Ch. 18th Birthday 68 18th Birthday 68

Chapter 68 

(Lily’s POV) 

The last day of exams came with a different kind of energy. 

Our classroom was buzzing; nervous laughter, light chatter, and the constant flipping of notes. It wasn’t just another exam day, it was the last one. 

After this, we would leave school behind. 

“I still think I’m going to fail this one,” Aria whispered as we walked to the exam hall. 

“You say that every time,” Tobe said, rolling his eyes. 

“And I’m still here,” she replied with a wink. 

We found our seats quickly. The hall was bigger than usual today, filled with final–year students. Just as I sat down, the room fell silent. 

Principal Thamior walked in with two teachers behind him. The air shifted. 

Chairs stopped moving, pens were set down and a quiet tension spread like thick smoke. 

Thamior’s eyes scanned the room slowly. No one moved. He stood at the front, arms folded, then nodded at the teachers. They began handing out the question papers. 

“You may begin,” he said. 

I took a deep breath and started writing. 

Once I began, I didn’t stop. I didn’t even lift my head. The words flowed, and time slipped away. The only sound I heard was the scratch of pens on paper. 

Then a sharp voice cut through the quiet. 

“Time’s up. Submit your papers.” 

It was Principal Thamior again. 

I blinked. Two hours gone, just like that. 

Many chairs scraped, and students stood, forming a line at the front. I joined them, paper in hand. My heart was light. It was finally over. 

Suddenly, the line pushed forward and everyone was restless, rushing to drop their sheets. A few stumbled. 

As I stepped forward to place mine on the pile, Principal’s Thamior’s voice rang out, louder than before. 

“Stop!” 

We all froze. All heads turned. 

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He was no longer at the front. He was behind us, walking slowly through the students. 

His eyes were fixed… on me. 

I frowned. What- 

He stepped in front of me and pointed to the floor. Right beside my foot was a crumpled piece of paper. 

“What’s that?” he asked sharply. 

I looked down, confused. “I… I don’t know.” 

He picked it up slowly, then opened it with a quick flick. Silence. 

The silence grew heavier as he held the paper up. It was filled with answers… neat, complete answers of the exact exam we just wrote. 

Whispers rippled in the air. 

“I didn’t write that,” I said quickly, heart pounding. “I swear, I didn’t-” 

“Convenient, isn’t it?” he said, cutting me off. 

Aria spoke up. “She wouldn’t cheat!” 

Tobe stepped forward too. “Lily’s one of the most honest people we know.” 

“Silence,” Principal Thamior snapped. “Anyone who speaks again will be sent out.” 

Dev clenched his jaw but stayed quiet. 

The room was still. My throat was dry. 

Then I heard a voice behind me. 

“It’s not her handwriting.” 

It was Zion. 

He stepped forward, his voice steady. “It’s written by hand, yes. But it doesn’t match hers.” 

Principal Thamior turned slowly. “And what would you know about it?” 

Zion didn’t flinch. “Page 34, line 3 of the school’s handbook–any accusation of an exam malpractice must be properly investigated before judgment is passed.” 

Loud gasps rippled through the room. 

Principal Thamior’s eyes narrowed. “Are you teaching me how to run my school, Prince Zion?” 

“No, sir,” Zion said calmly. “I was just reminding you of the rules.” 

The silence was louder than before, and Principal Thamior’s face was red. He walked to the front angrily. “The student 

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Chapter 68 

responsible will be expelled. Cheating will not be tolerated in this school!” 

He said it like the decision was already made. Like I was already gone. 

The teachers began sorting through the submitted papers at the front. 

It took a while. 

Then one of them paused. He whispered something to the principal. 

Principal Thamior looked up. “Kate?” 

Kate who was seated three rows behind, flinched. 

“Come forward.” he bellowed. 

She rose slowly. 

“It matches her handwriting.” A teacher said, holding both papers side by side. 

Everyone stared at her. 

Kate’s face crumpled. “It’s not my fault. I was told to do it.” 

“By who?” principal Thamior thundered. 

She hesitated, wringing her hands nervously “Kade and Celeste… They said it would only scare her. They said-” 

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“Enough,” Principal Thamior barked, his face twisted with fury, his hand slamming the desk beside him hard enough to make her flinch. 

“But it wasn’t even my idea!” Kate cried. 

“We don’t punish people based on hear–say,” he snapped. “You had the paper. You wrote the answers. You dropped it!” 

His voice was final. 

“You’re expelled.” 

Gasps broke out as students looked at each other, wide–eyed. A few shifted in their seats, unsure whether to speak or stay silent. The room felt heavier. 

Tears welled up in Kate’s eyes as she was quietly led out of the hall, her head lowered, shoulders shaking with each step. 

I stood there, numb. 

Dev placed a hand on my back. “You okay?” 

I nodded slowly, though my knees felt weak. 

Zion looked at me, a small frown on his face. He stepped closer but didn’t say anything. 

It was over. 

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Chapter 68 

But somehow… it didn’t feel like it. 

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