, whatever you do, talk to me first. See? This whole mess wasn't worth the trouble. Joanne, I promised I would protect you in this life. I won't let you suffer even a fraction of a grievance. I meant every word. Now, are you still cold?"

Lucian gazed at her with deep, soulful affection.

Under his intense stare, Joanne's cheeks flushed. For some inexplicable reason, her heart actually fluttered.

Was he serious?

But her dad always told her never to trust a man's words. All she needed to care about was getting the cash.

Look at him now, treating her like absolute royalty. But hadn't he treated Amber the exact same way not so long ago? And now he had completely turned on Amber, going out of his way to destroy the girl just to defend her. If the day ever came when he turned on her like that, she would lose everything.

So to hell with feelings. Playing house was for kids. Hard cash was the only thing that mattered.

"Amber, does the dress fit?"

Back in the dorm room, since Amber was soaked, she needed to change. She had told Tillie she had spare clothes in her bag, but it turned out to only be a top.

Tillie brought her back to the room and handed over an elegant white dress that had just finished drying on the balcony.

When Amber pulled back the privacy curtain after changing, she looked like a completely different person. Tillie’s eyes lit up in awe. "Amber, if you had worn this during the school beauty pageant, Joanne wouldn't have even stood a chance. You look stunning."

Amber rolled her eyes affectionately. She knew she was beautiful, but she hadn't fully realized it until her past life, when Sharif started buying her endless designer wardrobes after she entered the corporate world.

Because of Grace's toxic manipulation, Amber had always been taught that "students should look like students." All year round, even in the dead of summer, Amber wore baggy long sleeves and trousers.

It sounded innocent enough, but it was just Grace suppressing her.

For instance, Grace would constantly tell her, "Amber, you and Lucian are adults now. I know it's not my place, but I see you as my own daughter, so I have to warn you. If you two ever... do *that*, you have to protect yourself. Make sure you take the pill afterward. Honestly, I think it's better to wait until after college. Also, if you must wear a skirt, make sure it's long, way past your knees. Choose dark-colored tops, and bind your chest as tightly as you can. Never flaunt yourself around crowded places with boys; people will think you're trying to seduce them."