Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System-Chapter 207: Killing The Rumors

"I know, I know," Mia said.

"I told everyone you’d never lie about your health. But you know how people are. Scared of germs and easily manipulated."

Aurora sighed and looked around at the paranoid expressions.

Aurora stepped in front of the classroom, her shoes clicking against the tiled floor. The chatter quieted. All eyes turned toward her.

She clapped once—sharp and loud.

"Everyone, listen up."

Murmurs died instantly. Some students shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Others raised their eyebrows in curiosity.

"I heard there’s a rumor going around that I have tuberculosis."

Her voice was calm but firm.

"Let me make one thing clear—I don’t. I’ve never had it, and I’m not contagious."

Whispers rippled through the room.

"And for whoever started this baseless rumor," she continued, scanning the room until her eyes landed on Caroline in the second row,

"I’ll be taking this to the principal. This isn’t some joke—it’s defamation. If necessary, I’ll get legal involved."

A few jaws dropped.

Even Caroline’s eyes widened. She looked around like she hadn’t expected Aurora to call her out so directly.

A boy in the back raised his hand. "Wait—so... you really don’t have TB?"

Aurora turned to him and nodded. "No. That’s why I’m here. Healthy. Breathing fine. Not coughing my lungs out."

Mia smirked at the boy, then glared at Caroline.

"Dude," someone whispered. "We all avoided her for no reason?"

Aurora turned on her heel. "I’m going to the class teacher now. If anyone wants to know the truth, you can follow me."

She strode out of the classroom, her head held high.

By the time she reached the teacher’s office, her irritation had settled into cold determination.

Inside, Ms. Carter, her homeroom teacher, was sorting through a stack of papers. She looked up as Aurora entered.

"Aurora? You look better. What brings you here?"

Aurora didn’t hesitate.

"Ms. Carter, someone’s been spreading a lie that I have tuberculosis. It’s affecting how people treat me, and I’d like to report it. The one responsible is Caroline."

Ms. Carter blinked. "What?"

"I’m serious," Aurora said.

"I just got back from being sick—a cold, nothing more—and now I’m being treated like I’m radioactive. It’s unacceptable."

Ms. Carter’s face hardened.

"Thank you for coming to me. I’ll handle it. Caroline will be spoken to, and if the rumor can be traced back to her directly, there will be consequences."

Aurora nodded, feeling some tension drain from her shoulders.

As she turned to leave, Ms. Carter called after her. "Wait—Aurora."

She turned. "Yes?"

"I meant to ask you this earlier. We’re putting together a team for the International Math Competition after homecoming week. I think you’d be a perfect fit."

Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Me? I didn’t even know there was a competition."

Ms. Carter smiled.

"There is. And the prize money is $100,000. I’ve seen your scores. You’re one of the brightest in mathematics. You could actually win this."

Aurora’s interest piqued immediately. "I’m in."

Ms. Carter beamed. "Great. I’ll give you the details tomorrow."

Aurora left the office feeling like things were finally going her way again. She headed back toward her classroom.

But just as she passed an empty hallway near the art wing, an arm reached out and pulled her into an empty room.

"Hey—what the—!"

She raised her foot, about to kick whoever grabbed her, when a familiar voice spoke.

"It’s me."

She froze.

Her body relaxed instantly.

A moment later, the lights flickered on.

Standing in front of her was Spencer.

Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Spencer? What are you doing? You scared me."

Spencer smiled,

"I thought you would throw ten punches before saying that line."

"Well, if you don’t scare me, I won’t have lifted even my pinky finger." Aurora rolled her eyes. "Anyway, why did you drag me here?"

"I wanted to see you alone." His voice grew quieter. "And... ask you something."

She tilted her head. "Ask me what?"

Spencer hesitated, then stepped closer.

Instead of answering, his eyes dropped to her lips.

Aurora’s heart stuttered.

Oh.

Oh.

He wasn’t going to ask anything.

She could read him like a book.

As he leaned in, she tried to hold back a smile. "You’re really doing this here? In an empty classroom?"

"I... yeah," he said, his breath warm and nervous.

She didn’t back away.

Instead, she closed her eyes.

Their lips met.

At first, it was soft—tentative, like he was afraid of doing it wrong. But it only took a second before he found his rhythm, and Aurora’s breath caught in her throat.

He was good.

Way better than she expected.

His lips moved gently against hers, warm and smooth, sending a spark down her spine. She felt his hand graze her cheek, fingers trembling slightly but still confident.

She thought he’d be clumsy or shy.

But no.

He kissed like he meant it.

Like he had waited forever to do it.

Aurora melted into the kiss, her fingers curling around the front of his shirt.

When they finally pulled apart, her face was warm and flushed. She blinked at him, dazed.

"You’ve done that before?" she asked, breathless.

Spencer laughed softly. "Nope. First time."

She looked at him in disbelief. "You’re lying."

He shrugged. "Maybe I just really, really like you."

Aurora’s heart skipped a beat.

She tried to stay cool. "Well... that was... acceptable."

"Just acceptable?" he teased, leaning closer.

"Okay, okay. Fine. It was good. Happy now?"

"Very,"

Spencer leaned in again, stealing another kiss—this one shorter, but still enough to send Aurora’s heart spinning.

Then another, just as soft. And another, more lingering than the last.

"Spencer," she murmured, trying to sound stern.

He ignored her tone and gently guided her back, his hands at her waist, until she was sitting on the edge of the classroom table.

Her breath hitched at the shift in closeness.

"You’re really pushing it," she warned, though her voice had more breath than bite.

"I’m just following my instincts," Spencer whispered, planting a trail of slow, feather-light kisses along her jaw, down to the soft curve of her neck.