<b>Chapter </b><b>47 </b>


    Marvin rubbed his temples, trying to wrap his head around the situation. ‘So, Ashton’s saying Briar was bullied by these three?


    ‘However, the so–called victim is lounging an injury in the infirmary?


    on my


    sipping bubble tea like she owns the ce, while one of her so–called bullies is nursing


    ‘If this is bullying, then the victim’s got some seriou


    ws.‘


    He was tempted to ask Ashton to open his eyes and take a look at who was really bullying whom here, but he knew better.


    The Wade family was fiercely protective, and Briar


    just any student–she’d saved Griffin’s life, earning his glowing praise. To Ashton,


    she was one of his own, and he guarded her like a dragon guarding his treasure. Trying to reason with him now would likely get Marvin a lesson in “reason” first.


    Marvin cleared his throat, turning to the trio. “Lydia


    Mia, Abbie, right? Do you


    know


    why I called you to my office?”


    he needed to know about the trouble she was in.


    Lydia was trembling, her face pale. Ashton’s and Frank’s expressions told her everything


    Gone was her earlier bravado about demanding an apology or medical fees from Briar. All she wanted now was to get through this without dragging the Ponce family down with her idiocy.


    “Yes, sir, we know. It was our fault. I owe Briar an apology, and I hope she can forgive me.” With that, she gave a deep, respectful bow to Briar.


    Briar didn’t even flinch. She didn’t say a word. She just calmly kept sipping, slurping up thest few pearls like she hadn’t heard a thing.


    Lydia stayed bent over, the position aggravating the pain in her bruised back, but she didn’t dare straighten up without a response. She stood frozen, caught in an awkward limbo.


    Ashton, unfazed, leaned back in his chair, making no move to nudge Briar into acknowledging her.


    Frank, meanwhile, kept his head down, trying to blend into the wallpaper.


    This whole mess had started because of him.


    Ashton had specifically told him to look out for Briar, and he’d botched it spectacrly.


    Mia and Abbie stood there, jaws practically on the floor.


    This was not how they’d expected things to go.


    Mr. Wade? Is that person Ashton Wade?‘ they thought, piecing it together. ‘The Ashton Wade from Shoneport? No one else could carry that


    kind of presence.


    ‘So Briar’s got him in her corner? Why didn’t she say so sooner? If we’d known she had Ashton backing her, we wouldn’t have dared mess with her, not in a million years<b>!</b>‘


    Their earlier arrogance evaporated, reced by nervous nces.


    Seeing Lydia grovel, they quickly followed suit, bowing to Briar. “Briar, we’re so sorry!” they said in unison.


    Briar still didn’t bite.


    She nced around for a trash can to toss her empty bubble tea cup, only <b>to </b>realize Marvin’s fancy <b>office </b><b>didn’t </b>have one.


    <b>10:49 </b><b>Mon</b>, <b>11 </b><b>Aug </b>o


    <b>O </b>


    “Put it there,” Ashton said, pointing to a nearby coffee table.


    Briar nodded and flicked her wrist, sending the cup sailing onto the table. Itnded perfectly, steady as a rock, not a wobble in <b>sight</b>.


    Their casual, almost oblivious exchange pushed the room’s tension to a breaking point, like a scene from a y where everyone else was just


    <b>a </b>prop.


    Marvin sighed inwardly.


    When ites to ying people like fiddles, these two are virtuosos.’


    But he was stuck. He knew Ashton was clearly letting the trio stew in their difort on purpose.


    Arlene, standing off to the side, felt a pang of sympathy and started to speak up, but Frank subtly shook his head, signaling her to stay quiet.


    He knew Ashton was still angry, and anyone who tried to “mediate” right now would only end up getting caught in the crossfire<b>. </b>


    ?