bChapter /bb49 /b

Nathan’s eyes bulged when he saw Aria.

“Why is it you?” he demanded.

Aria gave him a quick nce but remained silent as she pulled out a chair and sat down

Micah spoke up. “No one else had time. Mr. Saxon asked Miss Aria Saxon toe.”

It stung Mathan’s pride to have someone he disliked witness his most humiliating m

moment

Still, the mess was his making, and he had no right to me anyone else,

These people were tough to deal with, but bNathan /bwas curious to see how Aria would handle it.

Once he’d calmed down, he figured he might as well step aside. “She’s my guardian. You want to figure things out, talk to her

Thome spoke up first, “You’re—”

Aria interrupted, “I’ll understand the situation first, then we’ll talk aboutpensation.

At the mention ofpensation, Thorne’s beyes /bblit /bbup/b, but before he could speak, Aria shot him a look that silenced him. “Don’t interrupt me, or we’re done hereb. /bWe’ll call the police.”

The bdean /bband /bValerie exchanged a nce,

Valerie wondered, is she being too arrogant? bMaybe/b. But at least it is quiet now

Maelis gritted her teeth. “Fine, you figure it out. But don’t think this is over–my son was hurt, and it’s not finished”

Aria turned her eyes to Nathan, taking in his disheveled school uniform, torn cer, bandaged forehead, swollen lett cheekb, /bdarkened lips, and the bloodstains on his bneck /b

“You guys really scratch each other like that when byou /bfight?” she remarked.

Nathan, frustrated by her gaze, was ready to retort, but paused. “is that really the point?”

Aria raised an eyebrow. “Did you lose the fight?”

b“/bbNo/bb,/bb” /bNathan responded without hesitation. “I winb./bb” /b

Thorne and Maels were seething, ready to erupt when Nathan added, “Tavion runs his mouth, so he’s paying the price.”

Thorne and Maelis exchanged looks, their fury momentarily quelled by the thought of a bigger payout.

They had researched–the Saxon family was one of Mandino City’s four major families. Asking for a few million wasn’t out of the question.

Aria’s gaze swept over the two boys bbefore /bcking ploto Tavion Wellier

He was tall, overweight, with green–dyed hair, and covered in a few noticeable wounds.

The most serious injury was to his right leg, which was wrapped up like a pig’s trotter.

She nced back at Nathan. She thought, “Really stupid. He bdoesn’t /beven know how to strike in the shadows.”

A sharp whistle cut through the room.

b1/2 /b

It was Tavion

Tavion grinned cockily. “Nathan, is this your sister? She’s got a nice figure–better than your girlfriend’s”

Nathan instantly lost it, charging at Tavion, but before he could reach him, Valerie shipped in front of him. “Tavion’s parents, your son’s words are a bit

too harsh.”

Thorne scoffed, turning his head away.

As Aria looked at the teacher protecting Nathanb, /bshe slowly stood up and said, “Compensation will be reduced by 300 thousand dorsb./bb” /b

The room went still.

Thorne wonderedb, /b“What?”

Before anyone could respond, Thome rushed forward, pped Tavion hard across the back of his head.

His beer belly jiggled with the force of the p,

“Useless. Apologize!” he shouted.

Tavion cried bout /bin pain, still stunned, before being forced to bow.

“He’s young. He doesn’t understand, I’ve already taught him a lesson,” Thorne said bwith /bba /bpatronizing smile, his voice smooth and apologetic.

The dean and Valerie fell silent.

Valerie thought. “Is this really the same man who’d been cursing us for the past hour?‘

tas surprised.

Nathan was just as su

He thought, ‘Is this how it would be resolved? I have money. I can handle it myself!

bAria’s /btone remained bcalm/b. “You hit the wrong ce. His mouth is the dirty part”

The p echoed across the room,nding squarely on bTavion’s /bbalready /bwounded lips.

He howled in pain, tears filling his eyes.

The office was dead silent; only the bdistant /bsounds of a ssroom could be heard.

Valerie, seizing the opportunity, took a sip of water, bfinally /bbreathing a little easier,

“Ms. Saxon, bhere’s /bwhat happened… Valerie began exining the whole situation

b2/2 /b

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