<b>Chapter </b><b>81 </b>


    When <b>Liora’s </b>parents and the parents of the other four girls heard this, their expressions changed instantly. They had all <b>seen </b>How children had bullied Ellen. Now that they were being asked to face tenfold or even a hundredfold retribution<b>, </b>there was no way their childve


    could bear the consequences.


    Knowing that Briar was someone close to Ashton, Fraser looked toward Ashton, hesitating. He asked, “Mr. Wade, what do you <b>think </b>we


    should do about this?”


    He continued, “We know our children were in the wrong. When Ellen returns, we’ll make sure they apologize. We’ll also offer fullpensation, whatever the amount. We’re begging you and this youngdy to show mercy,”


    “Yes, any amount is fine. Our children definitely realize their mistake now and promise never to repeat it. Please, give them one more chance to make things right.”


    “I’m willing to pay 50 thousand dors. As long as you two are willing to help us smooth things over, we won’t object to any terms.”


    “Mr. Carter, please help us. The children are still young. If we can settle this, a school punishment is fine too.”


    The group crowded around Ashton and Briar, pleading, even dragging in Landon and the other school administrators. They chattered anxiously and humbly, lowering themselves without shame. It was a pitiful sight that brought tears to the eyes of Liora and the other girls.


    They had been foolish. They had ganged up on Ellen for a moment of thrill. Now their parents were forced to beg some unknown woman for mercy, bowing and scraping in front of her.


    But since they had caused the trouble, they couldn’t just watch their parents endure this humiliation alone. Liora and the other four girls tearfully stepped forward, bowing repeatedly to Ashton and Briar. “We’re sorry, Mr. Wade. We were wrong. We’re sorry<b>, </b>Briar. We were <b>wrong</b>.


    Please forgive us!”


    Just then, Ellen returned from a grocery run. As she opened the door, the first thing she saw was this very scene. She froze at the entrance.


    Briar remained unmoved by the parents‘ pleas. Only when she saw Ellen enter did she finally gesture for her. “Ellen,e here.”


    Ellen responded softly and carried her bag of popsicles and bottled water over to Briar. “Briar…<b>” </b>


    Briar took the items from Ellen and handed them to Brandon. Then, she straightened Ellen’s posture. “You want to apologize, right? The


    victim is her, not me or Mr. Wade. If you’re sincere, apologize to her. On top of that, each family will pay 100 thousand dors for emotional


    distress and medical expenses. If she agrees not to pursue the matter further, I might let it go.”


    One hundred thousand dors per family, which made a total of 500 thousand dors from five families. It was a shocking amount.


    Some parents were about to protest, but Fraser feared Briar might change her mind, so he rushed to agree. “We agree. My daughter will apologize to Ellen right now. Liora, go! Apologize and admit your mistake.”


    Before Liora could respond, her father forced her head down in a deep bow. The force was so strong that if she hadn’t steadied herself<b>, </b>she


    would’ve fallen to her knees in front of Ellen.


    “I’m sorry, Ellen. I was wrong. Please forgive me,” she said.


    With someone taking the lead, the other four girls quickly followed suit. “I’m sorry, Ellen. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”


    Ellen stood there in stunned silence. She had never been treated with such respect in her life.


    “Briar… should I forgive them?” Ellen asked in a small voice, shrinking toward Briar’s side.


    10:39 Tue, 12 Aug


    <b>Chapter </b>81


    <b>Briar </b><b>smiled</b>, <b>“</b>Forgive them if you want to. If you don’t want to, we’ll just raise the price<b>. </b>


    <b>It </b>was already 500 thousand dors, yet Briar suggested they should pay more forpensation.


    Ellen feared that if Briar raised the price even further, it would cause more trouble. Not wanting Briar to offend these <b>people </b>because of her Ellen nodded. “Okay. I’ll forgive them.”


    Liora and the others nearly cried from relief. They had been terrified that Ellen would side with Briar and demand even more from them.


    With Ashton present, there was no way they could reject any conditions put forward. No matter what Ellen asked for<b>, </b>they would’ve <b>had </b><b>to </b>ept it unwillingly.


    Thankfully, Ellen had some sense and didn’t make any excessive demands.


    Seeing a resolution in sight, Fraser signaled to Samantha to hand over their bank card. It was her card, used for daily expenses. Coincidentally, it had exactly 100 thousand dors in it. Fraser wondered if Samantha had somehow known in advance.


    Samantha handed the card to Ellen, feeling her heart break. That was her spending money for two months, now gone to this poor girl.


    The others also began transferring money. Beforeing, they had agreed among themselves that a few thousand dors would be more than enough for a poor girl. None of them had expected to pay so much.


    Fraser had agreed so readily because the Winters family was wealthy. But the other four families were different.


    In a city like Shoneport, where powerful families were everywhere, they were barely hanging onto the lower rung. One hundred thousand dors each was a severe blow.


    Still, they had no choice. Paying the money was better than getting targeted in the future.


    Even though Ashton hadn’t said a single word from start to finish, everyone feared the consequences if they didn’tply. No one wanted to find themselves on his radar.


    Within ten minutes, Ellen was holding five bank cards in her hand, totaling 500 thousand dors.


    To Ellen, it was an enormous sum. She felt like she was floating.


    Thest time she had felt this weightless was thest time.


    Seeing that the situation had been settled, Landon stepped forward. “Since both parties have resolved the issue, I’ll announce the punishment. Each of the five students will receive a major demerit and must deliver a 3,000–word public apology at Monday’s assembly. I hope this serves as a lesson.”


    He added, “Also, the rmendation slot for Shoneport University that originally belonged to Ellen will be officially reinstated.”


    Briar had <i>no </i>objections. Since she had no objections, Ellen naturally followed her lead.


    And just like that, all parties reached an agreement.


    Once everything was handled, Briar didn’t even suggest moving Ellen to a different ss. She allowed Ellen to remain in <b>ss </b><b>2 </b><b>of </b>Year 11.


    Elowen, who had been on edge the entire time, finally rxed when Briar left the school with Ellen.


    What she didn’t know was that videos and evidence of ss 2 students and a certain homeroom teacher bullying <b>a </b><b>ssmate </b><b>over </b><b>an </b>extended period had already been sent to the director of the Shoneport Education Department that evening.


    As soon as the director received the email, he immediately picked up the phone and called Ashton.


    By then, word had already spread quietly through Shoneport’s elite circles. Ashton had stormed into Shoneport High School in brands daylight and thrown his weight around for the sake of a girl.


    Upon seeing the email was signed by a “Miss Briar Jennings,” the education department director wasted no time in verifying it with <b>Astone </b>


    <b>himself</b><b>. </b>


    He asked carefully, “Ashton, tell me the truth. Miss Jennings…”