Chapter 75
Briar had intended to refuse, but upon hearing Ashton’s words and catching sight of the people running toward them from a distance, she relented. “Alright, then. Thanks for offering to take me home, Ashton.”
Having already exposed one identity, Briar didn’t want to draw more attention to herself, so she decided to use Ashton’s influence as a shield
for now.
The smile on Ashton’s lips was irrepressible. “You’re welcome.”
Brandon, walking alongside them, was momentarily stunned. ‘Ashton, you’re grinning like a foot!
The three of them left quickly. By the time the traditional medicine bigwigs arrived, dragging Joshua along in a rush, Ashton had already escorted Briar out of the school gate, across the street, and toward Moonspring Estate.
“Another step too late,” they sighed.
Joshua chuckled and shrugged at the senior experts. “See? I told you she was tired and wanted to rest. We’ll catch up with her when she’s back in class. Let’s go chat with Marvin. He’s the one who personally recruited Briar.”
Joshua wisely passed the hot potato to Marvin. As the principal, it was his responsibility to deal with such matters.
The experts agreed. Briar was a special admittee to Shoneport University, and Marvin had handled her entire recruitment process. He would definitely know more about her situation than Joshua, her mentor.
“Yeah, let’s head to Marvin’s office,” one of them said.
“Theard he’s got some great coffee there. We can have a chat,” another added.
So, the group turned toward Marvin’s office.
However, the door was tightly shut. Marvin had already left.
The senior experts couldn’t help but roll their eyes.
Briar and Ashton walked side by side along the tree–lined path of Moonspring Estate, neither speaking a word. Brandon, sensing the sudden silence between the two, also held his breath and didn’t dare make a sound.
As they passed a small rose garden, they suddenly heard the sound of crying coming from within.
Briar wasn’t the type to meddle in other people’s affairs, and Ashton, with his dark and indifferent nature, had even less compassion. Brandon, of course, would only act if Ashton instructed him to.
“What should I do?” the crying continued, the voice broken and pitiful.
Briar stopped in her tracks. “Ashton, wait for me a moment,” she said, heading toward the rose garden without waiting for a response.
Ashton stood under the shade of a tree, his gaze following Briar until she disappeared into the rose garden and out of sight. Only then did he turn to Brandon and ask, “Have all the messages on the Shoneport University forum been dealt with?”
“All taken care of. However, we kept some traceable IP addresses for Miss Jennings to vent her frustration on,” Brandon replied,
Ashton nodded, took out a cigarette, and Brandon immediately lit it for him. “Compile a list of those who maliciously slandered Briar on the
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Chapter 75
forum, rank them by the severity of their actions, and send a copy to each of their parents in the name of the Wade Group
Brandon’s eyes widened. “Alright, Ashton.”
He thought, ‘In the name of the Wade Group? That’s practically announcing to the world that Miss Jennings has the backing of the Wade family. Could it be that Ashton is genuinely interested in Miss Jennings?
‘But she’s only 18. Can he bear it? But then again, Griffin seems to have a thing for Miss Jennings. If Ashton takes a liking to her, Griffin would probably be the happiest.’
As the last puff of smoke curled around him, Ashton saw Briar emerge from the rose garden with a little girl.
The girl, who looked to be around fifteen or sixteen, had disheveled hair and red, swollen eyes. She clung tightly to Briar’s arm, clearly having been bullied badly.
As they got closer, her sobbing became clearer, accompanied by intermittent complaints. “Briar, they all wronged me. I didn’t cheat.
“I’ve been studying at home with the review materials you gave me, but no one believes me, not even my homeroom teacher.”
Briar held the crying girl, occasionally patting her hand to comfort her. Although Briar didn’t say a word, Ashton and Brandon could sense her anger from a distance. It was palpable and hard to ignore.
‘Who is this little girl? Briar clearly cares about her,’ Ashton thought.
Briar’s delicate features were etched with irritation, but she still patiently explained to Ashton, “This is my friend Ellen. She’s been bullied. I can’t go home yet; I need to take her to school.”
They wondered what she planned to do at school.
From the girl’s earlier words, Ashton had pieced together the general situation. Judging by Briar’s demeanor, it seemed she was about to confront those who had bullied the girl.
Ashton glanced at Brandon. “Which school does Ellen attend? I’ll drive you there.”
Brandon, having received Ashton’s instruction, had already turned to
get the car.
Briar looked at the trembling, crying girl and, after a moment’s thought, didn’t refuse. She gave the name of the school to Ashton. “Shoneport High School.”
Ashton nodded without further questions.
Brandon quickly brought the car over. Ashton personally opened the door for Briar, who got in with Ellen. Ashton took the passenger seat.
Ashton reached into the glove compartment and pulled out two boxes of white chocolate, handing them back.
Briar thanked him, took the chocolates, opened one box, and handed it to Ellen. “Stop crying. I’ll stand up for you. Have some chocolate to calm down.”
In the air–conditioned car, with Briar by her side, Ellen’s uncontrollable emotions finally settled. She wiped her tears, shyly thanked Ashton and Briar, took the chocolate box, and began to eat quietly.
Shoneport High School was located in the southwest corner of Shoneport University, and it took only about ten minutes to cirive there.
This time, Brandon was driving Ashton’s personal vehicle. As soon as their car appeared at the school gate, the security guard recognized it immediately. He called the school leadership while quickly opening the gate. “Is that Mr. Wade?”
Chapter 75
Without a word, Brandon simply rolled down the window, revealing his face behind dark sunglasses.
The four bodyguards accompanying Ashton were like open passes within Shoneport, not to mention Ashton himself
Every major establishment had trained its employees to recognize the prominent figures of Shoneport, and Ashton and his four bodyguards were always a key focus of this training.
So, the security guard immediately recognized Brandon and jogged ahead with a smile, guiding them to the parking lot.
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