Chapter 4My Vampire Boyfriend's Blood Bag

Looking over the messages on Emily's phone, every single line of so-called "evidence" sent a bone-chilling shiver down my spine.

[Werewolves are the grossest. That tail looks hideous, and that nose goes around sniffing everywhere every day like a dog begging for scraps.]

[And mermaids are such a trash species, leaving their soaking wet tails and splashing water all over the place. Truly zero class!]

[Elves' tears are supposed to have beautifying effects. I'm going to throw something in his eyes to make the baby cry!]

...

I stared in complete disbelief at the "evidence" in Emily's hands.

"I never said any of this! And I've never done any of the things written here!"

Even after hearing me out, Emily still had an expression of total distrust.

"Stop acting! Your boyfriend, Magnus, was the one who told us all of this. He even apologized to us on your behalf. If it wasn't for him, do you really think you could have stayed at this school completely unscathed?"

"He apologized to you guys?"

My heart plummeted. I suddenly remembered that when I first arrived, my classmates' attitudes toward me were actually not bad at all.

On my very first day at school, Emily shared her cookies with me and even introduced me to Ben, a little elf. Brianna, a mermaid, also voluntarily helped me carry my books.

It was just that those memories were from so long ago. Under Magnus' constant brainwashing, I only remembered my classmates' cold isolation and relentless ridicule.

"Without me, do you really think you could still stay at this school?"

Every time I had a disagreement with Magnus, he would throw that exact line in my face. And because of that, I let him manipulate me time and time again, bowing my head to him every single time.

So that was how it was.

"Emily, I have never said any of these words, nor have I ever done any of these things. Besides Magnus, has anyone else ever heard me say these things or seen me do them?"

The moment I said this, the classmates around us fell into a heavy silence.

When they actually thought back, it really was entirely Magnus' word against mine.

"But Magnus is your boyfriend. Why would he frame you?" Emily still couldn't bring herself to fully believe it. She couldn't understand why Magnus would treat his own girlfriend like this.

I couldn't understand why either. Even if he didn't love me, there was no need to go out of his way to ruin my reputation. What could he possibly gain from this?

I let out a bitter smile, and just as I was about to explain further, Magnus' voice echoed from behind me.

"What are you guys all gathered here for? Did Laura do something again? I apologize to you all on her behalf. Please, don't waste your breath on her."

It was happening again. Without reason, he immediately convicted me of guilt, pretended to apologize on my behalf, and then reaped my overwhelming gratitude in return.

"Magnus, you came at just the right time!" Emily called Magnus out. "Laura refuses to admit she ever did any of those things!"

Magnus obviously froze for a second. "What things?"

Emily grew anxious, her tone turning hurried. "The things you messaged us about!"

Perhaps Magnus had smeared my name too much over the years, because he actually had to pause for a moment before realizing what we were arguing about. He looked at me with a flash of nervousness, his voice even faltering with a stutter.

"I... I don't know what you guys are talking about. I never sent any of you anything!"

Hearing his denial, Emily exploded in rage. "If you didn't send it, did Laura send it to us herself?!"

Watching Magnus' reaction, I suddenly understood—Magnus had done this entirely on purpose.

To push everyone away from me, to force me to rely solely on him, he didn't hesitate to smear my reputation and spread rumors using his status as my boyfriend.

I stared at Magnus, feeling for the very first time that the boyfriend I had spent every day with was a complete stranger.

"Magnus, why did you do this? Why did you go around spreading false rumors about me?"