Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 162

I look at Carson and Axel. Maybe I don't know them that well either. We've only known each other for like less than a month. It could only be expected.

Coach Kenet stares at Ethel for a long time before looking away. Then she sighs. "Fine. No slacking off. It better all be done," she tells him while leaving the room. "You better be assertive too, even if it's just a signature."

"Yes, ma'am," Ethel mutters.

"What was that?" she rushes back in.

"Yes, ma'am," he flinches, but he says it louder this time.

She nods and turns to the rest of the group. "That goes for the rest of you too, especially you Mia."

I furrow my brow. How did I get dragged into this?

"You could learn a thing or two about some real paperwork today," she says firmly.

I don't know how to respond to that. "Um, actually I think I'm kind of supposed to be on bed rest?" Is she crazy? I'm not doing no damn paperwork. I barely showed up to this meeting. Think what you want of me, I'll play the sick girl card if it saves me from a life of pain and calligraphy.

She nods. "I did hear your heart and lungs were acting up."

I nod, suddenly feeling the need to rest my hand on the table for support. Oh the strain. I rub my chest, weakly. The strain of existing.

Aiden gives me the most 'calling bullshit' expression ever known to man. He shakes his head at me incredulously. "Have you no shame?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I wipe my suddenly clammy forehead, right before Axel starts asking if I'm alright. Carson looks worried, even though he still refuses to say anything to me. Aiden just looks disgusted, and... mildly intrigued. "How is this even working?" he asks.

I resist the urge to brush my shoulders off. It's called skill my young grasshopper. Take notes.

"You poor thing. How pathetic." Coach Kenet snatches both of my hands into her own. "It's true, some parts of your body are failing you, but don't let that be an excuse for your hands." She waves my hands in front of me violently. "Don't let that limit their potential!"

I don't think she means to be so rough, but I'm flailing around from the force of her motivational words.

"Aw, don't look like that, Mia." Krys holds her arms out. "It gets easier to deal with Coach Kenet over time." She goes to hug me.

The thought that she could be carrying a dagger or some kind of poison crosses my mind, but I don't reject the hug. One, because I don't want to raise suspicion. Two, because it's Krys. She's my friend, and call me stupid, but I trust her.

Brittany on the other hand, intercepts the hug. "Group hug," she says overly cheerfully, glaring daggers at me.

My eyes widen.

She eyes me suspiciously, like Carson eyes Onai and Ethel, and wraps her arms around me before Krys gets the chance to.

Krys ends up hugging Brittany's arm more than me, which doesn't seem to bother either one of them one bit. "Whoop, whoop! All who've been emotionally hurt today, get in this!" Krys cheers. "That means you Ethel!"

Ethel's jaw drops. "Wow. Way to make me feel better." But he walks towards the group all the same. We're about to let him in, but Carson gives him a death glare like I've never seen before. Even my blood runs cold.