At Mystic Falls High School, something strange happened. For the first time in the school's history since its founding, chaos erupted in one of the classrooms. Several students became involved in a violent physical fight in the middle of a teacher's lesson. The students also caused significant financial damage to the school by breaking desks and windows. Most importantly, the teacher who was giving the lesson lost consciousness and suffered a severe head injury.
"Do you have any idea how much chaos you caused?!"
Amanda Raincroft, the principal of Mystic Falls High School, shouted angrily at Matt.
"Mr. Tanner suffered a three-inch gash on his head!"
Matt, whose face was covered in bandages, looked at her and said calmly, "With all due respect, ma'am, Tyler was the one who kicked Mr. Tanner in the chest, not me."
"If you hadn't started a fight with him, none of this would have happened! Stop saying meaningless nonsense! We saw everything on the security cameras!"
Mr. Bruce said angrily.
Matt looked at him and replied, "Then you should know why I did it."
Amanda tilted her head and said, "All of this because he was dating your sister behind your back?! If you're that jealous, why don't you stop your sister from talking to boys at all?!"
She shouted angrily at the end of her sentence.
Matt looked at her and said, "That's not it! I did all this because Tyler is a corrupt womanizer! And you all know the influence he has on girls."
Mr. Bruce stepped forward angrily. "That doesn't give you the right to resort to violence! This is a school, not a boxing ring!"
Matt replied calmly, "I tried talking first, but he was rude, so I was forced to teach him a lesson."
"Oh really?! Look where that got you! You're in serious trouble, boy. Because you're going to be expelled!"
Amanda said angrily.
Matt looked at her and answered quietly, "Expel me if you want. I was only doing the right thing—protecting my sister."
Mr. Bruce looked at Matt angrily and said, "It's truly disappointing what you've become, Donovan."
He looked at Matt with disappointment and a hint of pity. Less than a year ago, Matt had been the ideal student—someone who would never resort to violence. He had been kind, smart, a straight-A student, the captain of the football team. He had all the perfect qualities. But after his mother abandoned him, he became a completely different person.
He grew more violent and aggressive, quit the football team, and his grades began to decline.
At that moment, Vicki burst into the room with a worried expression. She looked around and saw Matt sitting in front of Principal Amanda Raincroft's desk, with Mr. Bruce standing nearby with an angry look. Everyone turned toward Vicki as she entered.
Vicki gasped in fear when she saw her brother's injured face—her worst nightmares had come true.
She stepped forward and said, "Principal Amanda, Mr. Bruce, I'm very sorry for my brother's behavior. I didn't expect—"
"Wait a moment, Vicki. What are you doing here?"
Amanda interrupted her, then continued while looking at Matt, "I asked you to call your legal guardian."
Matt looked at her and said, "Vicki has been my legal guardian for over a year now."
Amanda was shocked and looked at Mr. Bruce, who nodded in confirmation.
She sighed and thought. "How did I not know this? I need to review the students' files."
She then looked at Matt and Vicki. "I'm sorry, but I need to speak with an adult, not one of my students. Do you have any other relatives?"
Matt and Vicki looked at each other and shook their heads.
Amanda sighed again and rubbed her forehead tiredly.
Mr. Bruce looked at the siblings with sadness and pity.
At that moment, a beautiful blonde woman with short hair, dressed in a police uniform, entered the room. It was Caroline Forbes' mother—Elizabeth Forbes.
Amanda stood up nervously when she saw her. "Sheriff, I didn't know you were coming."
Elizabeth smiled. "Hello, Amanda. I hope you're well. I heard what happened from Caroline, so I thought I'd come and speak on Matt's behalf."
Matt and Vicki looked at each other in surprise, a sense of gratitude and warmth appearing in their eyes.
Amanda nodded. "That seems more appropriate than speaking with Vicki."
She turned to Matt and Vicki. "You may leave now while I talk with Sheriff Elizabeth."
They nodded and turned to leave, but stopped when they saw the mayor of Mystic Falls—and Tyler's father—enter the room.
Everyone froze as he walked in.
Richard Lockwood smiled. "Sorry I'm late. I came regarding the trouble Tyler got into."
Amanda looked at the mayor's smile and could clearly see the intense anger in his eyes, especially when he looked at Mr. Bruce, who had sent Tyler to the school clinic.
She then looked at Elizabeth, the sheriff of Mystic Falls, and sighed heavily. She knew that a clash of authority and influence in her office would give her a headache for a week.
Matt and Vicki left when they sensed the charged atmosphere, leaving behind the principal's office filled with mixed expressions of tension and indifference.
"What were you thinking?!"
Vicki shouted the moment they exited the school.
Matt looked at her calmly. "I was protecting you."
"Protecting me?! Is this how you protect me—by getting into trouble and getting expelled?!"
Matt glared at her angrily. "This wouldn't have happened if you weren't secretly dating Tyler Lockwood behind my back!"
Vicki went silent, then said, "Matt, I'm an adult. I'm older than you, aware, and responsible for my choices. I can date whoever I want. You don't have the right to control me or decide what's best for me."
"Oh really?! I wouldn't have said anything if you weren't with a filthy womanizer!"
Matt replied, trying not to explode with anger.
Vicki frowned. "A womanizer? What are you talking about?"
Matt smirked bitterly. "Oh, even better. You don't know what kind of person Tyler really is, do you?"
A wave of anxiety and fear filled Vicki's chest. She knew exactly what kind of person Tyler was—an arrogant, entitled, boastful teenager who flaunted his money, power, and strength. He was foul-mouthed, cold-hearted, and had serious anger issues.
She knew he was only with her for her body and didn't truly care about her. But she did nothing because she had no other choice. If she angered Tyler in any way, she would lose her job at the Mystic Grill—and they might lose their house as well. She and her siblings would be homeless because of Tyler's influence as the mayor's son and his corruption.
She was certain that Tyler would hurt her and her family if she dared to break up with him. So she endured the humiliation, swallowed her pride, and lost all self-respect—becoming little more than a disposable girl to Tyler. He mocked her, disrespected her, humiliated her, then threw money at her as if she were a dog.
She endured all of it for Matt and Max. And now it seemed there were even darker sides of Tyler she hadn't known—something that terrified her to the core.
Matt smiled sadly and shook his head. "Vicki, I know it's hard without Mom around, carrying all this responsibility and pressure. But you don't need to be with men like that to feel happy or accepted. You can just be my sister, and I'll always be here for you. But you need to stay away from Tyler. He's not right for you. He's a corrupt womanizer who changes girls every night like he changes clothes."
Vicki looked at Matt, tears welling in her eyes. "No… no… that can't be true. He couldn't have been cheating on me all this time. He couldn't be playing me like that."
Matt stepped closer. "Vic, I know it's hard to accept—"
"No! I can't! I'm not that pathetic!"
She ran off, tears streaming down her face.
"Vicki!"
Matt shouted and tried to follow her, but a voice stopped him.
"Let her go, Matt. She needs some time alone."
Matt turned and saw Elena's younger brother, Jeremy Gilbert, walking toward him.
Matt looked at him coldly. "Well, look what we have here—the little Gilbert."
Jeremy looked confused. "What's your problem? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I do something to you?"
Matt laughed darkly. "You know, Jeremy, last night I decided to do whatever it takes to protect my siblings. And I realized the best way to do that is to eliminate the people who have a bad influence on them."
Jeremy looked at him cautiously. "Okay… good luck with that."
Matt stared at him coldly. "Oh, I will. I already got rid of one bad influence today."
"You mean Tyler?"
Jeremy asked calmly.
"Yes. And now there's only the drug dealer who's selling drugs to my brother."
Matt said coldly.
Jeremy frowned. "Is that what this is about? You think I sell drugs to Max? I hate to break it to you, Matt, but your brother was using long before I even knew what drugs looked like."
Matt lunged forward, grabbed Jeremy by the shirt. "Do you think I'm stupid?! Everyone knows you're a drug addict! And you expect me to believe you had nothing to do with my brother becoming one?!"
Jeremy grabbed Matt's hand. "Let go! I had nothing to do with your brother's drug use! Max was the one who taught me and dragged me into that world!"
Matt froze, released Jeremy, and stepped back. "You're lying."
Jeremy smirked and straightened his shirt. "Why would I lie? Max is the biggest drug dealer in Mystic Falls. He sells to everyone—high school students, lowlifes, lost souls, the depressed… even gang members."
Matt's body shook. "Liar! My brother isn't what you're saying!"
Jeremy shook his head. "I'm not lying, Matt. Max was deep in the criminal world long before I ever used drugs—or even saw them. So find someone else to blame."
Jeremy turned away angrily and walked off.
Matt stood there, his expression dark, then headed toward the hospital—hoping desperately that his younger brother was awake, because he needed to have a very long conversation with him.
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Hello everyone, the author is here. I apologize for the delay and the short chapter, but I'm a little unwell and also facing some difficult circumstances at home. It might be hard for me to write new chapters, but I'll try. See you next week.