Chapter 58

The October morning carried a chill as Emily Johnson sat at her desk flipping through a high school physics textbook. With eight months left until the college entrance exams, she mapped out her study plan.

"Literature, math, and English first," she murmured to herself. "Then practice tests. My science foundation is still there—I can rebuild it."

Her fingers traced the yellowed pages, determination flashing in her eyes. Though her past-life knowledge was hazy, eight months would be enough to regain mastery.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the Wilson household.

"Peter loves steamed buns best," Mrs. Wilson sniffled, wrapping freshly steamed buns in a blue cloth bundle. "I must take these to him."

In the police station interrogation room, Peter Wilson cowered in a corner, his body aching. The memory of Emily's ruthless glare that night still made him tremble.

"Mom!" He clung to her like a lifeline. "That witch framed me!"

Mrs. Wilson shoved a bun into his hands, heartbroken. "Oh, my boy. When I get home, I'll skin that little bitch alive!"

Peter wolfed down the food, venom in his eyes. "Make her pay, Mom!"

"Peter," Mr. Wilson finally spoke, his voice low. "Stick to your story—say Sophia Green put you up to it."

"I did!" Peter gnashed his teeth. "The cops don’t believe me!"

Footsteps approached. A stern-faced officer entered. "The verdict for Peter Wilson’s burglary case is today. Will you attend?"

"Yes! Of course!" Mr. Wilson nodded frantically.

In the next room, Sophia Green was pale with shock. She never expected Peter to turn on her.

"I never told him to do it!" she sobbed to the officers. "He’s lying!"

At noon, under harsh sunlight, the verdict was read aloud.

"Peter Wilson is found guilty of burglary. Sentenced to one year in prison."

"What?!" Mrs. Wilson shrieked, collapsing to the floor. "My son is innocent!"

Mr. Wilson turned ashen, bracing himself against the wall. A whole year—Peter would spend the New Year behind bars!

Sophia exhaled in relief, slipping away unnoticed amid the Wilsons' uproar. She hurried back to the village, eager to escape the fallout.

News spread like wildfire by afternoon.

"Did you hear? Peter got a year!"

"Emily went too far..."

"Serves him right! Who told him to steal?"

Mrs. Wilson took to her bed, ill. Her daughters-in-law seized the chance to demand separate households. The once-domineering matriarch now lay moaning, her spirit broken.

Meanwhile, Emily remained focused on her physics problems. The village gossip meant nothing to her.

"Since when do thieves get sympathy?" She smirked, her pen scratching sharply across the page.