Chapter 135
Everyone looked at each other, speechless. No one dared go up to Hamish to collect the transfer forms.
The whole “student transfer” thing was just a tactic to pressure Shoneport University into punishing the so–called killer. No one actually wanted to transfer their kid out. Getting into Shoneport University was already a monumental feat. No one would willingly give that up.
But since no one moved, Hamish, ever so “considerate,” walked over himself and shoved the transfer forms into their hands.
While everyone had been busy “debating” just now, Brandon had quickly compiled a list of all the students whose parents were present, especially those who had stirred the pot the most. Today, they needed an example.
“Parent of Riley Guerra, here, this is your child’s transfer form. Take it.”
“Parent of Kacper Barry, this one’s yours. Hold on to it.”
“Parent of Dhruv Bush, come, come, your child’s transfer form. Don’t lose it.”
Hamish forcefully placed the three forms into their hands. These were the very parents who’d been the most vocal just moments ago.
The three parents were dumbfounded.
They never truly wanted their kids to transfer. They were just venting in anger.
They had never seen a school hand out transfer forms this readily.
Hamish gave them no chance to plead. Waving the thick stack of forms in his hand, he turned to the rest, “Anyone else want to transfer? Come get your form. Don’t be shy. Mr. Goodwin is being generous today. Whoever wants one, we’ve got plenty.”
Hamish’s move to make an example out of a few parents worked perfectly. Now that everything was laid bare, if anyone still couldn’t see the trick behind all this, they’d have to be idiots.
7
“Mr. Goodwin, I just remembered something urgent at home. Since this was all a misunderstanding, let’s handle things according to school regulations. I… I’ll take my leave now.” A middle–aged woman began inching nervously toward the door, forcing a smile as she went.
Frank stood there, arms folded, totally entertained by the drama. When he noticed someone edging his way, he casually stretched out his long leg and blocked the doorway right on cue. No one was getting past him.
“Old lady, don’t rush off now. Ashton hasn’t spoken yet,” he teased, deliberately calling her “old lady.”
The woman didn’t look anything like an “old lady,” but Frank called her that on purpose.
Ashton had said it himself. He never let those close to him suffer injustice. Anyone who slandered Briar wasn’t going to walk out of here easily.
Even being mocked as an “old lady,” the woman didn’t dare show any offense. Everyone in the Wade family was not to be messed with.
Brandon handed a freshly printed list to Ashton, “Mr. Wade, here’s the list of all the students connected to those present.”
Ashton took it and glanced over it quickly. “Looks like the price they were paid wasn’t low enough to risk bankrupting their companies just to go against me?”
With that sentence, the parents all turned pale, and even Marvin’s face changed. “Ashton, what do you mean by that?”
Ashton’s expression was terrifyingly cold. “Don’t you see? These people were pushed forward as pawns. They’re disposable ones, not worth your sympathy.”
Marvin clutched his chest, enraged again. “You’re right, something’s off here. No matter how fast word spreads, it’s impossible to gather this many parents so quickly, not to mention the media already showing up.”
9/2
Chapter 135
“Mr. Wade… we really don’t know anything!”
“Yes, please believe us. We were misled.”
Now they were truly panicking. Only now did they realize they hadn’t just gone after some regular student. They had crossed Ashton.
Their desperate pleas féll flat. Ashton sat still, not even sparing them a glance.
Someone with a quicker brain turned toward Briar, who was seated beside Ashton.
“Briar, please say something for us. We were tricked and manipulated. You’re a student. You must understand how deeply parents care about protecting their children.”
Briar let out a cold laugh, her eyes glinting with a devilish light. “Sorry, but I grew up without parents, so I really can’t relate to your feelings.
Then she turned to Marvin. “Mr. Goodwin, I don’t believe in abusing power. This matter should be handled by the school, in accordance with the rules. Marvin felt both angry and heartbroken. Briar had suffered so much. “Alright, don’t worry. The school will give you a proper resolution.”
He turned to the parents. “Parents, regarding your spreading of fear and false accusations against Briar and others, the school will hold a meeting to determine disciplinary actions. For now, please go home.”
With that, he signaled to Frank to let them leave.
Frank pouted, reluctantly stepping aside. “It’s only because Briar’s kind enough not to pursue charges. Consider yourselves lucky. Now get lost.”
His smug look made everyone speechless.
Lucky? Their companies might be bankrupt by tomorrow.
After the crowd was cleared, Ashton finally spoke. “Mr. Goodwin, this spread too fast. You should first check if someone inside the school leaked the information on purpose.”
There had been too many people earlier for him to speak freely.
Marvin nodded. “I understand. Don’t worry. I’ll find out who stirred this up.”
From the moment he ordered the news suppressed until now, only a few hours had passed. Yet all these parents, even those from outside the city, had managed to show up. That couldn’t be a coincidence. Someone must have leaked it. If it wasn’t the police, the only other possibility was a school insider.
Ashton said, “Alright, then I’ll take Briar home first.”
Briar’s eyes were bloodshot. Whether from rage or hurtful words, Ashton didn’t know, but he needed to get her home and comfort her properly.
“Alright. You all go. Frank, you go with them too.” Seeing Frank smirking mischievously nearby, Marvin quickly shooed him away, worried he’d stir up more trouble.
‘Seriously?‘ Frank thought.
In the end, Frank was dragged along to the Moonspring Estate by Ashton. He was immediately cheerful again.
But Briar didn’t go with them. She said she wanted to rest at home first. Ashton didn’t think too much of it and let her go.
In her bedroom by the window, Briar sat with her laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. On the screen, several surveillance videos quickly appeared…
