Ch. 1306..1310

Chapter 1306 Upon seeing Sylvia, Charles, who was pinned to the ground by Cliff, gasped for air and cried for help, “Sylvia, help me! I'm innocent. All | did was graze her skin when she was the one who forced herself on me. | didn't do anything else to her!”

He looked at Sylvia like she was his salvation. Sylvia sighed and approached them. She turned to Cliff and asked sharply, “Alright, tell me, what the hell happened here?” She made sure to clarify her relationship with Charles as well. “Cliff, he's my colleague. Please let him go.”

Cliff turned to look at Odell. Odell had an imperceptible look on his face as usual but it did not seem like he was opposed to Cliff letting the man go, and so he did. Charles immediately picked himself up from the ground and immediately began narrating a long-winded tale to Sylvia, “I was just passing by this other ballroom on the way to the toilet when | saw that lady over there. | thought she looked a lot like you and was very beautiful. | admit that | couldn't resist the urge to steal a few more looks. Eventually, she noticed me and began approaching me. She began flirting with me, asking me what my name was, where | worked, and casual questions along those

lines.

“So, | thought she was interested in me and naturally continued chatting with her. At one point, it looked like she had tripped somehow and was going to fall on top of me. As much as I'm interested in her, | know that it would be a bad look if | touched her too much so all | did was grab her arm to prevent her from falling. And that's when she began screaming for help. She also ruffled her hair herself for some reason... But I... All | did was touch her arm, and that was just to save her from falling!”

Charles was visibly agitated as he spoke with such rapidity and was completely distraught that such an unbelievable misunderstanding would ever happen to him.

Sylvia frowned.

Odell, who was nearby, frowned as well. He had a dark look on his face. More than anything, he was bothered by how Charles had mentioned how he took an interest in Shermaine because he thought she resembled Sylvia.

Everyone fell silent for several seconds. That was when Shermaine came out from behind Odell with a furious and aggrieved look on her face. She jabbed a finger in Charle’s face and accused him further, “How dare you turn the story around on me? Yes, | did smile at you when | saw you looking at me but | was only being polite. | never meant to flirt. It was you who suddenly grabbed onto me when | passed by you on the way to the toilet, and you were forcing kisses on me! If | didn't cry out for help,

who knows what you'd have done to me!”

She was filled with emotions and quickly burst into tears. The men surrounding her, all decked out in suits and shining leather shoes cast her sympathetic looks and took pity on her.

Someone in the crowd spoke up, “I'm on her side. | believe that if | were in her shoes, I'd never have tried to approach this man as well.”

“Me too. You can tell at first glance that he’s a perverted teacher. Not only that, but he’s also a master manipulator! Credit where it's due, he‘s a master at his craft!”

Many people began to turn to Charles and judge him in accusatory tones.

Charles‘ eyes burned with anger. His usual jovial charms were nowhere to be seen as his face wrenched with anger and disappointment at this injustice he was facing. “You people are slandering me! I'm not trying to manipulate anyone here. Every word | said is the truth!”

Everyone merely laughed at his feeble attempt to defend himself. It was clear that none of them believed him and thought of him as nothing more than a jester and a pervert.

Charles could not stomach such utter humiliation. “You...

You bunch of fools!” He turned to Shermaine and hissed sharply. “And you, you're a vicious and disgusting woman. You're only getting away with it because of your appearance!” It seemed like he was going to charge at Shermaine.

Sylvia quickly grabbed him. Christopher and several teachers nearby rushed toward him and grabbed him as well.

Meanwhile , Shermaine ducked behind Odell again and shrieked , “Master Carter, help me! Everything | said is true. | wouldn't accuse him for no reason!” Odell frowned. He glared sharply at Charles and more so at Sylvia who had her arms wrapped around Charles’ arms.

Sylvia was doing her best to calm Charles. “Charles, calm down. We believe in you.”

Charles seemed to feel vindicated upon hearing that Sylvia believed in his innocence. He looked at Sylvia with tears swelling in his eyes. “You... Do you truly believe me?” Sylvia nodded and affirmed him. “Yes.”

The other teachers from the art academy echoed the same sentiment and supported him as well. “As if we don't know what kind of person you are? Of course, we

won't simply believe everything she says.”

Christopher chimed in. “Yes, so calm down, control

yourself.” Charles wiped away his tears and seemed to have calmed down. Sylvia released him and turned to look at Odell.

He was staring at her with a dark and solemn look in his eyes. It seemed like he was on Shermaine’‘s side.

Chapter 1307 Shermaine was still hiding behind Odell.

Sylvia heaved a long, tired sigh and addressed Odell,” Odell, Charles and | are colleagues. All of us have known him for a long time and know what kind of person he is. He‘d never do something like that.”

“How long have you known each other?” he asked sharply.

Sylvia answered sternly, “More than two years.”

“I've known Shermaine for more than two years as well,” Odell answered. Sylvia felt something catch in her throat as the color was drained from her face. He... Was he so determined to defend Shermaine?

She felt a surge of anger rush up to her head and spoke without further consideration, “Don't you believe me? Do you think I'm lying to you?”

Odell frowned.

Everyone had become silent spectators by this point.

Charles, Christopher, and the teachers present were silently gazing at Sylvia and Odell.

Shermaine and the surrounding men did not dare to utter a word either. They felt as if they were at a court hearing. IL

The silence was overbearing and lasted for several seconds.

Odell finally spoke, “Cliff, contact the hotel manager and get them to review the surveillance footage for us.”

Cliff sprang to action.

Sylvia seemed relieved by this wise decision. Still, she was deeply bothered by the sight of Shermaine using Odell as his protection.

Charles, Christopher, and the others were all relieved.

The surveillance footage would be the fairest judge of them all. The liar would be exposed and brought to justice. EL1

Astrange look appeared in Shermaine‘s eyes but she did a good job at playing it naturally.

The men in suits who were standing behind Odell seemed pleased with this solution as well. They were all looking forward to what the final verdict would be after the surveillance footage was reviewed.

— Nobody spoke.

Sylvia glared at Odell discontentedly.

Odell returned the same look. He was just as bothered by how she was adamantly on Charles’ side. After a while, Cliff arrived with the hotel manager.

Sylvia turned to the hotel manager with an expectant look in her eyes.

Everyone held their breaths.

The manager slowly waddled to Odell and spoke in an embarrassed and apologetic tone, “Master Carter, I'm very sorry about this. We just removed the surveillance cameras from this corridor two days ago because it malfunctioned. The new cameras aren't installed yet.”

Sylvia frowned. Charles snapped. “You dare to call yourself a five-star hotel? Why didn't you fix the new surveillance cameras immediately?!”

All the manager could do was bow his head repeatedly and apologize profusely for the inconvenience caused. Hiding behind Odell, Shermaine was doing her best to not break out into a smug grin. She had noticed that the surveillance cameras were missing from the very beginning. That was the reason she was so confident with her ploys in the first place. She was no fool.

She immediately seized the chance and stepped forward to confront Charles, “What are you so upset about? Didn't you molest me because you know there were no surveillance cameras?”

The men behind her caused an uproar. “That's right! Drop the act and confess already!”

 

Chapter 1308

Charles was incredibly flustered as his cheeks were a burning shade of red. “You people are slandering me! | never did anything!”

“Heh... You're the one who wronged her in the first place! You tried to take advantage of her because she’s pretty. I've seen plenty of men like you.”

Charles wanted to charge at them.

Sylvia and Christopher quickly held him back.

Sylvia spoke up and directly addressed Odell, “Odell, | believe him. He‘d never do something like that.”

DI

The people who were against Charles kept their mouths shut when they saw Sylvia speaking up for him again. Odell zipped his lips into a thin line with a serious expression.

Shermaine suddenly said, “Mrs. Carter, do you have some kind of bad impression of me? Do you think I'm someone who would accuse him without any grounds?”

She seemed very vexed by the situation. Sylvia frowned deeply. She had not forgotten what Shermaine had done for Madam Carter but the fact that Shermaine was now standing next to Odell in a getup that

was nearly identical to what she herself was wearing roused a strange, repulsive feeling inside her.

While she was pondering over what to say, Cliff suddenly spoke up, “Ma‘am, | know Shermaine well enough. | don't think she‘d

lie. Sylvia turned to Odell again.

He spoke at last, “I trust Shermaine too.”

He spoke in a deep and unfaltering voice.

Shermaine cast a wounded look at Sylvia as if to call for justice.

Everyone was casting the same look at Sylvia. It was as if they were accusing her of standing up for her colleagues without considering the reality of the situation.

Sylvia clenched her hand into a fist. Perhaps she had been falsely accusing Shermaine this entire time as well? She felt a suffocating feeling rising in her chest as she turned to Odell for his verdict. “How do you plan to handle this?”

LIT

Odell glanced at the hotel manager. “We're taking this to the police. Let them deal with it.”

“Alright.” The hotel manager took the hint and promptly asked, “Master Carter, who are we bringing to the police?” It seemed like he was having a hard time deciding who

was guilty here.

Odell darted a look at Charles. “Him.”

The hotel manager left after that.

Charles was infuriated by the decision and lost his mind as he yelled like a madman, “Odell, | never did anything to her! What right do you have to point your finger at me? Just because she’s your secretary? Are you on her side because there‘s something more to your relationship with her?”

He continued advancing toward Odell. It took several men to hold him back this time. Adark gloom suddenly washed over Odell's face. Sylvia was just as caught off guard by Charles‘ remarks.

Everyone fell into an awkward silence.

LLLLLL 1

Shermaine suddenly scuttled away from Odell to keep some distance from him. She declared coldly and affirmatively , “I'm only Master Carter's secretary. I'm doing nothing but honest work for him. He‘s someone with a family. Hell, his wife is standing right next to you! You accusing me of something I've never done is one thing, but accusing Master Carter is an entirely separate and unforgivable matter!”

T

There was no longer any remnant of sanity in Charles’ mind by this point. “You look just like Sylvia except you're younger than her. Who knows why Odell is

keeping you around the office as his secretary? Judging by how cunning you are, | wouldn't be surprised if you dug your claws into him already!” 2

“You... You have no idea what you're talking about!” Shermaine cried out and charged at him. It looked like she was going to strike him.

It was Cliff who rushed forward and stopped her.

He dragged her aside and tried to calm her down. “Don't be rash. He's all out of options and is trying to make up any excuse to distract us from what he’s done. Don't fall for it.”

Charles exclaimed, “I was wronged! | never did anything to her. I'd never do anything as disgusting as that!” Christopher patted him on the back. “Charles, calm down.

With that, he turned to Odell. “Master Carter, Charles has been teaching at our academy for seven to eight years by this point and | know him very well. He has a good sense of humor and is very popular with all of the students and has never been in any scandals involving female students. Based on my years of professional teaching experience, | can assure you that he’s not someone who would do anything vile as molesting a woman.” Odell seemed sullen by this point. He looked at Sylvia and did not utter a word.

Someone in the crowd sneered and said with scorn in his voice, “Heh... Impressions can be wrong. I'd suggest you stop defending him.” “Besides, look at him. He’s a grimy pervert no matter how you look at him.“

Chapter 1309

Christopher tightened his brows into a frown. He seemed upset.

Charles was furious. He eventually broke free from the other teachers holding him back and charged after the other group It was at this crucial moment when the hotel manager arrived with a crew of policemen. When they saw Charles, they immediately rushed forward and detained him.

Another police officer asked the hotel manager, “Is this the man you were talking about?” The hotel manager replied, “Yes, it's him.”

The police immediately said, “Take him away.”

“Wait a minute!” Sylvia cried out.

The policemen were startled by her cry. Everyone turned to look at her.

Sylvia walked up to Charles who was near Odell as well by this point.

“Odell, | can proclaim with complete certainty that

Charles is innocent. If you're going to accuse him for your secretary's sake...” She took a long sigh and expressed sharply, “Don‘t come back to the house ever again.”

As soon as she said this, the air was drawn out of the corridor.

Everyone‘s eyes widened. They were shocked and seemed like they were going to break out into hushed murmurs any second now.

“For your secretary's sake?” Perhaps there truly was something going on between Master Carter and his secretary? Everyone fixed their eyes on Odell. He stood tall and mighty as ever. There was now a terrible gloom that terrified everyone around him.

Shermaine stepped forward again and explained to Sylvia frantically, “Mrs. Carter, nothing is going on between me and Master Carter. You have to believe me. I'm not trying to wrongfully accuse your colleague ... If you're going to blame it on Master Carter then... then I'll just pretend as if nothing has ever happened and drop my charges. | won't hold it over your colleague anymore.”

4 Sylvia glared viciously at her. “Shut up, you don't have the right to interfere.”

She was clearly talking to Odell. What right did she have to intervene? Was Shermaine trying to make a fool out of her now?

Shermaine’s expression dropped and she sullenly zipped her lips.

Sylvia turned her attention back to Odell.

Odell was staring back at her with a ruminative look in his eyes.

At last, he spoke, “So you're going to stand up for him no matter what?”

Sylvia answered “yes” with a defiant tone in her voice.

“Alright.” Odell remarked with a look as his tone was without any expression of emotion. With that, he turned to the police. “This man was trying to sexually harass my employee . Please take him away immediately.”

The policeman seemed rather at a loss. They eventually answered, “Alright.” They followed it up with. “Who's the victim? Please come with us. We have some questions we'd like to ask to get further details.”

Odell glanced at Shermaine.

Shermaine promptly followed the police. Within moments, Charles was taken away by the crew of policemen with Shermaine following them as well.

Cliff soon followed them as well. It seemed like he was concerned about Shermaine.

An utter silence dominated the corridor.

Nobody spoke.

Sylvia stood like a statue. She was so stiff she could hardly move. Her eyes were fixed intently on Odell. The way he looked at her was cold as ever. One would think that the two were complete strangers.

It seemed like he was not going to yield to her at all for Shermaine‘s sake.

Chapter 1310 Immediately after that, Sylvia was filled with an urge to cry.

She took a deep gulp to suppress the terrible, sour feeling and returned Odell with a hostile glare. She turned away from him and started trotting in the direction where the police were escorting Charles.

Suddenly, she felt someone grabbing her by her wrist. It was Odell who stopped her. He looked at her and asked sharply, “Where are you going?”

“Just worry about your secretary. | don‘t need you to take care of me!” With that, she briskly flung his hand away and continued chasing after Charles and the police.

Odell frowned and gazed at her morosely without chasing after her.

He stood there for what seemed like an eternity. It was only after Christopher and the rest of the art academy members had left that he finally turned around and left as well.

Several men trailed after him. One of them cautiously approached him. “Master Carter, the event is still ongoing. Are you leaving already?”

He growled. “Scram.”

They quickly took the hint and kept their distance.

Sylvia and Christopher followed the police car to the police station.

Both Charles and Shermaine were brought in by the police to provide their respective statements.

Since Sylvia, Christopher, and Cliff who came along as well were all not witnesses to what happened, they were not allowed inside and had to wait outside.

Cliff went up to Sylvia and said, “Ma‘am, judging by what | know of Shermaine, | doubt she‘d lie.” Sylvia glared at him without any friendliness. “Get away from me.”

As if she did not know Charles‘ character as well? Cliff grimaced and wisely took a step back. He explained hesitantly, “Jacob, the previous secretary, had to step away from his position for several months because of some issues at home. | figured that Shermaine was very efficient and competent so | had her substitute Jacob‘s position until he came back. She treats her work very seriously and has never once overstepped her boundaries. Her interaction with Master Carter has been nothing but professional, it's all work-related.”

Sylvia‘s expression seemed to soften ever so slightly, but she continued to regard Cliff with hostility. “Why are you telling me all this? I'm not interested in what goes on between your boss and his secretary.”

Even if it was Cliff who promoted Shermaine, she still had to receive the green light from Odell. How would the reassignment ever fall through if Odell himself did not agree to the arrangement?

1

The scene of him adamantly defending Shermaine in the hotel just now was still playing in her mind. 4

She was not blind.

He had been absent from home recently because he claimed to be occupied with work. Sylvia felt like a fool for worrying about him overworking himself at the office when this entire time, he had a young and beautiful girl next to his side at the office! He must have been overjoyed to spend his time at the office rather than at home!

FILL She took a deep breath and turned away from Cliff. She tried to distract her mind from these thoughts.

Realizing that she would not listen to his explanations, Cliff did not bother with further clarifications.

After a long wait, the police came out with Charles and Shermaine.

de

Shermaine's eyes were puffed red. She seemed flustered by what had happened there.

Charles‘ eyes were swollen red too but it did not seem like he was in that much of a better mood than Shermaine. Cliff stepped forward and asked, “Officer, is he not going to be held accountable?”

The police informed, “There’‘s no significant evidence proving that he had done anything to Miss Cole. He insists that he’s innocent and there‘s nothing we can do to further prosecute him.”

Charles scoffed and went to Sylvia and Christopher. Both Sylvia and Christopher were relieved to hear this.

Shermaine went up to Cliff and smiled weakly as if to reassure him. “It's alright, Cliff. He just touched me a little and didn't get too far. | can handle it.”

Cliff frowned and stayed silent.

Charles overheard it and immediately became upset. It looked like he was going to say something but Christopher noticed and stopped him from doing so.