As they turned the corner into the hallway where the administration office was, Lena—who was actually Dylan—saw a silver-haired woman. She looked to be in her late 40s but appeared closer to her 30s because she was still pretty, slender, wrinkle-free, and clearly had a lot of plastic surgery in several parts of her body. The woman, named Viola, turned, lifted her sunglasses, and turned back around. Her face immediately showed a momentary look of emotion when she saw Lena walking closer.

Then Viola stepped forward, trying to hug Lena, but Lena avoided her, and Viola's face immediately looked disappointed, sad, and hurt for a moment, as tears started to fall, smearing her mascara.

"Lena... I'm so happy to see you. Thank God you're doing well. Mommy has really missed you and wanted to see you," Viola said.

"Stop with the nonsense, Mom. What do you want?" Lena replied curtly.

"What are you saying, Lena? I truly miss you and want to talk to you," Viola replied, giving a thin, sad smile.

"You're here because you want something from me, aren't you? Oh, right. Dad already said he wants to set me up with his friend's kid as a business deal and debt collateral. You guys want to use the money for your lavish lifestyle, your luxury spending, and your Botox treatments, right? So don't tell me you're here saying you miss me. You're here because you need something from me, considering this is the first time you've come here since I ran away," Lena replied.

Viola glanced at Dylan, who was standing motionless beside Lena without saying a word, only having his arm wrapped around Lena's shoulder.

"Who are you?" Viola asked.

"He's Dylan, my future husband. We're getting married right after graduation, and of course, I don't need to ask for permission or approval from Dad or Mom," Lena answered, wrapping her arm around Dylan.

"W-what? You're going to get married without your parents' blessing? Your father and I are still your parents; we're family," Viola retorted.

"No, you're not family. Grandma is my family. Grandpa was my family. Dylan is my family. Dad and Mom are just people who happen to share DNA with me because you gave birth to me—that's it," Lena stated firmly.

"W-what are you saying? Your father and I raised you all this time, fed you, gave you a home, and even sent you to school. You owe us," Viola countered, her tears suddenly stopping and her face flushing with anger.

"Yup, the bare minimum required of parents by state law... and it didn't even last until I was eighteen, which is when I should technically still be with you. Since I was fifteen, Grandma has been paying for me, and I've been working at her shop. So don't tell me I owe you just because you did the bare minimum that's mandatory for a child," Lena replied casually, hugging Dylan closer.

Viola stared at Lena with an annoyed face. Her eyes studied Lena's unwavering expression. She looked like she no longer knew her own child. Then her face suddenly became sad again.

"B-but I love you... I truly love you. I really miss you... you're my child," Viola said slowly.

"Thank you, Mom, but I'm sorry, I won't be going with you... especially not with Dad," Lena replied.

"This is all because of Elenor, isn't it? She's poisoned you, so you're staying away from me," Viola said, growing irritated again.

"Don't blame Grandma. This is my own choice not to come home, and it has nothing to do with Grandma," Lena replied, annoyed.

"You have to come home with me," Viola said, reaching out her hand to grab Lena.

But suddenly, "tap," Dylan moved and caught Viola's arm. Of course, Viola immediately pulled her hand back and glared at Dylan.

"You stay out of this. This is a family matter," Viola replied, yelling and pointing at Dylan.

"He is family. You are not. So please leave my school, Mom," Lena yelled, yelling back.

Several security guards arrived because they were called by the administration staff who heard the commotion in the front hallway. Viola looked shocked to hear Lena yell. Then she turned to see the security guards who were standing, waiting without saying a word, but clearly enjoying the drama unfolding in front of them.

Tears started to stream down Viola's face again, but this time she seemed to be genuinely crying, not faking it like before. Her face showed deep pain and hurt. She opened her trembling mouth but then closed it. Finally, she quickly walked away, past Lena and Dylan, toward the security guards who escorted her out.

Dylan, disguised as Lena, watched Viola as she turned and walked past him. Then he thought,

"Hmm... at the end there, she really seemed genuinely distraught by what I said, but that's all a consequence of her own actions. She wasn't brave enough to leave her husband for Lena, even though she knew Lena was truly her daughter and clearly not her husband's child," Dylan thought to himself.

[That's right, sir. She also wasn't brave enough to give up her luxurious lifestyle, and that's what makes her suffer.]

"You sent all the recordings to Lena just now, right?" Dylan asked.

[Yes, sir, everything has been sent.]

"Okay, let's head back to class," Dylan, disguised as Lena, replied.

An administrative staff member came out of the room and asked Lena, worriedly, seeing her just standing there, silently clinging to Dylan's arm. Then Lena told the staff member that she was fine and turned to walk back to class with Dylan. Once they were in the empty corridor, "pooof," the Dylan clone disappeared, and Lena wiped her face, then changed back into Dylan.

As soon as he entered the classroom, Dylan immediately told the teacher that Lena had gotten permission to go home, picked up by her mother due to a family matter. After that, he casually sat back down in his seat and immediately felt several people staring at him.

Dylan turned to see Ellie, Maya, and Amy looking at him intensely. The three of them immediately typed something on their smartphones, after which the family chat group became active.

"Hey babe, did Lena really go home?" Maya asked, demanding an explanation.

"Lena left with her mom? Why did you let her?" Ellie asked, demanding an explanation.

"Tell me quickly, I'm really worried," Amy added.

"Huh... what are you guys talking about? I'm at home. Here's the proof," Lena replied.

"Dling," Lena sent a selfie photo that showed her enjoying a burger and a salad at the dining table. She had clearly ordered it because the receipt was visible in the bag near her food. "Hah," Maya, Ellie, and Amy immediately typed that they were shocked, adding various emoticons.

Then they immediately turned to look at Dylan, their eyes silently demanding an explanation. Dylan calmly explained by typing:

"I told you yesterday there'd be a magic trick, right? Well... the show's over," Dylan said.

"Hah," Maya, Ellie, and Amy replied, confused.

Later after school, when they got home, Lena immediately jumped and hugged Dylan. She leaned in close and whispered in Dylan's ear,

"Thank you. I already saw the video. Thanks for taking my place to say all that," Lena whispered.

"You're welcome. Now you don't have to worry about your mom coming back, but you still need to be careful, as they're still in the city," Dylan replied.

"Of course, babe, I understand... perfectly," Lena replied, kissing Dylan.

"Heeeeey!" Ellie, Maya, and Amy yelled in unison, trying to pull Lena away from Dylan.

"What is it?" Lena asked.

"You haven't showered all day, have you? Let's go!" Ellie yelled.

"Yeah, you've been eating and watching TV all day... come on, shower," Maya replied.

"Agreed... come with me," Amy replied.

"Hey... what are you doing... help me, babe... help!" Lena yelled as her three friends dragged her away.

The three of them immediately pulled Lena into the room and shut the door tight. Then they came out again, herding Lena out and into the bathroom together.

"Um... she didn't smell bad, though," Dylan said belatedly, holding his lips and realizing the girls' true intention was to grill Lena for an explanation, with a shower as their excuse.

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