Chapter 2280

Cecilia kept scrolling, her fingers slowing as more clips loaded in.

Video after video painted the same picture—Felix shoving classmates, snatching things, cornering smaller kids who clearly didn’t know how to fight back. None of it looked like a one-time incident. It was a pattern.

And right alongside those clips were interviews.

Children speaking hesitantly at first, then more firmly once they realized someone was finally listening.

"Jonathan always helped us."

"He told Felix to stop."

"He never bullied anyone."

Cecilia’s grip on her phone tightened.

The narrative that had spread online before—fast, loud, and merciless—was unraveling just as quickly. Only now, the tone had shifted.

People were apologizing.

Questioning.

Turning their anger in a completely different direction.

Nathaniel watched her quietly. “Looks like someone released everything at once.”

Cecilia didn’t respond right away.

Her eyes were still on the screen, but her thoughts had already moved elsewhere.

Timing like this wasn’t accidental.

Whoever had pushed those videos out had done it deliberately—waiting until public opinion had reached its peak, then flipping it in one move.

A clean reversal.

Nathaniel spoke again, voice low. “Do you think it was the school? Or someone else stepping in?”

Cecilia shook her head slightly. “The school wouldn’t risk that much exposure unless they were forced to.”

Which meant someone had forced the issue.

Or someone powerful enough had decided the narrative needed to change.

She set her phone down slowly.

“For now, this works in Jonathan’s favor,” she said. “That’s enough.”

Nathaniel studied her. “You’re not planning to use that photograph yet?”

Cecilia glanced at the screen again—the image still sitting there, unanswered, unresolved.

“No,” she said calmly. “Not yet.”

Her voice was steady, but there was a quiet edge beneath it.

“Miranda made the first move. I’m just making sure I have something ready for the next one.”

She paused, then added,

“And when I do use it… it won’t miss.”

Nathaniel didn’t argue.

Because he could already tell—Cecilia wasn’t reacting anymore.

She was waiting.