"Regardless, Elise is your classmate," Cara Preston said, her tone accusatory. "Making her stand at the school gate holding a sign like that is just too humiliating! What you did was vicious!"
She then added, "The sister I've always known was kind and sweet. How did you turn into this?"
Vera Xavier looked at Cara Preston. "And what have I become? Elise Langdon started this whole thing today. She's the one who made the wager. A bet is a bet; you're supposed to accept your losses. How is it that when it comes to you, the whole story gets twisted?"
"I..." For once, the eloquent Cara Preston was at a loss for words.
Vera continued, "And another thing. If I had lost today, Elise Langdon would probably be screaming for me to get kicked out of school. All I'm doing is making her hold a sign to clarify what happened. Compared to what she demanded, how is what I'm doing in any way excessive?"
