Chapter 8
Upstairs in her room, Briar took a long bath and slipped into a loose, ankle–length nightgown covered in cute cartoon prints.
Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, towel drying her hair, her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp message.
Holding her damp hair over one shoulder, she dried it with one hand while checking her phone with the other.
It was from Ashton. The message was short. [Fill this out.]
Briar raised an eyebrow. She had a feeling she knew what it was. Sure enough, when she opened the attachment, it was an application form for Shoneport University.
She was surprised that he worked so fast.
With her hair nearly dry, she tossed the towel aside and pulled an old, bulky laptop from her suitcase. Sitting at the desk, she opened a folder, copied over her academic records and test scores, and filled out the form.
The whole thing took less than two minutes. She sent it back without a second thought.
Ashton accepted the file in no time, probably just waiting for her to respond.
After a short pause, he sent a brief message: [Got it.]
Then, weirdly, he sent an eye–roll emoji right after.
But as expected of him, he didn’t ask any questions. He simply forwarded Briar’s application straight to Marvin.
Marvin Goodwin–the president of Shoneport University–was from one of Shoneport’s four major families. The Goodwin family carried weight in both politics and business. Their influence was something most upper–class families wouldn’t even dare challenge.
Even the kids from Shoneport’s richest families tread carefully around Marvin, knowing he had the power to make or break their academic futures.
Besides, he was also the most well–liked principal among the upper crust.
However, usually cool and collected, Marvin lost his composure the moment he saw Briar’s application. Less than three minutes later, he.video–called
Ashton.
He looked upset, but still forced a smile when Ashton picked up. “Ashton, who exactly is this girl?”
Just an hour ago, Marvin had been thrilled when Ashton said he’d found a traditional medicine prodigy for the university.
The medical school of Shoneport University was already prestigious, but it had a big gap in traditional medicine. In Dasmieca, traditional medicine wasn’t exactly mainstream–modern medicine was more popular.
But to these century–old elite families, no matter how advanced modern medicine was, it still couldn’t compare to the steady, time–tested ways of traditional medicine.
And then there was the legend: Tristan. The world–renowned doctor who had once saved lives using the Golden Eighty–One Technique–his fame had practically made him a ghost story in elite medical/circles.
As the president of Shoneport University, Marvin had been trying for years to recruit real talent in traditional medicine. So when Ashton said he’d found someone, Marvin had high hopes.
But the moment he saw the application, those hopes crashed.
Briar’s grades were awful–possibly the worst he’d ever seen. Her photo showed a pretty but wild–looking girl who clearly didn’t take things seriously.
1/2
Chapter 8
From Marvin’s years of experience, she didn’t look like someone who had the discipline or patients to study traditional my, dicial to mingue
trouble.
Marvin figured Ashton wasn’t interested in her brains–he probably just thought she was cute,
“She’s the traditional medicine prodigy I told you about,” Ashton said plainly, not at all acknowledging Marvin’s near–breakdown on the video screen.
. I’m just worried this pretty girl might not be able to keep
Marvin tried to keep his cool. “Ashton, you kno
up.”
Shoneport University only takes top students.
Ashton’s eyes narrowed. “Wait a moment. You’re saying you’re rejecting someone I personally recommended, huh?”
Marvin froze at Ashton’s sharp tone. His hand trembled a little as he held his phone. “No, that’s not what I meant. I just think if she stands out too much, she might get picked on.”
Ashton locked his gaze on Marvin, that cocky, sharp
look in
This eyes hinting at just how dangerous he could be.
“Are you saying students at the top university in Dasmieca are out here bullying people, and you can’t even stop it?” He said, “Maybe I’ve been wasting my donation money on your school.”
“No, no! I’ve put every cent of your donations to good use!” Marvin panicked at Ashton’s aggressive, rich–guy pressure and backpedaled fast. “Since you’re the one backing her, I’m sure she’s got something special. Fine, I’ll make an exception and approve her admission.”
Ashton nodded and didn’t let up. “When’s her acceptance letter going out?”
Marvin gritted his teeth but smiled through it. “I’ll have my staff write it up now. We’ll deliver it in the morning. She’ll have it by tomorrow afternoon.”
Ashton thought for a second, then said, “She’s stopping by to see me tomorrow. Just have someone bring it to Wade Mansion.”
Marvin was speechless. At this point, he was convinced Ashton was just taken with a pretty face.
He let out a long sigh. Ashton had too much power in Shoneport to argue with, and now the girl he forced into the school would probably be just as untouchable.
Marvin would have to choose her professors carefully–he didn’t want any blowback if she caused trouble.
Briar had no idea the president of Shoneport University now saw her as just as scary as Ashton.
Later, whenever she stirred up drama on campus, Marvin pushed all the problems onto Ashton. He even gave Ashton a fake librarian title just to keep a eye on her.
But Briar didn’t know any of that. She was lying in bed, trying to calm down a panicked Tristan over video chat. “I get that you’re worried,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “But can you chill out for two seconds?”
Tristan was pacing on the screen, clearly freaking out. “Chill? One of the last brothers I’ve got left is on his deathbed! I should’ve been back in Dasmiec yesterday!”
Briar raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that? Are you not afraid of being hunted down? And I’m guessing none of those bodyguards on your little priva
Trist
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