bChapter /bb51 /b

No one in the room was fooled by Tavion’s dramatic injury, it was clear his leg wasn’t actually broken.

Of course, that’s why Aria had been so quick to agree earlier.

Nathan realized this only toote, his bface /bflushing red with embarrassment.

bMicah /breleased his grip, his voice calm but firm. “Mr. Nathan, just watch. Please don’t interrupt Ms. Saxon.”

Nathan wanted to argue, but words failed him. He stood there in silenceb, /bforced to watch as a spectator

Lavion bred /bat the scene, his anger bubbling over. “Why should I have my bleg /bamputated!”

Maelis, still bbasking /bin the excitement of the ten–million–dor offer, didn’t share her son’s outrage. Her tone was much gentler, “isn’t amputation a bit too extreme?”

Aria’s gaze sharpened as she met Maelis’s beyes/bb, /ba cool smile curling at the corners of her lips. “Didn’t you say the injury was severe?” Her voice carried the faintest edge of a challenge.

Mais faltered, her words bstuck /bin her throat.

Thorne, ever the businessman and ustomed to bthese /bsituations, stepped in with an air of authority. “Ms. Saxon, let’s both take a step back, We’ll settle

for six million instead.”

His eyes glinted with subtle calction. “You know as well as I do that byour /bfamily’s business is closely intertwined with powerful circles. The bst /bthing you want is any kind of scandal bor /bnegative press. It could damage everything you’ve worked for

Gone was the loud, aggressive tone from earlier. Thorne now spoke with a calm, measured voice, but there was an unmistakable threat lurking beneath his words

He was a man who knew exactly when to shift his tactics

He thought, “This little girl is no ordinary person. I’m sure she has secured a ce for herself in her family’s business”

No one wanted to get associated with any negative points. As long as there was even the slightest potential risk, it was easy to lose support

Thorne, convinced he had struck the right note, let his chest puff out slightly. He was proud of his calcted approach, certain it would work in his favor

The room fell into a tense silence

Meanwhile, Valerie, who bhad /bbeen sipping water, swallowed slowly, still processing the shift from a simple dispute to a brull/bb–/bblown negotiation

She exchanged a look with the dean, who remained utterly unbothered, seated in his office chair as though the world around him was nothing but a

distant noise.

It was clear that things weren’t going to be resolved quickly. Valerie sighed, stepping back.

As long as there was no physical confrontation, she figured they might as well let the adults talk it bout /b

She nced at Nathan, they had already missed a ss, band /bbno /bone know when this would all end.

bJust /bthen, the bell rang

Everyone knew about Nathan being called in, so the students made a beeling for the guidance office.

In the Maple ss, someone in the front row, near the wall, called out, “Lily, Nathan got into a fight for your sake Aren’t you going to check on him?”

10:43 bWed/bb, /b28 May WGW ?

Lily Cromwell bpaused/b, put down her pon, and muttered quietly, “I’m going.”

One of the boys sounded displeased, “If you’re going, why are you taking so long?”

Lily’s deskmate stood up, visibly irritated. “We said we’re going. No need to be rude.”

A girl behind them shot back, “Don’t mess with Lily, Lily, let’s go

The boy scoffed. “You all only care because she’s the top student in our grade.”

Before anyone could say more, he ran off

The deskmate said angrily. “Ostic often runs his mouth. Just ignore him.”

“Okay,” Lily replied.

The group of girls walked out, only to find the hallway packed with students. The crowd only dispersed after a few teachers came out and scolded them.

Lily was the cause of themotion, but the teachers didn’t stop her or anyone from Maple bss/b.

Several of Nathan’s friends pressed their ears against the door, including Osric ine

“Mr. Vellier, should we contact some reporters to make this ba /bbigger deal?” Aria replied calmly.

Thome’s expression stiffened. He hadn’t expected Aria to be soposed.