Chapter 75
“I’ve made up my mind.” Selene’s voice was unwavering. “Even if you changed your mind right now and let my daughter back into Charteris Academy, you’re the real sickness festering inside that school. I won’t let my daughter stay another day In a place run by someone like you.”
She hurled her accusations at the principal, right in front of the crowd of reporters, holding nothing back.
The principal’s face flushed, then turned chalky pale, his breathing growing sharp and uneven.
He jabbed a finger at Selene, turning to the reporters. “You all saw it–Selene’s the one who doesn’t want her daughter at Charteris Academy. I’m not forcing her out. Don’t you dare twist the story in your coverage.“–
The school gates were crowded with cars–parents, reporters, all piled up. So when a few more black sedans pulled up, no one paid them any mind.
Inside one of those cars, Director White snapped out of his thoughts. He glanced out the window, caught sight of the imposing school entrance, and his eyes went wide. He spun to the driver, voice tight. “Why on earth did you bring us here?”
Director White glanced back and saw that all the other department vehicles had lined up behind his. Panic fluttered in his chest.
The driver, clearly puzzled, stammered, “Mr. Shaw said you needed to come to Charteris Academy, sir.”
Director White’s gaze shot to Adrian, who sat beside him in a crisp suit, looking relaxed as the morning sun slanted through the window. Light traced a soft golden outline along Adrian’s sharp jaw.
Adrian turned lazily to meet Director White’s exasperated stare.
Decorum held Director
suppose you’ll be gett hite’s temper in check. “Well, here’s Charteris Academy. I
out now.”
“No, you’re the one getting out,” Adrian replied evenly.
Director White sputtered, “Adrian, don’t mess with me. Why would I get out? You dragged the entire Disciplinary Committee here!”
Regret burned in Director White’s gut. He’d run into Adrian at City Hall, learned he was headed for the prosecutor’s office, and had–out of misplaced
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Chapter 5
friendliness–offered him a ride. On the way, he’d pulled out the Charteris principal’s file, hoping to squeeze a few minutes of free legal advice from the renowned attorney.
He’d expected a short consultation during the drive–not for Adrian to instruct the driver to reroute them to the school.
Now, the Disciplinary Committee staff sat crammed in the cars behind them, faithfully following Director White’s lead, completely unaware they’d all been dragged into this.
Adrian handed his phone to Director White. “The ALI Math Competition preliminary rankings are out.”
But Director White was too flustered to listen, barking at the driver, “Just get us to the prosecutor’s office. Now!”
Adrian pressed on. “Selene took first place in the preliminaries.”
A flicker of emotion crossed Director White’s stern face, but he kept his composure. Adrian’s gaze drifted past him, through the window. “Look at her. She’s at the school gates now, surrounded by reporters, cameras flashing. She hasn’t let you down–not after all you hoped for her.”
Director White turned, following Adrian’s line of sight. There was Selene, standing tall in the crowd, facing off with the principal. She looked fierce, determined, while the principal seemed to be losing his grip.
“So you came to Charteris Academy for Selene?” Director White mused, piecing it together.
Adrian set a folder on top of Director White’s hand. “You know the principal’s going to target her daughter today. Honestly, I’d rather see you walk in there and change the outcome yourself, instead of just submitting that report at the prosecutor’s office. Just like you used to do, back when you protected her as a little girl at Aldonia University of Science & Technology.”
A mist clouded Director White’s eyes, memories rushing back in a sudden tide.
He turned to Adrian, some small spark of accusation flickerin his gaze–how did the Shaw family always know just where to strike?
Taking the file–evidence against the Charteris principal–Director White let a slow smile break through. “I’m not like your father. She’s like a daughter to me. Now that she’s on her own, I need to show her she’s not alone in this world.”
Chapter 75
He pushed open the car door and stepped out into the morning light.
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