Chapter 4Real Heiress, Fake Noble Family

Half an hour later, the classroom was packed. The dean, the competition judges, and the entire Sterling family had arrived.

They even brought a few police officers with them.

“Who reported a crime?” the lead officer, Detective Miller, asked, his eyes scanning the crowded room.

When he saw me, his expression flickered with surprise. “Clar—”

I gave him a subtle shake of my head.

Lily had worked so hard to stage this drama for me. It would be a shame not to let her finish her performance.

Miller and his colleagues caught my signal and fell silent.

“I did!” the professor announced, pointing an accusatory finger at me. He looked at the officers with righteous indignation. “This student stole another’s artwork to enter a competition, tarnishing the reputation of our institution!”

“I tolerated the fact that she got in through family connections,” he huffed. “But this… this is a disgrace. I cannot, in good conscience, cover this up!”

The Sterlings flushed with embarrassment, glaring at me as if I were a stain on their family name. Not a single one of them moved to defend me.

The university officials looked at the professor, bewildered. The dean opened his mouth to speak, but Miller put a firm hand on his shoulder, silently signaling him to stay quiet.

“Her? She stole someone’s artwork?” Miller couldn’t suppress a smirk. “Whose work did she supposedly steal?”

His amused tone threw the professor, Lily, and everyone else for a loop. After a moment’s hesitation, Lily stepped forward.

“It was mine,” she said, then put on a show of magnanimity. “But Clara is the sister my parents just brought home. I know she’s picked up some… bad habits. But she’s still my sister. I promise she won’t do it again.”

She pleaded with the officials. “I’m begging you, Mr. Dean, and the judges, please give her a second chance. Don’t put this on her record.”

Every word was a performance of perfect, selfless sincerity.

The Sterlings were deeply moved. Victoria wrapped a protective arm around her. “Oh, my sweet Lily. You’re just too kind for your own good.”

Richard Sterling’s voice was grave. “Detective, handle this as the law requires. The Sterling family will not shelter a criminal.”

Sensing the tide, the professor added his two cents. “Lily, you’ve been too sheltered. You don’t understand how cruel the world can be. In my opinion, a student with such poor moral character should be expelled!”

The other students, swept up in the mob mentality, began to chime in.

“Yes! We don’t want a thief in our class!”

“She stole from her own sister today! Who knows who she’ll target next?”

“We demand she be expelled!”

They were so caught up in their righteous fury that none of them noticed the dean’s face had turned a shade of purple.

After listening to their tirade, Miller nodded slowly, a playful glint in his eye as he looked at me.

“Well, miss? Do you have anything to say for yourself?” he drawled. “If not, you’d better come with us down to the station.”