Chapter 62 Asher’s Revenge

Jean stared down at the open workbook on her desk, bher /bface bcalm/b, her eyes steady.

Finished

Beside her. Asher mirrored her posture. His head was lowered, gaze focused intently on the study guide in front of him,pletely detached from the noise around them.

They were, perhaps, the only two in the ssroom entirely uninterested in the excitement surrounding Lacey.

Still, it was impossible not to overhear the chatter.

Jean had no particr opinion about Lacey getting invited onto Taylor’s new show. If anything, she just thought-

That Mr. Taylor had terrible taste.

Lacey’s Hope Cup performance had been average at bbest/b. bAnd /bhe picked her?

b[/bbTalk /babout a questionable judgment call.

Sure, even the best in the industry made mistakes.

Jean could forgive that.

Just then, the temporary homeroom teacher arrived, her heels clicking briskly across the tile as she entered.

Ever since their original teacher Ms. Wendy had been reassigned, the school still hadn’t found a permanent brecement/b. Each bss /bhad been cycling through bother /bteachers on rotation.

Not that Sterfordcked staff–but after the Wendy fiasco, no one really wanted to step into the hot seat.

Jean nced up at the woman now standing at the front of the room. She wore a polite smile, trying to soften herte

entrance.

“Sorry, everyone. There was ba /bhuge traffic bjam /bthis morning–I got held up.” She smiled sheepishly, her tone gentle.

“Excuse me, Ms. Teacher..

Asher’s cool voice rang out suddenly bas /bhe raised his bhand/bb. /b

His tone was cold and t, like water straight from the fridge–clear and sharp–edged.

The teacher blinked, bcaught /boff guard. “Yes, Asher?”

Heads swiveled toward him, everyone caught by surprise.

Even Jean turned, frowning slightly. She couldn’t bremember /bthest time Asher willingly interacted with ba /bteacher–let alone raised his hand in ss.

Asher met the teacher’s gaze, his voice unwavering

“If I remember correctly, you established a ss rule against btalking /bduring lessons.”

The teacher nodded cautiously. “Yes, that’s correct.

Asher’s features remained calm, his tone as frosty as ever. “Then I’d like to fonnally report a few ssmates for loudly disrupting ss just now.”

The room froze

Asher calmly listed their names–each one ba /bfamiliar voice from earlier.

4:26 PM

chap??

“What the hell is wrong with you, whert You anuching now?

“Dude, seriously? The leader wasn

the room! We were just excited about Taylor visiting! bChill /bbour/b?‘

“Asher, I didn’t take you for 1 ft. Gintal”

The teacher looked visibly uncontrolle

It was true. Asher was one of the top studeems ba /bSerior, admitted for his exceptional academic performance–but the people he just ratted out? All rich bkids /bfrom poveril familie…

Tattling on them could stir a lot of trouble.

Was Asher fearless? Or just stupid?

Here at Sterford, the bfaculty /bhad to tread carefully he weren’t just students–they were heirs. Future CEOs. The children of old money.

So the school bhad /bcreated “guidelines,” soft rules bthat /bblooked /bbofficial /bbbut /bwere mostly for bshow/b–bmeant /bto keep ba /bbbnce /bbetween order and appeasement.

The punishment for rule vitions? bUsually /bmild. Write a referation Wybe ba /bbformal /bapology. Nothing more.

Asher wasn’t wrong but he was definitely making waves.

“Miss.” Acher said calmly, noticing her hesitation. ording to your mules, youre supposed to issue a consequence.”

Caught, the teacher hesitated, then sighed.

She couldn’t afford to backpedal now–not without undermining her own autumny.

“You’ve all been warned plenty of times,” she finally said. “The rules are clear. If you brakethem, you’ll need to write a one-

housand–word reflection. Have it on my desk tomorrow.”

The born, whod been joking earlier looked like they’d swallowed sour lemons.

Ther tumed toward Asher with expressions dark enough to curdle milk. Their fists denied Hat weren’t in the middle of

they might’ve jumped him then and there.

Tea

cancer in Asher again.

and guir, not reacting to the storm he’d just kicked up. His profile was calm and clean–au–llle ba /bstatue carved

For the mults the thrown bat /bher?

ad be done ut on purpose, or was it just a coincidence?

Before Jean could ponder in further, a new sound interrupted the tension–a set of unfamiliar footsteps musactie that dont

Then, a man in a ck sectum stepped into view. He knocked gently before offering a polite smile.

“Good mo

Director Taylor’s assistant. Mr. Taylor will be here in just ba /bmoment–I’m herm

Instantly, the entire om mood tipped

The earlier terimler

Lacey pressed her lips together

chement surged through the students like electricity.

her emotions. Her fingers trembled with anticipation.

Chapter 62 Asher’s Revenge

What expression she’d wear when he walked up to speak to her.

The words she’d say to make the perfect impression.

Roughly five minutester, Taylor himself arrived–surrounded by a small entourage of production bstaff/b.

Finished

He looked to be in bhis /bmid–forties, with a fit build and a friendly, open face. Dressed in a ck track jacket, he gave off a

clean, energetic vibe.

As soon as he stepped inside, his eyes met Lacey’s.

She was practically glowing, her whole face lit up with excitement and delight.

But Taylor only nced at her–and immediately looked away, like he didn’t recognize her at all.

Lacey froze.

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