Chapter 1270

"I can probably see about a hundred people,” Josefina said, glancing at the long line snaking through the campus. "Once I hit that, time's up. Let everyone behind know they won't make it today."

"On it!" Mandy grabbed a bullhorn from a nearby table and, with zero hesitation, started shouting out the announcement.

By the time the rest of the students made it to the little campus market, they noticed something weird-stalls lined both sides, loaded with stuff, but not a single vendor in sight.

"Uh, where's everyone who's supposed to be selling things?" someone asked, scanning the empty booths.

"Is this like, an honor system? Are we just supposed to pay ourselves?"

"Seriously, what's going on? Did the vendors just vanish?"

"Hey, look up ahead! Is that a crowd?"

“What else could it be, a haunted house? That's definitely a ton of people—let's go see what's up."

They made their way to the end of the massive line, where the last girl perked up at the sight of new faces. Honestly, she'd been bored out of her mind, eyes sore from staring at her phone, nerves frayed from all the waiting. But now-finally!—she had someone to talk to.

"Oh, you haven't heard? Here's what happened..."

She launched into the story, laying out every juicy detail with the flair of a seasoned gossip queen.

By the time she finished, the newcomers were fired up. "Seriously? Wilson is way out of line! Josefina's incredible—she's helping everyone for free! She's exactly what this school needs. Total legend."

"Maybe I should get in line, too..." someone muttered hopefully.

But the last girl shook her head. "Sorry, I'm the last one Josefina's taking today. If you want a chance, you'll have to wait for next time. No kidding, that's it."

Everyone else just stared, disappointed and silent.

It didn't take long for word about Josefina's free clinic to explode online. By afternoon, the story was trending at the top of the school forum.

The comments section was blowing up-everyone was calling Josefina brilliant, brave, and one of the most inspiring women on campus.

Sandi scrolled through the posts, her heart still thumping from the chaos earlier.

Makiko was fuming, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. "Sandi, I gave you one simple task and you couldn't even pull it off. I can't believe how much you've let me down."

Sandi bit her lip, trying not to cry. "Mom, I really tried. It's just that Josefina is too good—she handled everything, and I couldn't stop her."

She remembered how Zachary had been in agony, but Josefina stayed calm and got everything under control. Sandi couldn't help but feel a strange sort of respect.

Makiko wasn't having it. "So why could Josefina do it and you couldn't? raised you, took care of you, and all I asked for was this one thing and you failed. How can you stand there and tell me you had no choice?"

Sandi's eyes filled with tears. "Mom, how can you say that? What you wanted me to do today could've ruined someone's life. If anything had gone wrong, we could've ended up in court, or worse. I did what you asked, but did you ever once worry about what might happen to me? Never!"

Makiko's frown deepened, her disappointment practically radiating. "Sandi, you're not a little kid. As long as you're careful, no one will ever trace it back to you. What are you so afraid of?"

She silently blamed herself—maybe she'd protected Sandi too much, kept her away from the harsher side of things, and now Sandi was hopelessly clueless.

Makiko shot her daughter a glare, her anger only building.

"I might not be a child, but I'm not a killer either! Zachary looked terrible-if Josefina hadn't stepped in, he could've died. Then everyone there would be a suspect, including me! Mom, are you even reallym mom? Sometimes you're worse than a stepmother!"

the room.

Makiko's face twisted, and before Sandi could react-a sharp slap echoed through