Could it be fear?

Charlotte fled from Lucas's office in terror, her dignity shattered by the hurtful remarks of his friends while he remained silent. She balled her hands into fists as their disparaging words echoed in her mind.

Seeking solace in the restroom, she fought back tears that threatened to fall. It was all too much for her to bear. Endlessly tormented by Lucas, and now his friends too? She hadn't even completed her day's punishment and now this.

Resentment towards Lucas surged through her, the sound of their mocking laughter lingering in her thoughts as tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. She was wrong about him, he was pure evil.

As she dwelled on the events that had happened in his office, her anger only grew. But she was tired of it all. She couldn't handle it anymore, yet she had nowhere else to turn. How would she support her father and pay off their debts?

Wiping away her tears, she returned to finish her job, viewing his torment and humiliation as her penance for sleeping wi