Seeing the reaction on Ilana's face, some students went on and look in their phones. Just like what Nathalia just said, it is true that the name of Ilana's father is all over the news. Additionally, those students are nodding their heads in agreement with Nathalia's statement.
There is no way that Aaron Coleman will get into a relationship with someone whose background is not at good as it seems to be on the surface.
"This is nonsense! Someone is framing my father!" Ilana shouted. She is well-aware of what kind of dealing her father is doing, but she has no intention of stopping her father as long as she keeps living on the life she is accustomed to.
However, with this news of her father spreading like a wildfire, Ilana is afraid that life will become miserable. If it comes to that, she wants Aaron to support her. She must do whatever it takes to have Aaron's love.
"Whether someone is framing your father or not, it does not matter. Once your family name is stained, it will always be like that. And if my dear man were to end up with you, his family name will also be stained because of yours. People talk, you know." Every word that is coming out of Nathalia's mouth is facts. It sounds harsh, but that is the truth whether Ilana likes it or not.
Ilana tightly clenches her fists, she can't believe that Nathalia is cornering her to near humiliation. She glances at Aaron, she wants him to speak up the truth. The truth that she and he have a connection.
"Aaron! Please. Say something! Can't you see that this unruly girl is bullying me?" She said pleadingly. The watchers' point of view, they all think that Ilana is desperate. It's obvious to them that Aaron has no intention of paying her any attention.
"Is she here just to create a ruckus?"
"I don't know, but she sure does looks so desperate."
Once again, the students are whispering to each other at how desperate Ilana is. Some can't even bring themselves to pity her.
"Unruly girl?" Aaron finally spoke, then he stared at Ilana.
"Y-yes!" Knowing that Aaron is finally looking at her direction, Ilana suddenly felt that her hope has come to save her.
Aaron scoffed at the reaction Ilana is showing to him. "You're the unruly one." Ilana's body freezes the moment she heard that from him. "You dare to say that Nathalia is unruly? Please. Don't spout nonsense. You suddenly interrupted my time with her and kept saying that you're my lover. Good thing that Nathalia is one of a kind or else, she would have misunderstood your words."
Aaron is practically saying that he is thankful that Nathalia is not one of those girls who believes someone else's words so easily and that she trusts him.
To most students who heard him, they all think that Aaron confirmed that he has no connection with Ilana and that his only love is Nathalia. Only a few students who believe that Aaron and Nathalia are putting a show for everyone.
"W-what are you saying? W-we had a connection. You were kind to me and you're not like that to anybody else."
"Kind to you? It was only a one-time thing just like how I treated everyone else." It is true that Aaron always treats most people kindly for the first time. His rule is that he acts kindly to one person, but that person must never take advantage of his kindness.
Clearly, Ilana took advantage of it. To make matters worse, she thinks that he likes her. However, Aaron is not going to complain about it because he thinks that it's for the best since it turned out great for them now. They have Ilana right where they want her to be.
"Hey, don't you think it's about time to release Ilana's dirty little secret?" Nathalia whispered to Aaron. The longer they talk to Ilana, the more impatient she gets.
Although she knows that Aaron was only acting nice Ilana only for his curiosity, it still bothering her. If it weren't for Anna warning Aaron about that greedy girl, Aaron might get himself fall for her. That kind of thinking is scaring Nathalia.
"Sure. Do what you think you must do." Aaron whispered back. Before giving his reply to Nathalia, he was hesitant to end this little show they come up with. Once this plan ends, he can never get Nathalia to get close to him like how they are now.
He wonders why he wants her to be right next to him all the time. No matter how hard he thinks about it, he can never come up with an idea to answer his question.
Secretly, Nathalia did something with her phone, and just a few seconds later, the phone of everyone around the school suddenly received a piece of very interesting news about Ilana. The star of the day received it too, however, she did not bother to take a look at it just yet since she is way too focused on Aaron at the moment.
"Oh. My. Goodness. I can't believe that she's acting all innocent all this time." A ridiculing tone was heard from not so far away from them.
"I know right. I mean look at this article, she's just the same as her father."
Noticing that everyone is so focused on their phones and looking at her in a very disgusting way, this made Ilana realize that what they just saw in their phones has something to do with her. It also made her realize that everyone's phone got something on their phones at the same time.
Hurriedly, she once again looks at her phone and saw her picture and a news article about her. Now, she realized that she will never be able to escape the hell she is in now.
"This shouldn't be happening to me." Ilana kept repeating the same words over and over again.
"Too bad. No one is here to tell you that, my dear." Nathalia said with a smirk plastered on her face. That smirk made Ilana thinks that this article was released by Nathalia. She wanted to say that Nathalia is framing her, but she has no proof to show everyone. The writer of the article didn't put its name.
Ilana is about to collapse from so much humiliation when she realized that all of this wouldn't have happened if one certain girl has not made a ruckus in the first place. With so much hatred in her eyes, she glared at the girl who started all this.
You!" She said and that startled the girl. "You started all this! You just can't shut your mouth, huh." This certain girl was the first one to see Ilana and Aaron together. She also saw how kind and gentle Aaron was. With all the moments that she saw, she has been boosting about to almost everyone that she knows. Saying that she's friends with someone who is in a relationship with the one and only, Aaron Coleman.
The girl was surprised that she didn't she was not able to speak up. She is also realized that she's in big trouble. All she wanted was to boost her popularity around the school, but instead of getting good popularity, she got a bad one.
"Wow. Look at her, she's blaming the other girl for everything. How shameful." One of the bystanders said, then left the premises. That bystander can't stand the show that Ilana is showing to them.
Without anything else to say, Ilana started to walk away. She can't stand the eyes that the people are giving to her. As she is doing that, she called her father's phone. With her father in mind, Ilana remembered the huge sum of money that they got from Leon.
She grins at the thought that with that money, they will be able to clean their names. Also, they won't have to worry about how much they are going to pay for it because there is going to be another huge sum of money that is coming.
'Just you wait, you imbeciles.' Ilana inwardly said.
After Ilana left, students slowly went back to their own spots until it was only Nathalia and Aaron are left for themselves. "For how long are you gonna kept on hugging my waist, Aaron?" Nathalia asked. Despite asking that, Nathalia's heart is pounding fast.
She wants Aaron to hold her longer, but she kept reminding herself that she needs to keep herself in check.
Aaron unwillingly let go of Nathalia. Somehow, he felt like his heart has become empty the moment he let her go. And the same question pops in his mind again.
Aaron was to speak what was on his mind, but Nathalia cut him off when she spoke worriedly. "Aaron, let's go to the Principal's office. Anna just texted me that something just happened to Josh."
Not giving Aaron the time to react, Nathalia pulled him towards their destination.