The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 304

Chapter 304

3rd Person’s POV

Finished

Cora’s fingers clenched around the paper until the upper corner crumpled beneath the pressure. Her gaze dragged over each line as though it might scorch her, envy and anger bleeding together into something raw and unrestrained. She would never admit it—not even to herself-that Lylah might surpass her in something as fundamental as study.

Never.

And so, if she faltered… then Lylah would fall with her.

The page trembled faintly in her grasp, but before it could tear, her eyes narrowed as she read more carefully.

“The topic she chose…” Cora whispered under her breath, pulse quickening. “It’s almost identical to mine.” Line by line, realization coiled tighter. “This is what Thane wanted.”

Understanding settled like a dark seed taking root.

And from it, something colder bloomed.

Cora gathered Lylah’s work in swift, practiced motions, her movements precise despite the storm raging beneath her skin.

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, copying, reshaping, weaving Lylah’s words into her own. Line after line blurred together until the work no longer resembled its origin-until it looked like hers.

Only then did she return.

“I’ve finished,” Cora said, her voice steadier now, though her heart still beat too fast beneath her ribs. She held out the revised pages. “I’ve corrected everything you pointed out. Will you read it?”

Thane Blackridge took the paper without a word.

Silence stretched as he read, his sharp gaze moving with quiet precision across every line,

When he finally looked up, something had changed.

Suspicion flickered in his eyes. “You did this yourself?” he asked.

Cora stilled.

“You’re aware of the consequences if Professor Corvin Vale discovers you’ve plagiarized another student’s

work.” Thane continued.

“I wrote it,” she said.

Her heart hardened even as it pounded. He had praised this-praised Lylah without knowing it.

“Why are you still questioning me, Thane?” she pressed. “My first draft and this one aren’t that different.”

1/3

3:48 pm P PPP.

Chapter 304

Thane’s gaze sharpened.

Finished

“They are. Cora,” he replied evenly. “In fact, they read as though written by entirely different people. Which is why I’m asking you to be certain. You didn’t take someone else’s work and claim it as your own. Did you?”

Cora lifted her chin, defiance flashing in her eyes. “I didn’t. I told you I’m capable. I’ve proven that. And you still doubt me?”

But beneath her composure, her wolf paced restlessly, claws scraping against the walls of her control. The lie felt thinner than ice stretched over deep water-ready to fracture with the slightest pressure.

Lylah returned to her table with three books tucked against her chest, her steps unhurried. But the moment her eyes landed on her papers, something in her snapped taut-she closed the distance in quick strides.

They weren’t how she had left them.

The neat stack was disturbed, pages slightly askew-as though someone had handled them in haste. And at the top. the corner was crumpled, the crease sharp and careless.

Tiara, Iris… Lylah murmured, setting the books down slowly. Her fingers brushed the edge of the damaged page, her gaze narrowing slightly. “Did anyone come by while we were gone?”

Both girls looked up.

“No,” Tiara said, frowning.

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