Chapter 32: Malicious Accusations

She walked silently, head dropped. During Kendra's way back, she seemed distracted and almost hit a pillar.
"Be careful, Miss Miller." Curtis reminded her instantly. He wanted to ask her about the two women he saw earlier; however, he's afraid she'd misunderstood him.
"Oh, thank you." Kendra finally came back to her senses. She gave him a gentle smile.
"Miss Miller, are they your sister and stepmother? The people we just met?" Curtis summoned enough courage to ask her.
"Yes." Kendra smiled bitterly and nodded.
"I shouldn't have judged your family, but they went too far. Why do you…" Curtis paused for a while and sighed. He heard those hateful words that were thrown at her when he arrived.
"It's complicated, and I don't like arguing with others." Then, without glancing at him, she replied. She could put up with Marga in the past because she wanted to wait for her childhood friend, but he never appeared these years. Now, Kendra just wanted to run away. Maybe he had forgotten his promise.
"I know you are kind, Miss Miller. But for some people, they will never know their mistake if you don't tell them. So don't let anybody humiliate you," Curtis said earnestly. He pitied her and treated her like a precious woman his lord had cherished.
Kendra kept silent. She knew Curtis was right. Her mind wandered and clearly remembered Marga's remarks, she always thought that Kendra took Michael from Bianca, but she denied the fact that Michael should be Kendra's husband since it was arranged by the elders.
"Mr. Martin, Miss Miller, is here," Curtis said suddenly.
Kendra looked up and saw Lendon walking to her. Before Kendra said anything, Lendon took her hands and led her out.
"Where are we going?" Her eyes fell in her hand that Lendon held tightly.
"To get some food! Aren't you hungry?" He said, pacing on big steps, dragging Kendra with him.
Kendra didn't notice that Marga and Bianca saw everything in a corner. And Marga's doubt has got more intent.
"Bianca, do you know that man?" Marga glanced at her daughter.
"I think so," Bianca said uncertainty. His face is familiar, I might remember him later on.
"He looks rich! How did Kendra bump into such a good-looking man? I mean, how did she get hooked with a rich man like him?" Marga asked confusedly.
"Mom, I think he is Lendon Martin. I knew it. He is the youngest rich man in the world, a renowned duke of England," Bianca stared at Lendon's back and murmured.
"Lendon Martin?" Marga asked and felt she heard this name somewhere. After a few seconds, she shouted, "Duke Lendon? Are you kidding me?"
Bianca nodded and asked confusedly, "Yeah, I can't be mistaken. It was him. How did Kendra know him? And Lendon held Kendra's hand?"
"See? I told you she is a bitch. She hooked up with some men, I'm sure she slept with him. She took Michael from you, and now she knows a famous duke." Marga said in anger, "No, I won't let her win. We need to do something. We can't let her climb to the top because she might take her revenge against us,"
"Mom! Stop it, what are you planning this time? Aren't you afraid that Kendra could get a strong backup from Duke Lendon? He is no ordinary man, " Bianca asked worriedly. She needs to persuade her mother to stop doing any evil plan before it's too late.
"You don't need to know. Listen, could you stay at home these days? I was hoping you wouldn't say or do anything, or I will let your father lock you at home. Do you understand?" Marga threatened her. She had to think of a proper plan to stop Kendra from marrying Michael and getting any help from Lendon.
"Yes, mom." Bianca nodded helplessly and agreed. She can't go against her mother to avoid any misunderstanding. Well, she still wanted to be Michael's wife after all.
After the weekend, Kendra went to school as usual on Monday.
However, something was wrong. After Kendra got out of the car, all the students who passed by stared at her. At first, Kendra ignored them. But, as she walked into the campus, more and more students surrounded her and talked loudly. Kendra could hear their words clearly.
"Is she Kendra Miller?"
"Yes, she is that woman who is the topic on the FB group!"
"I bet she is. Did you see that she got out from a luxury car just now?"
"Shame on her! How can she be a mistress? A woman like her shouldn't be in this school. What a disgrace!"
"People will do anything for money nowadays. Even selling their body to some rich men,"
"But we all know her secret now. How dare she come to school? How bold she walk inside this campus as if nothing happens,"
"Maybe she doesn't care at all because she's drowning herself with the massive amount of money from a sugar daddy,"
Soon, Kendra got several message notifications on her Facebook account. Many people sent her malicious messages and cursed her for being a mistress. What happened? When did she become a mistress? Kendra stopped walking and stared at the students around her, frowning. When she wanted to ask someone, her phone rang. Her professor called.
"Hello, professor. What's up?" Kendra asked immediately.
"Where are you?" The professor came in a hurry.
"I am at school now." Kendra carefully answered. She knew she must have had trouble and felt so nervous. What's going on? She thought silently.
"Come to my office now!" It was a clear order from her professor, and then he hung up.
Kendra went to her professor's office and stood there still. Then, finally, she lowered her head and waited for him to talk.
"Kendra, do you know what you do at our school?" The professor asked seriously. Obviously, he was furious by looking at his gloomy face.
"What happened, professor?" Kendra asked confusedly.
"You don't know?" The professor opened his laptop and said, "Look."
Kendra looked at the laptop and saw a post saying "Kendra Miller, a Mistress or a Student?" on the caption.
Kendra felt shocked and clicked the post. It revealed how she met a rich man and managed to become a mistress. The words were simple but convincing. If Kendra were not the involved party, she would believe it. She heaved a deep sigh and realized why the student looked at her maliciously earlier when she entered the campus because of this slandering post.
"You can tell me what happened, speak." The professor sighed and said, "Kendra, you are always a good student. I know you work hard. So why do you do this?"
She felt sad when she heard her professor's words, "No, professor. It's not true." Kendra frowned and explained. Her face turned pale. How could she tell him she's indebted to Lendon and works as his maidservant to pay it?
"I believe you, but do you have evidence? Besides, the scandal has already existed, and your reputation had been ruined. And your opportunity to study abroad may…."
Hearing the professor's words, Kendra panicked. She stared at her professor nervously and asked, "Professor, do you mean that I may lose my opportunity because of this wrong accusation? How is it possible?"
"I can't help you. When the president knew your scandal, he called me to cancel your qualification for going abroad. I tried to persuade him, but…" The professor paused.
"How could this be?" Kendra murmured. She couldn't accept this result. In fact, Kendra had been studying hard for years to earn this precious qualification. But how could this be? How about her dream? How could she give justice to her mom if her recommendation to study abroad was gone?
"Kendra, I know you well. You are a good kid, and I know you won't do what the post said. But other people don't. They won't give you another chance." The professor said helplessly. Suddenly, he noticed Kendra's pale face and asked, "Are you okay?"
Kendra leaned against a table and cried sadly. All her efforts were gone in vain.
"We should do something to stop the rumor now." The professor patted Kendra's back and said, "Don't worry. I trust you. I always do,"
"Thank you, sir." Kendra nodded, wiped her tears, and fixed herself. This is not the right time to cry, she's innocent.
"You are smart. I know you can deal with it." The professor comforted her.
Walking out of the office, Kendra looked so withered as if lost all her energy.
Students passed by Kendra all glanced at her, and some girls even hit Kendra on purpose. They also said mean words. They believe what has been posted without checking if it is meant to destroy someone's reputation.
"A good student can also be a good mistress, I believe."
"So true, that's why she always gets high grades. She used her charm, or maybe her rich man paid the school, who knows,"
"I will never come to school again if I were her. She just made herself a laughingstock, what a shame,"
"Indeed, beauty and brain can be a tool to ladder up to success mostly if she hooks the rich guy in this country. Pathetic!"
Hearing all these accusations, Kendra felt so aggrieved. She tried her best to control her tears and walked to a small lake at the back of the campus. When she finally was alone, she squatted and cried out loudly. She lost everything, her reputation, and her qualifications. How did this happen? What did she do right now? Who will gonna help her? How about her dreams? How could she pay Lendon if she loses this great opportunity to study abroad?
Kendra buried her head into her knees and felt so sad, as if someone was squeezing her heart.
"Kendra." A man called Kendra's name suddenly.