Jae couldn't shake the anger boiling inside him as he made his way to the Archer Manor. The image of Kaye's devastated face was etched into his mind, and he was determined to get to the bottom of this. But beneath the anger was a gnawing jealousy—why had Kaye been in that closet with Graeme? What was really going on?
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The internet gave only half the perception of what actually happens. It was a brutal platform where snippets of truth mingled with heaps of misinformation. Jae knew there could be more to the story, but seeing Kaye and Graeme exiting that closet together was maddening.
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His feelings for Kaye had taken him by surprise. It was like a wave crashing over him, intense and unrelenting. He had never felt such emotions for someone so quickly, and it drove him into a maddening, relentless search for the truth.
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As he approached the grand entrance of Archer Manor, his determination solidified. This had to end now.
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He rang the bell, his impatience growing with each passing second. Finally, the door opened, and Blaire stood there, her expression cautious.
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"Jae, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.
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Jae didn't waste any time. "We need to talk. Now."
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Reluctantly, Blaire stepped outside, closing the door behind her. They stood on the grand steps of the manor, the rays of sun piercing her skin just as the daunting look in Jae’s eyes.
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"Blaire, I want to know who sent that video," Jae demanded, his voice cold and unyielding. "This is the last day you run the BG Post if you don't give me a name."
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Blaire's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly recovered. "I can't just give out that information, Jae. It's confidential."
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Jae stepped closer, his voice low and menacing. "Listen, Blaire. You know as well as I do that this is more than just a post. It's slander. It's malicious. If you don't tell me who did this, I'll make sure you regret it."
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Blaire hesitated, glancing around nervously. "Fine. I'll see what I can do. But you need to understand, this isn't easy."
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Jae nodded, his expression softening slightly. "I don’t want you to try, I want you to get it done. This is my only warning."
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As Blaire nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. As he turned and walked away, Jae felt a mix of frustration and hope. He knew this was far from over, but he was determined to get to the bottom of it and make things right.
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Blaire watched Jae walk away, his anger palpable even as he disappeared down the path. She closed the door and leaned against it for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart. The confrontation had rattled her more than she let on.
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Blaire was unlike her sister, Kat. While Kat reveled in social power and attention, Blaire found solace in the arts. Music, painting, and writing were her escapes, her way of navigating a world she often found suffocating. Her dream was to become a journalist, exposing the injustices and hierarchies she saw around her. The BG Post was her baby, a small but crucial step towards that goal.
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She had trusted Kat with the password to the BG Post once, when she was sick and couldn't handle the daily posts. She should have known better. Now, the realization that Kat had betrayed that trust for her own malicious intent filled Blaire with fury.
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She stormed through the halls of Archer Manor, the opulence around her feeling like a cage. She found Kat lounging in the living room, scrolling through her phone with a satisfied smirk.
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"Kat, we need to talk. Now," Blaire snapped, her voice trembling with anger.
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Kat looked up, feigning innocence. "What’s up, sis?"
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"You know what’s up. The video you posted on the BG Post. How could you do this?"
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Kat’s smirk vanished, replaced by a defiant glare. "Oh, come on, Blaire. It’s just a little payback. Kaye deserved it."
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Blaire’s hands clenched into fists. "You don’t get it. The BG Post means something to me. It’s my future, my way out of this... this prison of wealth and power. And you’ve jeopardized it for your petty revenge."
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Before Kat could respond, their grandmother Evelyn entered the room. "What is all this shouting about?" she demanded, her tone icy.
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Blaire took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Grandmother, Kat used the BG Post to humiliate Kaye Burchart. It’s caused a huge scandal."
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Evelyn’s eyes narrowed, her expression turning cold. "The daughter of Beatrice Burchart? And this involves the son of Alice Starling? Do you have any idea what you've done, Kat?"
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Kat's defiance wavered under Evelyn's scrutiny. "I didn't mean for it to get this out of hand. It was just supposed to be a prank."
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Evelyn shook her head, her anger barely contained. "A prank? Do you realize the repercussions? Beatrice and Alice are society's social flowers and elegant financiers. If this causes Harold to lose the upcoming re-election, you will have more to answer for than just a school scandal."
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She turned to Blaire, her expression softening slightly. "And you, Blaire. You gave her the password?"
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Blaire’s voice was quiet but firm. "I trusted her once, when I was sick. I never thought she would abuse that trust."
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Evelyn sighed, her disappointment evident. "Both of you should start looking for a place to stay if this ruins your father’s chances. I won’t have you jeopardizing our family’s future."36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cn0qhGBXW
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Blaire threw her hand up in protest of her grandmother’s words. “This time, you have your precious granddaughter Kat to blame. She’s been coddled all her life by this family and now look at her. A shell and the well-crafted reflection of you and mother’s actions.”
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Kat’s face turned pale, her earlier bravado crumbling. Blaire felt a pang of guilt, but her anger overrode it. This was the fallout of Kat’s actions, and now they all had to deal with it. She was not going to allow her sister to get away unscathed again. Because of their family’s wealth and stance in society, Kat could get away with murder at this point, and she wasn’t going to sit back and see her own future go to ruins because of her sister’s inability to take responsibility or accountability for her own actions. It seemed like they all had something to lose except for the one who had caused this terrible situation.
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As Evelyn left the room, Blaire turned to Kat one last time. "I will fix this. But you need to understand, Kat. There are consequences to your actions. And this time, you’ve gone too far."
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Kat said nothing, her silence a rare moment of reflection. Blaire walked away, her resolve hardening. She had a lot of work to do, and she would start by making things right with Jae and Kaye.
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Kat’s approach to the Durant estate was filled with a mixture of determination and denial. She couldn’t understand why everyone was so upset over what she saw as a harmless prank. Kaye had it coming. It wasn’t her fault if people couldn’t take a joke.
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Joey’s face came into view, his expression dark and troubled. As he opened the door, Kat forced a smile, hoping to diffuse the tension. “Joey, thank God. Can we talk?”
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Joey’s response was far from what she expected. “Kat, what you did was unforgivable,” he said, his voice trembling with controlled anger.
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Kat’s heart sank, but she kept up her defiant front. “Unforgivable? It was just a prank. People are overreacting.”
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Joey stepped aside to let her in, his eyes never leaving hers. “Come in. We need to talk about this properly.”
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As they entered the living room, Joey’s words began to spill out, each one heavier than the last. “Kat, you humiliated Kaye in front of everyone. Do you even understand what that feels like?”
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Kat crossed her arms, her annoyance flaring. “She deserved it. You know she did.”
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Joey’s hands shook with anger. “And stealing the video from my phone? How could you do that? You betrayed me, Kat. You made me a part of something I never wanted to be involved in.”
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Kat tried to brush off his concerns, but Joey’s voice grew louder, more desperate. “I trusted you, Kat. You’ve shown me that you care more about your image than the people you hurt. I can’t be with someone like that.”
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Kat’s facade began to crack. “Joey, you don’t mean that. We’re supposed to be together. What about our future?”
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Joey’s voice softened, but his resolve didn’t waver. “Our future? How can we have a future when you can’t even see the damage you’ve done? I need a break, Kat. I need to think about what’s best for me.”
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Kat’s eyes filled with tears, but her pride wouldn’t let her admit fault. “So that’s it? You’re just going to walk away? What will people think?”
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Joey’s expression hardened. “I’m done worrying about what people think. I need to do what’s right for me. And right now, that means breaking up with you.”
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The finality of his words hit Kat like a punch to the gut. She stood there, paralyzed, as Joey turned and walked away. The gravity of her actions still eluded her, and all she could focus on was the loss of her perfect image.
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Joey paused at the door, his back to her. “Goodbye, Kat. I hope you find a way to understand what you’ve done.”
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As he disappeared into the house, Kat’s mind raced. She couldn’t believe he had actually broken up with her. The reality of her actions was still lost on her, and all she could focus on was the loss of her perfect image.
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Saturday afternoon was slowly approaching, and the sun streamed through the window, casting a warm, cheerful glow across my room. But I didn’t feel cheerful. I lay on the floor, my phone in hand, reading the relentless comments on my social media page. The persistence of everyone to listen to half-truths and spread lies was infuriating.
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With a growl of frustration, I threw my phone across the room. It hit the wall with a thud and fell to the floor. I stared up at the ceiling, my mind racing with the events of the previous night. I couldn’t forget the look on Jae’s face and the disappointment it portrayed. Despite my horror at the events that transpired, I refused to be the victim this time. I wouldn’t cry, and I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me down. But deep inside, I still felt defeated in this one-sided battle.
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I felt trapped, suffocated by the judgment and scrutiny. My heart ached with the weight of humiliation. As I lay there, lost in thought, I heard a soft knock on my door.
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“Kaye, sweetheart, can I come in?” my mother’s voice called gently from the other side.
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I sighed. “Yeah, Mom. Come in.”
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Beatrice entered the room, her expression a mix of concern and determination. “Liv called me this morning. She told me what happened at the Valentine Formal.”
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My heartbeat uncontrollably, and I refused to cry. “Mom, it was awful. They... they humiliated me in front of everyone.”
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She sat down beside me, pulling me into a comforting embrace. “I’m so sorry, honey. But you need to understand something. The best way to deal with the Katherine Archers and Elizabeth Cuthberts of the world is to play their games tenfold better.”
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I looked up, confusion mingling with the tears I tried so hard to compress. “What do you mean?”
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Mom’s eyes sparkled with determination. “You have the power to control your narrative, Kaye. Don’t let them define you with their lies. Take this scandal and turn it into your truth. Show them that you’re stronger than they think. That us Burchart women are strong and strategically cunning.”
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My mind began to race with possibilities. Mom’s words ignited a spark of hope and resolve within me. I could take control of this situation, spin it in my favor, and show everyone who I truly was.
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With a newfound sense of purpose, I sat up. “You’re right, Mom. I can’t let them win. I’ll tell my own story.”
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Mom smiled, pride shining in her eyes. “That’s my girl. Remember, you’re stronger than you know. You are your father’s daughter after all.”
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I had always admired my father, despite our current strained relationship and every awkward moment that passed between us in each other’s presence. I hadn’t forgotten how I used to be his shadow.
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As the light from the window cast a warm glow over us, I felt a renewed sense of strength. I would rise above this scandal and reclaim my narrative. I would show them all that Kaye Burchart was not to be underestimated.
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After our conversation, my mom left the room, leaving me to my thoughts. I lay there, thinking about how to address this situation. I wasn’t going to let them win. I had to tell the truth about what happened with Graeme.
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I took out my phone and sat up, determined. This time, I would control the narrative. I went live on my MyPage account, my heart pounding as I saw the number of viewers quickly rising.
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“Hey everyone,” I began, my voice steady but filled with emotion. “First, I want to thank those who have supported me during this tough time. Your messages mean a lot. And to the trolls, welcome. I see you’ve flocked to this live under the brainwashed minds of the elite crew and their cheap attempt at power play.”
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The comments started pouring in, but I ignored them for now. “I know you’ve all seen the video. I want to tell you the real story. Yes, I was in the closet with Graeme. But it wasn’t what you think. We were hiding in the closet after we left the gym during the junior assembly for the ‘If They Knew Me’ exercise. We heard Principal Johnson approaching, and as everyone has seen before, her actions caused quite a stir that day. Nothing more.”
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I paused, letting my words sink in. “To whoever hid behind this scandal, scared to face me head-on and trying to humiliate me – shame on you. Whoever took that video should be ashamed for trying to defame my character. This little video was put together with malicious intent, and I know who’s behind it. But unlike them, I’ll be better. I won’t mention names without enough evidence, which I will uncover and bring to light.”
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My voice grew stronger with each word. “I will come for you harder. If no one has ever held you accountable for your trashy behavior, I am here to settle the scores and become your retribution.”
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