Chapter 131: Rising Tensions

The cafeteria buzzed with the growing support of the students who gathered around Luca and his friends. Whispers turned into louder voices, and a few students began to clap, creating a ripple effect throughout the room. Luca felt a surge of determination as the collective energy around him bolstered his courage.

Darren's face twisted into a mocking sneer as he glanced around the cafeteria, realizing that many of the students were now watching intently, waiting to see what would happen next. He took a step closer, his towering frame and intimidating presence still casting a shadow over Luca. "You think gathering a few people changes anything?" Darren scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "None of you have the guts to stand up to me."

Luca held his ground, his voice unwavering. "We're not alone, Darren, and you don't get to control us anymore." He glanced at Ethan, who stepped forward, phone in hand, ready to play the recordings they had gathered.

"Everyone deserves to know the truth about you," Ethan said, his tone confident. "We've collected evidence of your bullying, the threats, and the way you've tormented people. You won't get away with it anymore."

The crowd of students continued to grow, with more and more of them pulling out their phones, either recording the scene or sharing looks of disbelief as they heard the claim. Darren's smirk faltered slightly, but his arrogance didn't waver.

"You think I care about your little recordings?" he shot back. "They won't change anything. People will always be on my side because I run this place."

Marco shook his head, stepping in beside Luca. "That's where you're wrong, Darren. We're not afraid of you anymore, and a lot of us have stories to share."

Several students stepped forward, and one of them, a girl named Mia, spoke up. "You made my life a living hell last year. I was too scared to speak up, but I'm not afraid anymore."

Another boy, James, added, "You threatened to ruin my reputation if I didn't do your homework. You made me feel worthless."

More voices joined in, creating a chorus of testimonials that echoed throughout the cafeteria. Darren's eyes widened slightly as he realized just how many people had suffered under his bullying. The once confident grin began to falter as the realization dawned that his influence was slipping away.

Darren's composure started to crack, but he quickly replaced his expression with one of rage. "This is all nonsense! You're just a bunch of whiners blaming me for your own problems."

The tension in the air thickened, and Luca felt a flicker of doubt. What if Darren managed to twist the situation to his advantage? But then he saw the look on Ethan's face—unwavering and filled with the same determination they had shared since the beginning of their mission.

"Enough!" Ethan shouted, silencing the murmurs that had spread through the cafeteria. "We have the proof, and we're not backing down." With a steady hand, he began to play the recordings, letting Darren's own voice and the threatening messages fill the space. The tone was undeniable, and the evidence was damning.

The room fell silent as the recordings played, punctuating the weight of Darren's actions. The air felt heavier with each passing second, the truth hanging in the balance for all to see. Darren's defiance slowly crumbled into desperation.

Luca stepped forward, his voice steady. "We're not here to destroy you, Darren. We're here to stop the abuse. We just want you to realize the harm you've caused and make things right."

The words hung in the air, a challenge that was met with an uneasy silence. It wasn't the reaction Darren had expected, nor was it the response he was prepared for.

For the first time in a long while, he found himself without the power to control the narrative.

End of Chapter 131

To Be Continued...