She Called Me a Cheat, But the Principal Begged Me to Enroll Chapter 04

She Called Me a Cheat, But the Principal Begged Me to Enroll Chapter 04

Principal Harris looked grim. 

His gaze swept across every face in the room. Mud still clung to his pant legs, as if he had run all the way back from the old parking lot outside. 

“If I had not come back,” he said, “you people would have turned this school upside down.” 

Madison, apparently blind to the mood in the room, carried over a cup of hot coffee and leaned toward him with a smile so wide her eyes nearly 

disappeared. 

“Principal Harris, you must be exhausted after 

being out all morning. I made you some pour–over 

coffee. It should help you warm up.” 

Principal Harris ignored her. 

Instead, he hurried to me, his expression 

softening. 

“Ava, I saw your emergency livestream and came 

back as fast as I could. What happened? And 

wasn’t today supposed to be the post–race 

portfolio critique? Why were you running laps on 

the track?” 

Then he saw the wound on my cheek. 

His voice sharpened. 

“Bring antiseptic wipes. Now. She’s a student. If 

that wound gets infected, it could affect both her training schedule and her studio work.” 

Madison froze. 

She had not expected Principal Harris to treat me like this. Her face almost twisted with anger. 

“Principal Harris, this student cheated in the race. I found a boys‘ spare timing chip in her running bag. Also, she seriously violated the smartphone. 

management rule you personally established.” 

She emphasized the last part on purpose. 

She wanted to remind Principal Harris that I had 

crossed his bottom line and committed an 

unforgivable offense. 

When he still did not react, Madison quickly added more, piling on charges as if I were beyond saving. 

“The administration takes cheating very seriously. 

We formed a disciplinary review team to handle. 

Ava Carter’s case. Dean Miller, especially, handled 

it impartially. He gave the whole school a fair 

explanation and protected Riverton’s reputation.” 

Dean Miller stood quickly and bowed his head. 

“Only what I should have done. For a student like 

this, I would not hesitate to void every result she 

has.” 

Principal Harris still did not answer. 

He took an antiseptic wipe and carefully cleaned the blood from my face. 

“Ava, who hurt your face? And they told you to run 

laps, so you just ran? It is freezing outside. If your 

blood sugar had crashed out there, what would 

happen to your training and portfolio work?” 

I was about to speak and thank him. 

Madison cut in again. 

“Are you deaf? Principal Harris asked you a 

question. Answer him.” 

“Sure enough, a student from a small place has no 

manners when she meets someone important. Then again, with a bedridden mother and a 

half–blind father at home, who would have taught 

you any?” 

The second she said that, my eyes went red. 

This time, I let myself look weak and pitiful. 

“Principal Harris, I didn’t dare disobey the teachers. Someone like me getting to transfer here is already more luck than I should have asked 

for. I can’t cause you or the teachers any more trouble.” 

Madison secretly pinched my arm hard. 

“Why are you crying? Do you think I can’t see through your little tricks?” 

“Look at Principal Harris’s age. He’s old enough to 

be your grandfather. Are you trying to charm him. too, so he’ll hand you everything on a silver platter?” 

Since she said I was acting, I decided to act all the 

way. 

The instant Madison let go of my arm, I jerked 

back and started trembling. 

“Ms. Blake, please don’t hit me. Please don’t hit 

1. me. I won’t make another mistake.” 

“The timing chip is mine. I cheated in the race. I brought the smartphone without permission too. I should not have broken school policy.” 

Tears spilled down my face. 

Madison frowned and almost raised her arm by 

reflex. 

“You little bitch. What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever hit you?”