<b>Chapter </b>83
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The old–timers nearby got even more worked up when they heard about kicking Nora out. “Kid, what’s your problem? So what if they’re poor? Why can’t they study at Premier Academy? Since when was it only for the rich kids, huh?”
“Well, I’ve really seen everything now!” an elderlydy with amanding presence snorted. “A student can decide if another gets expelled? All right, I’m calling President Lee myself to ask what’s happening at Premier Academy. If he can’t sort this mess out, I’ll go straight to the higher–ups and make sure they bring someone new in to run things.”
Lindsay’s face lit up at those words. She nced up at the elderlydy, who carried herself with undeniable authority–definitely a big deal around here, especially since she lived at Linen Bay Residences. If thisdy was really willing to step in for Nora, then maybe there was hope for her after all.
Lindsay didn’t say anything directly to the olddy, but started sobbing even harder. She grabbed Nora, trying to pull her down to kneel with her. Nora resisted. She wasn’t about to kneel to Alicia.
But Lindsay, wiping her tears, pleaded, “Nora, I know you always talk about dignity, but you can’t let your stubborn pride cost you your education. Do you have any idea how hard your dad and I worked to get you into Premier Academy? Just do it for our sake.”
Nora understood what Lindsay meant; she wasn’t na?ve. In the end, though frustrated and unwilling, she bent her knees to kneel–until the elderlydy reached out and stopped her. “Kid, you’re doing the right thing. We should have backbone. We kneel to heaven, to earth, to our parents–never to a fellow student. Don’t kneel. Hold your ground. Just wait.”
With that, the olddy pulled out her phone and dialed. Her tone was stern. “Hey Derek, where are you these days? What have you been busy with?”
On the other end of the line was Derek. He had juste from an academic summit and was riding in his car,ughing. “Mrs. Clifford, what’s got you calling me today? I just finished up a conference and I’m heading home.”
The olddy, Bonnie Clifford, got snarky. “Hmm, looks like you’re enjoying yourselftely–summits here, forums there, a little sightseeing, a little leisure… you’re living it up, aren’t you?”
Derek could tell something was up and quickly asked, “What’s going on, Mrs. Clifford? You sound a bit off today.”
“You want to know what’s up? I’m asking you–what on earth has been happening at Premier Academytely? Did something major happen over there?” Bonnie demanded.
Derek blinked, thrown off. “Nothing big happened, Mrs. Clifford. You’ve been out of the game for years- what’s got you all fired up about the school now? And why do you sound so ticked? Justy it on me, or I’m gonna start panicking here.”
Bonnie snorted. “That’s rich,ing from the president of Premier Academy. You need to get your priorities straight.
“Don’t go thinking you can just parade around at forums and summits, leaving the whole academy for others
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“Back when I handed you the reins, I really thought you cared about the students and valued real schrship. So tell me what exactly have you been doingtely?”
Derek paused for a moment. “Uh… Where are you? I’lle see you in person.”
Bonnie shot back, “Yeah, you ought to show your face, but don’t bothering for me. Come see what kind of mess your students have gotten into. Meet me at the front gate of Linen Bay Residences.”
Derek replied without skipping a beat, “Alright, I’m on my way.”
Coincidentally, Derek’s car was already passing by Linen Bay Residences–not far at all. He hurriedly told the driver, “Turn off here and go to the front gate of Linen Bay Residences.”
After hanging up, Bonnie turned to Nora. “Don’t worry, youngdy. The school will make things right for you. Premier Academy is a ce for learning, not for showing off or letting people throw their weight around. Don’t be afraid.”
Alicia gave a faint smile and nodded. “You’re absolutely right, ma’am. Premier Academy is for learning, not for unting wealth or letting people lord it over others. I couldn’t agree more.”
Bonnie shot Alicia a sharp look. “Oh, you agree, huh? Yet here you are, acting all high and mighty. Don’t even try to get on my good side. No one’s leaving–you all wait right here. I’m going to see for myself if Premier Academy still has any justice left.”
Just as Bonnie finished speaking, a familiar voice rang out. “Mrs. Clifford.”
She lifted her head and saw Derek striding over to her.
She shot him a frosty re. “Derek, you’d better handle this properly.”
Then she turned to Lindsay. “Anything on your mind, just tell him–he calls the shots for everything at Premier Academy. You can be sure he’ll treat this fairly and squarely. If he tries anything shady, I’ll step in myself.”
‘No way… Nora couldn’t believe her eyes–the person the olddy actually called over was Derek himself.
‘I thought she was just some local big shot who could maybe lend a hand,‘ Nora thought, ‘but she actually brought President Lee in person. That means he knows everything that happened… Looks like things just got
real.‘ <fn9058> Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel</fn9058>
At that, Nora ducked her head, too nervous to even look at Derek.
Lindsay didn’t hesitate–she rushed straight to Derek, tears pouring down her cheeks. “You’re in charge of the school, aren’t you? Please, you have to stand up for Nora!”
Between her sobs, she pointed right at Alicia. “This Alicia Lawrence–she thinks just because her family’s loaded, she can push my daughter around! She’s trying to kick Nora out of Premier Academy. So what if we don’t have money? We got in fair and square! How can one rich student just force another to quit?”
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She purposely left out anything about the forum and stuck to her story: Alicia was bullying Nora, looking down on them for being poor, and trying to drive her out of school.
Derek remembered Alicia all too well. When he saw her, he was momentarily stunned, then realized–Mr. Yates had mentioned he’d let Alicia stay at his ce in Linen Bay Residences. So that’s why she was here.
Derek shed Alicia a knowing smile. “Hey, Alicia, we meet again.”
Alicia called out softly, “President Lee.”
Derek asked, “So, what happened here?”
Keeping her voice low, Alicia said, “It’s still all about what happened on the forum, President Lee. You said before you’d get to the bottom of it for me, but the school just tried to brush everything aside.
“So I took matters into my own hands and posted what I uncovered on the forum.
“I know, the school forum is supposed to be for learning and sharing–not for drama. I admit that was wrong of me, and I’m sorry. But shouldn’t the school be held ountable too, for trying to protect the perpetrator?”
When Lindsay heard Alicia call the man “President Lee,” her heart sank. ‘Crap, he already knows about this whole mess. And from what Nora said, he seems to be on Alicia’s side…‘
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