Linara's gaze swept over Kelly and the others, searching for anyone willing to speak up for her. Not a single person moved. Are these really my friends? She had done so much to protect them, yet they wouldn't do the same for her. The realization left her feeling cold, a chill settling deep in her heart. Their indifferent gazes stirred a deep resentment within her—not toward them, but toward Seraphina. If she were still the heiress of the Whitewood Family, they certainly wouldn't dare treat her like this. It all came down to her changed status. Once the rightful heiress, she had been reduced to nothing more than a foster child. That one difference in title had turned her world upside down. At the root of it all was Seraphina. Every misfortune, every humiliation—it was all her fault.While Linara wrestled with her thoughts, Zack silently strapped on a turtle shell and headed for the track. Dora shot Linara a cold glance before following. Seeing them go, Caleb gritted his teeth with indignation, strapped on his shell, and jogged after them. Carmen, meanwhile, felt a deep disappointment toward Linara. She couldn't ignore the fact that everything—the conflict with Seraphina, the current humiliation—stemmed from Linara. If it weren't for Linara, none of them would have been foolish enough to pick a fight with Seraphina, let alone end up in this mess. They had gone above and beyond for their friend, but what about Linara? She wanted to sit back and reap the benefits without lifting a finger. They had treated her as a friend, but she clearly didn't feel the same way about them. With a quiet sigh, Carmen picked up a shell and left. Kelly was about to speak up, but Abigail pulled her away, leaving Linara standing there, humiliated and alone.The watching students' stares burned with judgment, making Linara want to crawl into a hole. Before leaving, Carmen had given Linara a look of cold disdain, and that glance left Linara panicked. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed a turtle shell and ran after them. She had to explain herself. She couldn't let them misunderstand her. On Bloomington School's large track, nine green turtle shells bobbed up and down as the runners trudged along. Crowds of students surrounded the track, snapping pictures and recording videos on their phones. "What a beautiful sight," Seraphina murmured, her eyes locking on Linara among the group. In her previous life, Linara had been the untouchable belle of Bloomington School, adored and pursued by everyone. She was every man's dream girl—the kind, gentle, flawless ideal. Not this time. Seraphina vowed to strip away that perfect image piece by piece."Ugh, I can't take it anymore! She used to be the goddess I could only dream of, but after seeing her like this, every illusion is gone." "Her goddess image is completely shattered!" Seraphina's lips curled into a faint smile as she listened to the chatter around her. This is only the beginning of her downfall. Evelyn, chuckling as she finished snapping photos, turned to Seraphina. Her eyes froze for a moment, and she blinked, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her. For a split second, she thought she saw a cold, sinister glint in Seraphina's smile, but when she looked again, the smile was perfectly normal. I must've been seeing things, Evelyn thought, brushing it off. Probably watched too many horror movies lately. Meanwhile, Linara caught up to Carmen and the others. "Carmen, are you mad at me? I swear, I was just about to step up, but Zack moved so quickly. I really wanted to take responsibility for everything."Carmen smiled faintly. "I understand. I'm not mad." Her words were polite, but her tone lacked the warmth and closeness it once held, replaced by a subtle but unmistakable distance.