?Chapter 299:


    The student grinned. “Off to work. No gossip from me.”


    Howard did know Ellie for a while. He knew her from high school, although she had no idea who he was.


    Ellie turned on her heels, her gaze fixed on Kaiden, who was still engrossed in conversation with the school leaders. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to join her anytime soon. She debated whether to head for a nearby dessert shop and wait for Kaiden there or to leave on her own.


    As she stepped out of the hall, an unexpected encounter shook her world. A young man suddenly rushed up to her.


    “Ellie, please, have mercy. I never truly harmed you. Why did you ruin my life and that of my family?” The man gripped Ellie’s wrist and cried out desperately.


    “Herman?” It took Ellie a moment to recognize him. She tried to pull her hand free and demanded, “Let go of me.”


    In just a few days, Herman’s appearance had drastically deteriorated. His once-handsome features were now unrecognizable. He looked emaciated, with a sunken face, unshaven chin, disheveled hair, and a pungent stench of alcohol clinging to him.


    After Ellie managed to break free from his grip, Herman dramatically knelt before her, drawing the attention of everyone around.


    “Ellie, please reconsider. I admit my mistake in pursuing you for your beauty, but did you have to destroy my entire family? My father is nearing sixty, and he’s fragile. You’re pushing him to the brink of despair, making him consider something as drastic as jumping off a building. Do you know that?”


    Themotion attracted the curiosity of students, fellow schoolmates, and parents, who encircled the pair.


    “What’s going on here? Who is that guy?”


    “Why does he resemble the famous actor, Herman?”


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    “Jumping off a building? That sounds horrifying.”


    “How far did he have to be pushed to kneel in public like this?”


    Before Ellie could respond, a middle-aged woman appeared out of nowhere, her anguished cries piercing through the crowd.


    “Ellie, my nephew is kneeling before you. Will you not show some mercy? You’re just a young girl, yet you’re capable of such cruelty.”


    The woman was none other than Maggie, Herman’s aunt.


    “Herman, your father’s tax evasion was a breach of statew. I did nothing to him,” Ellie frowned.


    Herman, seemingly oblivious to Ellie’s words, implored, “Ellie, I was wrong. I understand now that you have influential connections. I should never have pursued you. Please, spare me and my entire family.”


    The students, though initially clueless about the sudden confrontation, pieced together the situation from the conversation between Ellie and Herman. It became clear that Herman had harbored feelings for Ellie, and her actions had led to the destruction of his family.


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