Ch. 371..380

Chapter 371

After the recording of the show, Audrey looked at the Harper family and Francis sitting in the audience, suddenly realizing something.

'Why are they sitting together? Did Alistair arrange this in advance? Does he want to give me a surprise? But I'm not ready for both parents to meet yet,' Audrey thought.

It was ironic that she and Alistair had already been married, yet their parents hadn't even shared a meal or met each other at all.

Although meeting here seemed a bit out of place, Audrey figured that the two families would have to meet eventually. So, she didn't hesitate and headed straight for the first row of the audience.

By the time she arrived, most of the audience had already dispersed. The only ones left in the front row were the six members from the Hayes and Harper families.

Evelyn planned to wait until everyone left before approaching Audrey, in case anyone recognized her and caused trouble for Audrey.

Meanwhile, the Harper family decided to wait until everyone had left as well. They didn't want to risk running into anyone on the way out who might say something bad about Audrey, as they were afraid they might end up fighting on her behalf.

So, both families stayed behind, each wondering why the other hadn't left yet.

When they saw Audrey approach, both the Hayes and Harper families became somewhat tense, afraid that the other might notice their relationship with Audrey.

Sunny had originally wanted to rush over and hug Audrey, but he remembered Evelyn had repeatedly warned him not to call Audrey "Mom" in public, as it might be used against her by those with ill intentions. So, he held back.

The two families stood there, awkwardly looking at each other, neither daring to approach Audrey first. Instead, they were all frantically signaling to her, trying to tell her not to come over with so many outsiders still around.

But the next moment, Audrey was already standing in front of them, and she called out, "Mom, Dad, you're here too."

Both sets of parents froze, unsure whether they should respond.

Francis and Evelyn both looked a little emotional.

Audrey had never called them "Mom" and "Dad" before, and although they didn't say anything, they couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

Now that she finally addressed them like this, it seemed impolite not to respond. They were afraid that if Audrey misunderstood they didn't accept her, it would make things even worse.

Meanwhile, Peter and Jessica were thinking that since their daughter wasn't afraid to acknowledge them in front of others despite their status and jobs, they certainly couldn't let her feel neglected.

After a brief silence, both sets of parents responded at the same time.

"Yes, we came to see you." The four of them almost spoke in unison, and the atmosphere immediately became awkward again.

Francis and Evelyn both turned to look at Peter and Jessica, their eyes filled with suspicion. 'Are they here to take away our daughter-in-law?' they wondered.

Peter and Jessica were also watching the elegant, wealthy couple, their eyes equally unfriendly. 'Are they here to take our daughter?' they wondered.

Seeing their reactions, Audrey quickly realized she had misunderstood. The reason both families were sitting together wasn't because Alistair had arranged it. It was purely a coincidence.

The two families sat in the audience, exchanging confused glances.

At this moment, Jessica spotted Sunny standing next to Francis and Evelyn, and she exclaimed in

surprise, "Oh, isn't this Sunny? You're here too." She smiled warmly and gently touched Sunny's head

Seeing that Sunny didn't mind her closeness, Francis widened his eyes in shock,

a trace of envy flashing across his gaze.

When Jessica saw Sunny, she immediately realized that the elegant couple in

front of her must be her in-laws.

ir children had been

After all, their

married for quite a while, but this was the first time the two families met. Jessica felt a bit awkward and rubbed her nose, saying, "You must be Alistair's parents. I'm Audrey's

mom. It's nice to meet youme

Hearing this, Evelyn came to a sudden realization. 'Turns out they are not here to

take away my daughter-in-law. They are Audrey's family,' she thought.

She quickly took Jessica's hand with a bright smile and said, "I've always wondered how Audrey could be so beautiful. It turns out her mother is a real beauty. Audrey really takes after you."

Jessica smiled bashfully.

Evelyn continued, "I'm really sorry, Ma'am. We've been wanting to visit you for a while, but we kept waiting for the right time, so we kept putting it off. It's our fault. Please don't mind."

Jessica had never met someone so warm and enthusiastic before and felt a bit overwhelmed. She awkwardly responded, "Never mind."

Seeing the two mothers exchanging awkward pleasantries, Audrey couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Just as she was about to suggest they move to another spot to continue

chatting, Jessica's phone suddenly rang.

"Excuse me, I need to take this call," Jessica said.

The group kept a polite distance from Jessica as she answered the phone.

Audrey was curious about who was calling, but she soon heard Jessica exclaim in shock, "What? Miles got into a fight at school?"

Chapter 372

A few minutes later, Audrey sat in the passenger seat, watching the scenery fly by the window. The dim streetlights cast her reflection on the glass. Her expression was dark, her brows furrowed in anger, giving her the look of a fierce demon.

Alistair was driving and glanced back at her, comforting, "Don't worry. With my parents there, your mom will be fine."

After receiving the call, Jessica had become so emotional that she fainted on the spot.

Fortunately, Francis and Evelyn were there to help get Jessica to the hospital, while they headed to the school to deal with Miles's situation.

Seeing the worry on Audrey's face, Alistair reassured her again, "I've already got someone investigating your brother's situation. Don't worry. I'll make sure the school gives him a fair resolution."

Hearing this, Audrey's face finally softened a little.

Just then, Michael sent over the surveillance footage from the school.

Audrey had never believed that Miles would start a fight without reason, so when she received the footage, she immediately opened it to watch.

A few moments later, she punched the car door in anger, her face darkened with fury. "These bastards, they've gone too far!"

She never imagined that her brother would suffer such brutal bullying at school. They had forced him to drink water from a toilet bowl. 'That's just too much!' she thought.

Audrey could no longer hold back the boiling anger in her chest. She wanted to rush to the school right away and teach those arrogant little thugs a lesson.

'They're just a bunch of students, yet they act so ruthlessly. They're nothing but pieces of shit!' Audrey thought.

Alistair stopped the car on the side of the road, unbuckled his seatbelt, and gently pulled her into his arms.

Alistair gently rubbed her back, his voice soft and calm. "It's okay, don't be mad. I'll stand up for him. I won't let them get away with the bullying."

Nestled in his warm embrace, Audrey listened to his soothing, magical voice. Slowly, her emotions settled.

She was touched by Alistair's thoughtfulness, but she understood Miles even more. The young boy was sensitive and proud and certainly didn't want to meet Alistair for the first time under such circumstances.

Thinking of this, Audrey took Alistair's hand and said softly, "After you drop me off at the school, wait outside. It's better if I handle this myself."

Alistair looked uneasy. "But..."

Audrey cut him off firmly, "Trust me, I'll take care of it."

Seeing her insistence, Alistair reluctantly agreed. 'After all, if she can't solve it, I can still be there to back her up,' he thought.

Inside the Student Affairs Office at Talaris High School, the parents of the two troublemakers had already arrived and were putting pressure on the dean, Jasper.

Lucas's mom was dressed in a

designer dress, carrying an

expensive handbag, with heavy makeup and an imposing presence. As soon as she walked in, she

started yelling at Jasper,

"Mr

Ashford, I donate so much money to

this school every year.

"I don't expect you to make my son outstanding, but at least don't let him get bullied. You need to give me an explanation for what happened today, or I won't let it go."

Jasper's face stiffened slightly. He couldn't say that Lucas had started the fight, which then escalated into a brawl.

After all, even though the Blackwell

family wasn't prestigious in

Riverdale, they were still wealthy and influential, donating money to the

schook every year. They were like the school's benefactors, so Jasper couldn't afford to offend them.

Although Maxwell's mom didn't say anything, she took out her phone upon entering and directly called someone from the Ministry of Education.

Jasper felt a wave of anxiety as he listened to her make the call, worried that he might lose his job. He quickly stepped in to smooth things over "Ma'am, please don't escalate this to the Ministry of Education. It's not that serious."

Maxwell's mom hung up the phone, her voice cold. "I was just checking in with my uncle at the Ministry of Education. If you don't give me a satisfactory resolution, I'll have someone teach you how to handle this."

Jasper's head throbbed with stress. He forced an ingratiating smile and said, "Please, don't be angry. I will definitely handle this matter well and make sure your children aren't wronged. The resolution will meet your expectations."

Jasper couldn't afford to offend these two, let alone Nathan. Nathan's father was the largest shareholder of the school. If Jasper wanted to keep his job, he couldn't punish his son.

No matter how the conflict started, this time, Jasper would blame everything on Miles. 'After all, he's just a kid from an ordinary family. How dare he offend these rich kids?' Jasper thought.

Chapter 373

Thinking this, Jasper shot Miles a glare, then slammed his hand on the table, scolding, "Miles, do you realize your mistake?"

Miles bit his lip hard, his tone filled with stubbornness. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

'There's nothing wrong with me fighting back when others attack me for no reason. Am I just supposed to stand here and take the beating? That doesn't make sense,' Miles thought.

Looking at Miles, who was covered in bruises but still refused to admit his mistake, Jasper's anger only flared up even more.

"Stubborn as a mule, I really think you're hopeless." He angrily pointed at Miles's nose and scolded, "Not only are your grades terrible, but now you can't even behave properly."

Miles gritted his teeth, deciding not to argue back.

Jasper grew more agitated and eventually threatened, "Listen up, if you don't apologize to these three students and get their forgiveness, convincing them not to pursue this further, there will be no place for you in this school."

There was no other way. He couldn't afford to offend the other three families. The only way to calm them down was to sacrifice Miles. Only by doing this could he keep his job.

"You're expelling me?" Miles asked in disbelief, clenching his fists like a lone, cornered animal, and argued, "They provoked me first, and I was just defending myself. Why should I apologize? I won't accept it!"

'Even if I have to, they should apologize to me as well. Why am I the only one being held responsible? This isn't fair,' Miles thought.

"Why?" Nathan, whose eyes had been swollen from the beating, sneered arrogantly and said nonchalantly, "Because I'm the son of a school board member. In this school, if I want, anyone can be expelled."

Hearing this, Miles slumped his shoulders in frustration. He gritted his teeth and muttered in confusion, "I've never done anything to offend you. Why are you targeting me?"

Suppressing his jealousy, Nathan lowered his voice and leaned in close to his ear, saying," Blame yourself for not knowing your place. You shouldn't have taken the girl I like!"

Hearing this, Miles looked even more puzzled. 'Recently, I've been focused entirely on my studies. When did I ever try to take the girl he likes?' he wondered.

"I don't understand what you're talking about," Miles replied.

Seeing Miles's innocent expression, Nathan's face grew darker.

Nathan ran his fingers through his blonde hair, then coldly said, "Miles, be a man

and own up to your actions. Don't pretend you know nothing!"

Miles was speechless. 'Pretending what?' he wondered.

Seeing him look like an innocent little lamb, Nathan felt even more disgusted. He patted Miles's cheek and said expectantly, "If you don't

want to be expelled, give me mylin

goddess's contact information and promise never to flirt with her again."

Miles frowned, looking confused. 'I don't even know who Nathan's "goddess" is, so how could I possibly have her contact information?' he wondered.

Seeing that Miles kept playing dumb, Nathan's patience was quickly running out.

Nathan snorted coldly and blatantly threatened, "I've warned you. But if you don't do as I say, I can have you expelled for theft and fighting.

"And I can guarantee no school will take you after that. With exams coming up, you wouldn't want to ruin your future, right?"

Miles glared at him angrily. 'The so-called theft is just their deliberate framing, and the fight was started by them as well. It's not my fault, yet now I'm being threatened,' he thought.

Facing such a scoundrel left Miles

feeling completely helpless. He didn't want to just give in, so he shot

back, "If you like her, then go after her openly. Don't play these Cheap tricks with me!"

Nathan didn't expect Miles to speak to him like that. For a moment, he was stunned.

Miles continued, "Or maybe you don't even have the courage to pursue her? If I were that girl, I'd never like someone like you."

Nathan was instantly enraged. He grabbed Miles by the collar and snarled, "You piece of trash, how dare you look down on me?"

The others in the office witnessed the scene but made no move to intervene.

Miles grabbed Nathan's hand and coldly said, "Let go!"

Nathan only tightened his grip, growling, "Who do you think you are? Your dad's just an Uber driver, and your mom's a sickly wreck. You're

going to mess with me? A10

afraid I'll do something to them?"

Bang! Miles didn't give Nathan a chance to finish his threat and threw a punch

straight to his face.

"Ah!" Nathan screamed in pain as the blow landed.

The others in the office were startled and rushed over immediately.

Miles shook off Jasper, who was trying to hold him back, his eyes filled with uncontainable rage. He would never allow anyone to insult his family.

At Nathan's startled cry, Miles raised his fist again. Just as his punch was about to land on Nathan's face, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and grabbed Miles's arm.

Chapter 374

The moment Audrey pushed the door open and stormed in, a beam of light from outside shone through the door and landed right on her.

She had changed into a comfortable, casual outfit but still had her stage makeup on. Her well-groomed hair gently brushed against her cheek in the light breeze. At that moment, she looked like an enchanting fairy princess straight out of a

fairytale.

Everyone's gaze instinctively fell on her, mesmerized by her beauty.

Upon seeing his sister, Miles was stunned for a moment. After that, the anger in

his chest and the clenched fists quickly dissipated. He lowered his gaze, like a puppy that had been wronged.

Nathan immediately recognized the girl before him as the goddess he had been searching for all week.

His eyes lit up, and without thinking about why his goddess was helping Miles, he eagerly approached Audrey with a submissive smile and greeted her, "Hey, beautiful. We meet again."

Unfortunately, Audrey didn't even spare him a glance. She was fully focused on Miles, her gaze sweeping past the bruises on his face.

A flash of coldness passed through her eyes as she asked in a low, serious voice, "Was it them who cornered you in the restroom and broke your phone?"

Seeing his sister stand up for him immediately, a warm feeling spread in Miles's chest, and he nodded obediently.

After getting a confirmed answer, Audrey finally turned her cold gaze toward Nathan and asked in a low voice, "What did he do to offend you?" Her voice carried an innate sense of authority, honed by years of holding power.

Seeing that she was here to defend Miles, Nathan's jealousy quickly morphed into unbridled anger. With a calm expression, he said, "Beautiful, I didn't bully him for no reason. He stole from me first."

Nathan pointed at Miles's nose, getting more worked up as he spoke. "His family's so poor, and all he's learned is to resort to stealing and shady tricks. You'd better stay away from this kind of person."

Miles immediately shot back, "I didn't steal anything, stop making up lies."

"Still denying it?" Nathan scoffed, crossing his arms confidently. "Do you dare let us search your backpack?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Miles said, tossing his backpack at Nathan.

He believed he had nothing to hide and wasn't afraid of being searched. But the next moment, he watched as Nathan pulled an expensive watch out of his backpack.

Nathan spun the watch around on his finger, then looked at the pale-faced Miles with a smug grin. "Caught red-handed. How do you explain this?"

Miles was stunned for a moment, his mind blank as he said in disbelief, "That's impossible. I've never seen that watch before. I didn't steal it."

"If you didn't steal it, then why is it in your bag?" Nathan sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. "You've got quite the eye, going straight for the most expensive one I own.

"This watch is worth over ten hundred thousand. If I report this to the police, you're definitely going to jail."

Miles's expression changed slightly, but he forced himself to remain calm and said confidently, "I didn't steal it. There's no way my

fingerprints are on that watch

You're setting me up, and I'm not afraid of you, even if you call the cops."

"Are you sure about that?" Nathan's grin widened. "Didn't you hand in a watch you found in the hallway to the teacher yesterday? And now you can't recognize it?"

Miles's pupils constricted. He did

find a watch yesterday, but he hadn't looked closely before handing it over to the teacher. He never expected this was part of Nathan's plan.

Nathan continued smugly, "First, you found my watch and pretended to be honest by turning it in to the teacher.

"Then, when you heard me talking about the price of the watch, you got greedy and stole it to keep for yourself. The evidence is clear. What else do you have to argue about?"

Miles was so angry he almost blew up. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Nathan, what do you really want?"

"What do I want?" Nathan said, putting on a mysterious look, then drawled, "If you get your little beauty to beg me for mercy, I might let you off the hook."

Chapter 375

Miles' face darkened even more as he fought to suppress the urge to punch

Nathan. 'Damn it! How dare this sleazebag look at my sister with those disgusting eyes?' he thought.

Nathan didn't feel the slightest bit of Miles' anger. Instead, he stared eagerly at Audrey.

He thought that after making this concession, Audrey would see him differently. Little did he know, the next moment, Audrey took the watch from his hand and asked in a low voice, "Did you hit him just because of this lousy watch?"

'My goddess finally spoke to me. She even touched my watch,' Nathan thought. He decided to cherish the watch forever.

Nathan was thrilled, excitedly responding to Audrey, "Well, it's not just about the watch..."

Bang! With a loud crash, the expensive watch worth over ten hundred thousand was slammed onto the ground by Audrey, shattering into pieces.

The watch broke into pieces at Nathan's feet, and he was so stunned by the fierce expression Audrey had when she smashed the watch that he stood frozen in place.

Everyone else in the office was also stunned by the scene, all of them staring at Audrey in shock.

After a long pause, Nathan finally came to his senses. He let out a loud cry, bending down to pick up the shattered pieces of his watch, wailing, "Ah, my watch..."

'This is a new watch, and I've barely worn it since buying it. But now it's destroyed!' Nathan thought.

Jasper was very displeased with Audrey's behavior, as it only escalated the conflict instead of resolving anything.

He slapped the table and stood up. "Who do you think you are? Do you think you can stand up for Miles? And you dare to smash someone's expensive belongings? You think you can just do whatever you want?"

Before Miles could say anything, Lucas, who had been silent for a while, suddenly shouted, "Mr. Ashford, this woman is Miles' girlfriend. Miles is dating."

Jasper's eyes widened in shock. He had always been strongly opposed to students dating and had kept a strict eye on it. He never expected that Miles would dare to break the rules.

Jasper was immediately furious, pointing at Miles's face and yelling without asking for clarification, "Miles, what do you take this school for?

"You not only steal and fight, but when I told you to notify your parents to the school, you actually bring your girlfriend here. Did you take my words seriously? Do you even care about the school rules?"

Hearing this, Miles understood

everything. So that's what Nathan

meant earlier. He misunderstood my relationship with my sister, thinking she's my girlfriend. That's why he's been going out of his way to pick on me, he thought.

After realizing this, Miles became even angrier. He didn't care about being misunderstood by others, but he couldn't tolerate the thought of someone like that thinking about his sister. What the hell is he? How dare he covet my sister?' he thought.

Miles found Nathan repulsive, and now, seeing Jasper defend him, he couldn't stand Jasper either.

To make things worse, Jasper kept lecturing Miles incessantly, putting on a high- and-mighty attitude. "At such a young age, you're not focusing on your studies, just wasting time with someone from the streets.

"Look at her—she's made up like a ghost, clearly not a decent girl. How are you supposed to get into university if you're with her? Do you even think about your parents who've worked so hard to support your education?"

Miles couldn't take it any longer. He snapped, "Mr. Ashford, have you said enough?"

Jasper was speechless. 'What's wrong with this brat? How dare he talk to me like that?' he wondered.

Miles looked at him coldly, his expression blank. "Mr. Ashford, I've always respected you, but please watch your tone.

"I know my parents work hard to support my education, but I haven't stolen or hurt anyone to disappoint them.

"Yet you, allowing others to slander me and spreading false accusations without getting the facts. Don't you think you're unfit to be the head of this department?"

Upon hearing this, Jasper was completely stunned. He hadn't expected Miles, who seemed so easy to control, to openly defy him. 'This is outrageous! As director of student affairs, I'll never tolerate my authority being challenged, he thought.

Jasper sneered, his anger boiling as he shouted, "Fine, since you think I'm

unqualified, I hereby announce that you're expelled. Get out now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the office door was pushed open again from the

outside. "Jasper, who gave you the right to expel a student at will?"

Chapter 376

Bang! The person who entered seemed to be filled with intense anger, slamming the door against the wall with heavy force, which instantly drew everyone's attention.

It was Leo Harrington, who had just been promoted to principal a few days ago. He walked in with a stern face, his hands clasped behind his back, and glared darkly at Jasper.

"Mr. Harrington..." Jasper's expression changed slightly as he said awkwardly, "Why are you here in person? It's just a minor issue. I'll handle it right away."

Leo shot him a cold glance and ruthlessly exposed him, "Your 'solution' is to push an innocent student out to take the fall, isn't it?"

Leo's forehead broke into a cold sweat as he met Leo's sharp, icy gaze. He felt completely humiliated. In a panic, he quickly shifted all the blame onto Miles, speaking indignantly, "Mr. Harrington, I'm doing this to protect the school's reputation."

"Miles is just too hard to control," Leo continued. "Not only does he get into fights, but he even dares to openly defy teachers in front of everyone. Keeping someone like that in school is like nurturing a disease-they'll just corrupt the good students."

Seeing that Leo remained silent, Jasper added fuel to the fire, continuing, "With the SAT coming up soon, Miles is already a lost cause.

"But now he's brought his girlfriend to school, ruining the atmosphere here. If we don't expel him to set an example, other students might follow suit."

Leo's gaze darkened slightly as he turned to look at Miles, asking, "Are you really dating someone and bringing her to school?"

"I didn't..." Miles was about to explain.

"It's her!" Jasper interrupted, pointing at Audrey, his voice filled with aggression. "Mr. Harrington, Miles is dating her."

Leo looked at Audrey. Although she was wearing makeup, he immediately recognized her.

Seeing the certainty in Jasper's expression, Leo couldn't hold back and slapped him on the head, saying, "Dating my ass! She's his sister!

"Are you out of your mind? You can't even tell this apart. How are you supposed to be the director of student affairs?"

Hearing this, both Jasper and Nathan were stunned.

Even Lucas, who had been the first to say that Audrey was Miles' girlfriend, was frozen in shock. He stared at Nathan in disbelief, asking for confirmation, "Dude, didn't you say they..."

"Shut up!" Nathan snapped, his face flushed with embarrassment.

He never imagined that the so-called love rival he had been worried about turned out to be his future

brother-in-law. And he had even brought people to beat him up. This grudge is definitely set in stone,' he thought.

Regret flooded Nathan's mind, and he quickly turned to Miles, apologizing, "Bro...

no, I mean, Miles, this is all a misunderstanding."

Audrey gave a cold laugh and asked,

"What misunderstanding? Are you talking about when you framed my

brother for stealing? Or when you pushed him into a cesspit and forced him to drink the filthy water?"

As she spoke, her voice trembled with anger, her eyes filled with a chilling

coldness that sent a shiver through the room.

Nathan didn't expect Audrey to know all the details, and his expression changed.

He tried to argue, "I really didn't frame him for stealing. He actually took it."

Audrey didn't bother listening to his nonsense. Instead, she took out her phone and handed over the surveillance footage to Leo.

The footage clearly showed how Nathan had placed the watch into Miles' bag and

how he had forced Miles' head down, pressing him into the filthy water.

Leo was absolutely furious when he saw the footage. "This is the worst

case of school bullying I've ever seen in my career. Don't worry, I'll handle this seriously and make sure your brother gets justice."

 

Chapter 377

As soon as Leo said he would handle the matter seriously, Lucas and Maxwell's mothers panicked.

At first, they had been acting tough and intimidating, assuming their sons hadn't done anything wrong. But now that the surveillance footage had been pulled up, it was clear their sons had indeed been involved in the fight.

They wondered, 'How can we defend our sons?'

Lucas's mother quickly shifted her focus and said eagerly to Leo, "Mr. Harrington, it's really not Lucas's fault. He's just a loyal friend who got misled by his so-called good buddy. Please be lenient this time and give him another chance."

Maxwell's mother wasn't willing to back down either. She quickly chimed in, "That's right, Mr. Harrington. Please give the kids another chance. Maxwell has always been the best-behaved.

"In his three years at school, he's never caused any major trouble. This was just an exception. If you could go easy on him, I promise I'll make sure he learns from this."

The two women had completely lost their previous arrogance. They both knew Leo's temperament well and understood that he was famous for being strict and impartial.

Moreover, Leo had a powerful mentor backing him, someone with an

extraordinary position in the education field. No one would dare question his decisions.

If Lucas and Maxwell were really expelled by Leo, it was likely that no other reputable high school in Riverdale would accept them.

Thinking of this, Lucas's mother broke into a cold sweat and continued pleading, "Mr. Harrington, please be lenient."

Leo snorted coldly. "If I hadn't come today, Miles would have been expelled because of the pressure you placed on Jasper.

"Since you know that making a big fuss would ruin the students' futures, why did you just now pressure Miles so aggressively?"

The more Leo spoke, the angrier he became. Disappointment filled his voice as he asked, "Do you think only your children's futures matter? Is the future of other kids just a joke to you?"

His words left the two mothers speechless. They couldn't argue with Leo, so they could only turn their anger toward their own children.

For a moment, the office was filled with Lucas and Maxwell's pleas for mercy. The two were beaten and had nowhere to turn, so they could only ask Nathan for help.

"Nathan, please help us!" one of the boys pleaded.

"Nathan, you have to plead for us!" the other boy said.

Seeing his friends in trouble, Nathan also felt his pride wounded.

But he also felt a bit intimidated by Leo. After a long internal struggle, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Mr. Harrington, please let my two buddies off for my sake."

Leo found his street-smart talk amusing. 'For your sake? A young brat trying to act tough?' he thought.

Seeing that Leo wasn't swayed, Nathan had no choice but to bring up his father, trying to intimidate Leo by saying, "My dad is a school board member. If you don't listen to me, believe it or not, I can have him get you fired..."

Before Nathan could even finish his threat, he felt a hard slap across his face.

"Let me fix you, you ungrateful little brat!" Xander shouted.

The slap sent Nathan stumbling back, and he fell to the floor with a loud thud. As he regained his senses and looked up, he came face-to-face with his father's furious, dark expression.

Nathan's father, Xander, had once been involved in shady dealings, running errands for his boss in all sorts of conditions. Over the years, his face had become quite tanned from the constant sun exposure.

Although things had improved in recent years and he was now a CEO, he hadn't abandoned his intimidating appearance. His stern expression had a way of making anyone who saw him feel uneasy.

Before Nathan could even process why his father had shown up, a dark shadow loomed over him.

This time, it wasn't just a slap. His father delivered a harsh kick straight to his stomach. The impact was so painful that Nathan immediately spat out a mouthful of bile, too winded to even beg for mercy.

Crying out in pain and clutching his stomach, Nathan's mind was in a fog. He couldn't understand why his usually indulgent father would suddenly go so hard on him. The force of the kick felt like it could have killed him right there.

Xander seemed ready to continue the punishment, but fortunately,

Jasper, who had regained his composure, stepped in and stopped him. "Mr. Caldwell, discipline isn't just about physical punishment. Don't act impulsively."

Xander calmed down and completely ignored Nathan, who was writhing on the floor, and walked toward Audrey instead.

Miles thought Xander was about to attack, so he immediately stepped forward to shield his sister.

Xander's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly took a step back, putting some distance between himself and the siblings. He then smiled and said, "I'm sorry, Ms. Rhodes.

"This is all my son's fault. I've failed as a father, which caused harm to your brother. Please don't hold it against us, and I hope you'll be magnanimous and let this go."

Such politeness, even laced with flattery, left everyone present dumbfounded.

Chapter 378

Chapter 378

Others couldn't understand why Xander was being so respectful to Audrey.

But seeing Xander's humble demeanor, Audrey knew it was Alistair backing her

up from behind the scenes. Alistair's thoughtfulness moved her.

She kept a straight face and said to Xander, "The person you should be apologizing to isn't me; it's Miles. He's the true victim here."

Xander nodded, then turned to Nathan and started yelling at him. With a firm attitude, Xander ordered, "You little brat, hurry up and apologize to your classmate here."

Nathan bit his lip, feeling humiliated. Even though Miles would be his future brother-in-law, making him apologize in public was still a blow to his reputation as the top dog at Talaris High School.

Reluctantly, Nathan said, "Dad, why should I apologize? I was the one who got beaten up the worst. If anyone should apologize, it's Miles to me."

Xander was trembling with anger. He couldn't believe Nathan was so oblivious to the situation, still failing to realize his mistakes.

In a rage, Xander slapped Nathan again. He threatened, "If you don't apologize properly, I won't acknowledge you as my son. I'll have your mother send you abroad tomorrow, and you can take care of yourself over there."

Xander thought, 'Nathan's just a good-for-nothing son, anyway. I can always have another kid. I can't let this brat ruin the future of the whole family.'

Nathan was utterly stunned. It only dawned on him now that Xander was serious.

Once he was sent abroad, with no money and no acquaintances, he'd never again hold the power he did at Talaris High School. He might even end up dead abroad without anyone ever knowing.

Realizing this, even though he was still unwilling, Nathan apologized to Miles, "I'm sorry." Even though he spoke, he couldn't get past the mental barrier; his voice was as soft as a whisper, and it was obvious that he wasn't sincere.

"I don't accept your apology," Miles said, looking at Nathan coldly.

Nathan was taken aback. Deep down, he still thought Miles was just a poor kid. He thought, 'How dare he refuse my apology?' He burst out, "How ungrateful of you..."

Audrey snorted, interrupting Nathan, "An apology doesn't undo the damage. Besides, you haven't even recognized your mistake. Maybe I should have the law send you to juvie as a lesson."

"No, no, no, that's not going to work," Xander panicked when he heard that and quickly said, "Ms. Rhodes, please don't be upset. I'll have Nathan publicly apologize to Miles, and we are willing to cover alt of Miles's medical bills.

"If you agree to a private settlement, we'll do whatever you ask."

Xander could disown Nathan as a son but couldn't accept Nathan going to juvie. Otherwise, he'd never be able to face his relatives, friends, and business partners again.

Audrey didn't really want to push things too far. Seeing Xander's sincerity, she decided to go along and said, "Your son also broke the phone I bought for Miles."

Hearing this, Xander, being smart, knew that Audrey agreed to a private settlement, He quickly said, "I'm willing to cover the medical expenses and pay for the broken phone at full price. Ms. Rhodes, name your price."

He did want to throw money at Audrey, but when he considered the people backing her, he immediately dropped the idea. After all, even if he put all his money into it, they wouldn't care-they might not even give it a look.

Nathan wasn't too happy when he heard what Xander said. He thought Xander's money was essentially his money. He looked reluctant and said, "Dad, she just smashed my watch.

"That's the new watch Mom bought me, worth over 100 thousand. I barely wore it. Shouldn't they pay me back for that too?"

Xander's expression changed a little. He wondered what this was about a watch, and he felt bad.

Sure enough, the next second, Audrey's face darkened as she said coldly, "If you hadn't mentioned the watch, I almost forgot about it."

She gazed at Nathan with cold indifference and said each word clearly, "I haven't even settled the score with you for framing Miles."

 

Chapter 379

Nathan thought Audrey was being unreasonable and snapped, "Are you coming after me? You even smashed my watch."

Audrey chuckled softly and said calmly, "I can reimburse you the full price for the watch, but you insulted Miles's character and caused him significant emotional trauma. That's not something money can fix."

Upon hearing this, Xander's dark face visibly turned a few shades lighter.

Nathan remained defiant and tried to retort, "What character? It's a joke. Ouch!" Before he could finish his sentence, Xander smacked him hard on his head.

Xander shouted, "You brat, shut your mouth!" He was utterly disappointed with Nathan, wishing he could send Nathan back to his mother to be remade from scratch.

After getting hit, Nathan finally quieted down a little, though he still looked unconvinced.

Xander couldn't be bothered with Nathan anymore. He turned to Audrey. His voice trembled with pleas as he said, "Ms. Rhodes, it's my naive son who's at fault. I'm apologizing on his behalf. Please, could you overlook this?"

Audrey looked at him calmly, not responding.

Xander knew very well that Audrey was deliberately being difficult. But since Nathan had been in the wrong first, he didn't have the nerve to act unreasonably with Audrey.

He could only lower his stance further and say, "Ms. Rhodes, if you agree not to send Nathan to juvie, I can arrange for him to drop out of school to ensure Miles never sees him again.

"And we'll compensate you ten times for all your losses." Though the thought of money made him wince a bit, if spending it would settle the matter, it was entirely worth it. Otherwise, he couldn't imagine the terrible retribution that might follow.

Finally, Audrey looked satisfied and said leisurely, "A cellphone isn't worth much; however, I had collected study materials in it. Right now, it's the critical period for the SATS, and this loss can't easily be measured in money."

Xander heard the implication in her words. After some thought, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly said, "Delaying Miles's studies is our fault. How about this? I'll offer 200 thousand dollars. FindNovel

"That should be enough to hire a great tutor for Miles. What do you think?"

Audrey nodded slightly and said, "Since you are so sincere, I'll accept it on behalf of Miles."

Afraid Audrey might change her mind, Xander immediately took out his phone to transfer the money.to her. Worried that Nathan might say something foolish, Xander quickly dragged Nathan away.

As soon as Xander left, the atmosphere in the office became a bit awkward.

Although Lucas and Maxwell's moms didn't know Audrey's identity, seeing how even Xander had to please her, they felt uneasy.

Fearing that Audrey might hold them responsible, both moms admitted their children's mistakes, and each offered a compensation of 60 thousand dollars.

Audrey accepted it all, planning to use it for Miles' college expenses.

Once the parents took their kids and left, the office quickly quieted down to just four people.

Jasper, feeling uneasy and losing his previous arrogance, desperately hoped Audrey wouldn't target him. He had no money to compensate.

Leo, who initially wanted to support Audrey, felt a bit downcast. But he was more curious about who was helping Audrey and casually probed for information. Audrey brushed it off.

Leo understood her message and stopped asking questions. Instead, he gave Jasper a stern lecture, stripped him of his position as the head teacher, and made him write a self-reflection.

Jasper felt wronged but also relieved. At least he wasn't fired, and he didn't have

to pay damages. This incident taught him a lesson; he wouldn't dare mistreat students again.

Chapter 380

After settling these matters, Audrey took Miles to the clinic for medicine. She

originally planned to take Miles for a complete check-up at the hospital. But Miles insisted he was fine, saying it was just minor injuries.

There was only one doctor on duty in the clinic.

Miles sat quietly in the chair as the doctor treated his wounds. His gaze, however, went through the glass and rested on Audrey beside him. He was a bit curious about why Xander seemed so afraid of Audrey.

He knew Audrey was the CEO of Rhodes Enterprises, but Xander was said to be a significant figure with influence everywhere. Why would he fear her?

As Miles considered it, his mind began to wander, and he even started to suspect that Audrey might be like characters in movies-a CEO by day and the leader of a secret organization by night.

Before long, Miles had finished his treatment. The doctor reminded him to keep the wound dry and return daily to change the dressing. Miles noted everything down.

After they walked out of the clinic, Audrey patted Miles on the shoulder and said, "Now that Nathan has transferred to another school, no one should dare to bully you anymore. But if any foolish people try, find me, and I'll help you."

Before Miles could agree, Audrey continued, "Mom was so stressed about what happened to you that she fainted. She's still in the hospital, so if anything happens, call me."

Hearing this, Miles felt really guilty and said gloomily, "It's my fault again, making Mom and Dad worry about me. Audrey, can I go with you to visit Mom in the hospital?"

Audrey didn't agree. She said, "You have classes tomorrow, and the back-and- forth might mess up your sleep. Trevor and Dad are at the hospital, so just focus on your studies."

With the upcoming SATS, Miles didn't want to fall behind in his studies. He agreed and added, "Alright then, as soon as Mom wakes up, tell her I'm fine now, and there's nothing to worry about."

Audrey replied, "Okay." Seeing his pitiful look, Audrey couldn't help but ruffle his hair and said with a smile, "It's getting late. Head back to the dorm and get some rest."

Miles said, "Alright, I'm heading back now, Audrey." He waved to Audrey and turned to walk towards his dorm.

Audrey watched Miles walk away, and only when he was out of sight did she turn to leave. She planned to go to the hospital to check on Jessica. The next moment, she got a call from Peter before even reaching the school gate.

As soon as Audrey answered Peter's call, she couldn't wait to ask, "Dad, how's Mom doing?"

Peter said slowly, "I'm calling to let you know that your mom just fainted because she got too worked up. It's not a real illness. She's fine now, so don't worry too much. Have you sorted out the issue with Miles?"

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Relieved, Audrey replied, "Yeah, I just left school. Miles just had a

misunderstanding with some classmates. You know how boys can be energetic,

but they've sorted it out now, no harm done."

She was worried her parents might not be able to handle the full truth about

Miles's bullying, so she didn't tell them everything.

Hearing this, Peter felt relieved and sighed, "As long as everything's okay. I'm glad it was just a false alarm."

Then he added, "By the way, your mom mentioned you've been busy all day and must be tired. Just go home and rest, no need to visit her now."

"But how can I not? I won't feel at ease if I don't see her," Audrey responded anxiously.

"Audrey, I'm really alright," said

Jessica, who had taken the phone. She firmly insisted, "You've already had a busy day with your performance, so stop going back and forth, and just go home and rest with Alistair."

She was still feeling weak and took a breath before continuing, "I need to thank Alistair's parents today. They stayed with me at the hospital for a long time and only took Sunny home after I woke up.

"We'll have to invite them for dinner sometime to show our gratitude properly."

Audrey smiled gently and softly said, "Mom, we're all family, so there's no need for thanks, but having a meal together sounds great. I'll arrange it."

Jessica laughed and said, "Alright, as long as you have it figured out."

Soon, the phone was back in Peter's hands.

Just when Audrey thought Peter was about to hang up, she heard him quietly ask, "Audrey, be honest with me. Are Alistair's parents more than they seem?"