Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 1264

Hearing that the teacher was approaching, the class instantly fell silent, scrambling to pull out their morning reading materials. Once roll call was finished, they would be allowed to head outside to study.

During the morning study session, students could read wherever they wanted. Some sat beneath the shade of the trees, others gathered by the small garden, and a few just slumped on the steps right in front of the classroom.

When the morning classes concluded, most students pulled out the packed lunches they had brought from home, just like Mira and Ryan, unless they lived close enough to run back to their houses.

Only a privileged few could afford to eat at the school cafeteria. The majority of the kids here simply couldn't justify the expense.

Ryan walked over and sat across from Mira. They set out their homemade sandwiches and shared them, just as they always did.

Mira took out a hard-boiled egg, broke it in half, and offered him a piece. "Here, Ryan."

"No way, my aunt packed that so you could keep your strength up. I'm practically built of muscle, I don't need it," he insisted.

"It's fine, it's literally half an egg."

Mira forced it into his hand.

The other students were doing the same, either clustering in small groups to share their food or eating their packed lunches alone.

The school provided drinking water for a small fee each semester.

In her past life, Mira had never experienced anything like this. She hadn't expected to live this way now, yet instead of feeling miserable, she actually found a certain charm in the simplicity.

The Rustic Flatbread was genuinely delicious. The other students were just as content, eating their modest meals with obvious relish, completely unfazed by their lack of luxury.

"Minnie, why do you seem so different today?" Ryan asked, using her affectionate nickname.

She looked exactly the same, but her entire aura had completely shifted.

Like the argument with Amber earlier—usually, Ryan would be the one to step up. Mira typically tried to keep the peace, desperate to avoid causing any trouble for their family.

That submissiveness was exactly why Amber had grown so brazen.

She scanned the room, deliberately letting her gaze linger on Mira's desk.

Suddenly, the students' homemade lunches didn't seem so appetizing. Drawn by the smell of expensive takeout, a crowd quickly formed around Amber.

However, a few students stayed in their seats, including Mira and Ryan.

Seeing that Ryan hadn't moved, Amber called out specifically to him. "Ryan, I bought this for you. Are you going to take it or not?"

"I brought my own food. I don't need your charity," he replied coldly.

Her cousin definitely had a strong spine.

Rejected in front of the entire class, Amber's face immediately darkened. "Fine. Have it your way. Don't come crying to me when you need a favor."

After the final bell rang, Maisy leaned in and whispered to Mira. "You really offended Amber today. You need to watch your back; she's definitely going to try and sabotage you later."