Rejected: A love story-Chapter 25: Fiona is his mistress?

Catherine stood alone in the bathroom, the cold fluorescent lights buzzing above her as she scrolled furiously through her phone, comment after comment.

"More than a million views?" she hissed under her breath.

She zoomed in on the video of Fiona stepping out of the Lamborghini like she owned the whole school.

"Where did this bitch even come from?" Catherine sneered, her grip tightening on her phone. The comments felt like a slap.

"She’s so pretty omg"

"Who is she??"

"Nathan Keith’s girlfriend???"

"She looks expensive"

"New queen of Vanderhill"

Her stomach twisted with pure irritation. After running from home, after embarrassing the family, after making their father sick with worry... she decides to come back to school acting like some princess?

Catherine let out a bitter laugh.

"Feeling rich all of a sudden because a billionaire dropped you off?" she murmured, rolling her eyes. "Fiona, you really think you can just come back and everyone will worship you?"

Her face hardened.

"No way. I’m not watching you steal the spotlight," she whispered, staring at her reflection like she was making a promise to herself. "I’ll show you exactly where you stand."

She tossed her hair over her shoulder, unlocked the bathroom door, and stepped out with a confident strut. Fiona might be trending, but Catherine wasn’t planning on letting her enjoy it for long.

Catherine stepped out of the bathroom with her phone in hand, her expression already set like she had a mission.

Students were murmuring and showing each other the viral video, and that only fueled her anger more.

She approached a group of girls near the lockers — the kind who loved gossip more than their grades.

"Hey," Catherine said casually, sliding into the conversation.

They turned to her immediately. "You know she’s my step sister right". She said casually.

"The new girl everyone’s talking about?" one of the girls asked, pointing at the video.

Catherine forced a sad smile.

"You guys actually don’t know the full story, right?" That sentence was enough, they leaned in.

"What happened?"

"Do you know her?"

"Why was she with Nathan Keith?"

Catherine sighed like someone deeply disappointed.

"Her name is Fiona Brown... my step sister," she began softly. "She didn’t exactly come back to school. She ran away from home."

Their eyes widened.

"Ran away?"

"Why?"

Catherine shrugged coldly.

"I hate talking about family issues, but... she’s been seeing Nathan for a while now. Secretly. My dad didn’t approve, so she ran off."

They gasp. Two girls stepped even closer.

"Wait— so... she’s his mistress?" one whispered.

Catherine didn’t say yes, she just gave a tired, pitiful look — which was somehow worse.

"I mean... Nathan has money. A lot. And Fiona always wanted that kind of lifestyle."

She lowered her voice. "So believe what you want."

She knew they believed everything she told them, all she had to do what sit and wait. She didn’t have to wait for long, within minutes, the whispers ran through the hallway like wildfire.

"Did you hear? She’s Nathan’s mistress."

"She ran away from home for his money."

"She only came back because he’s paying her bills."

"No wonder that car dropped her."

Catherine walked past them calmly, hiding her smirk. She wanted Fiona to choke on her new stupid fame.

’This is only the beginning’. She smiled.

The moment Fiona stepped out of class, the stares felt different, those judging ones. Students were whispering as she passed.

Ella noticed also, she frowned, grabbed her phone, and checked the school page.

Her eyes widened instantly.

"Fiona..." she whispered, turning her screen toward her.

Fiona blinked, confused—then froze.

FIona Brown caught living with billionaire Nathan Keith.

Rumor says she’s his secret mistress.

She ran away from home to chase money.

Her poor father is heartbroken.

Over 300,000 students had already viewed it, commenting non-stop.

Ella gasped.

"What?? Fiona—how did they even know you left home? You didn’t tell anyone, right??"

Fiona’s hands trembled as she held the phone.

Her throat went dry.

"How... how would they know... who would..." she stammered—then her expression changed instantly.

"Catherine," they both said at the same time.

Fiona shoved the phone back into Ella’s hand and walked off furiously.

"Fiona—wait!" Ella ran after her.

They spotted Catherine in the hallway, surrounded by students. She was laughing, clearly enjoying the scandal.

Fiona marched straight to her.

"How could I forget," she said loudly, making everyone turn.

"There was still a little devil on my tail."

Catherine blinked, shocked.

She saw the crowd forming and immediately put on her fake innocent face.

"Fiona, what do you mean?" she asked, voice trembling like some poor angel.

"Shut up, bitch."

The hallway exploded, phones came out instantly. Students gasped and moved closer ready for drama.

Catherine froze. Fiona had never—ever spoken back to her.

"What has gotten into you, Fiona? I—"

CLAAPPPH.

The slap echoed across the hallway, even the walls went silent.

Catherine held her cheek, stunned. She had no idea Fiona had that strength in her.

Fiona stepped closer, her eyes burning.

"Surprised? I should’ve done that a long time ago."

Catherine’s mouth trembled, trying to hide behind her palms so cameras wouldn’t capture her face.

"You spread lies about me like you and your mother haven’t done enough. You came into my house, stole my father’s love.

Made him treat you like his perfect little angel while turning me into a maid in my own home."

Her voice broke but she didn’t stop.

"Cleaning. Cooking. Washing.

Running errands for you two like some servant while you and your mother did NOTHING but hit me whenever you liked."

Ella tugged her arm.

"Fiona, please... people are watching."

"No, Ella. Let them watch."

Tears dripped from Fiona’s face, but her voice only grew stronger.

"I left the only family I had because he refused to see the truth. And now you’re spreading rumors because you can’t stand seeing me happy? Seeing me rise?"

She exhaled sharply.

"Newsflash, loser. I’m going to keep rising."

Catherine was shaking now, hiding behind her hands, but the cameras didn’t stop.

Fiona stepped back and wiped her face.

"We’re not related by blood! We’re not sisters! We’re nothing."

Her voice came out steady.

"So do yourself a favor and mind your damn business."

The hallway erupted with whispers and gasps as Fiona turned and walked away.

Ella followed behind her, stunned—but proud.