Chapter 69

69 Collapse
69 Collapse
Alice didn’t stick around. She turned and walked straight back to the IT department.
Outside the Nolan Group building, Halsey exploded.
“Get away from me! I don’t want any of you following me!”
15 Free Cone
If there was a time machine in this world, he swore–he’d go back to the day he posted that damn X.
He never should’ve claimed Damon as his student.
“Here.”
He pulled out the ink and shoved it into Damon’s hands.
“This was never opened. Consider it returned in full. From now on, you’re no longer my student. Goodbye.”
Panic hit Damon like a punch to the chest.
Everything had been going so smoothly just moments ago.
He’d brought that ink, something he’d practically traded half the Spencer family’s fortune for, and now it was worthless?
While Damon stood there in shock, Halsey didn’t wait–he jumped into his car and took off.
“Damon . ”
Linda’s eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t mean to drag you down. I just wanted to help. I’m so sorry.”
But Damon couldn’t hear her over the noise in his own head. He had just gone from being a favorite student to being publicly kicked out.
How was he supposed to care about anyone else right now?
“Just go home. I need some time alone.”
Linda froze.
He really wasn’t rods to comfort her?
174
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He didn’t care about what happened to her?
For the first time, she felt it–he really might not care anymore
“Damon…
she choked out, wiping her tears. “Are you planning to abandon me?”
Damon’s face darkened.
“Can you stop already?!”
The words hit her like a slap. Her pupils dilated.
He’d just yelled at her.
She had always been the real heiress. She’d been pampered and spoiled her whole life.
No one had ever raised their voice to her, let alone one of her own brothers.
But now, over something so small, not only was he ignoring her–he was shouting.
She broke down and sobbed.
But Damon, already emotionally wrecked, only grew more annoyed by her crying.
“Fine, you won’t leave? I will.”
He flagged down a cab and got in without looking back.
Linda scrambled to catch another cab. She wanted to follow him.
But in the end, she hesitated.
What he said just now was out of anger. He’d still care about her later.
However, there were more urgent things she needed to attend to right now.
She took a deep breath. “Take me to the Spencers residence, she told the driver.
Her cab sped off.
Unbeknownst to her, another cab pulled out from the side and started tailing her.
Back at the design department, victory was sweet.
Reporters rushed to cover the story.
But after a few days of buzz and heated discussion, the hype had mostly died down.
2/4
69 Collapse
So, to keep grabbing clicks, reporters began releasing footage from that day in the design department.
With so many reporters present, there were tons of clips–every detail caught on camera: They were uploaded bit by bit.
And just like that, public opinion took a sharp turn. From angry insults to full–blown cancelation.
Damon had always been arrogant. However, his school is now facing backlash because of the scandal.
Just like that , he was caught in the fallout.
He might even face consequences from the higher–ups.
“Fantastic.” Damon sneered bitterly.
“All that effort and I still screwed it up.
“Was I really wrong?”
He thought of the stark contrast between Alice and Linda. His expression hardened.
“No. I wasn’t wrong-
“She’s still just a count girl.
But he couldn’t even finish the sentence. His voice faded into a hollow laugh.
He’d always trusted his own eyes. His own judgment.
The first time he met, Alice was up in the mountains.
He had climbed all the way up, panting and nearly passing out from exhaustion.
And yet, that girl–small and seemingly fragile–could hike it multiple times a day without breaking a sweat.
Being outdone like that, especially by a woman? He couldn’t accept it.
From that day on, he’d hated her.
Then, when they picked her up later, he’d seen Linda fall inside the car
He’d sensed it even then–Alice was too proud to pull something so low.
3/4
69 Collapse
But when everyone pointed fingers at her, he stayed silent. He even joined in.
He’d convinced himself he was doing the right thing.
So why was there this awful feeling twisting in his chest now? Why couldn’t he shake it?
Was it guilt?
Maybe. But just a little.
No way he’d actually feel sorry for some bumpkin like her.
He closed his eyes, pretending none of it ever happened.
Online, the story exploded. It hit the trending page instantly.
Halsey’s reputation took a nosedive.
Once praised as a national treasure and admired by all.
Now people were asking: how could someone who didn’t even recognize traditional patterns still call himself a professor?
The university didn’t hesitate. They issued a public statement. Halsey’s title was revoked, and his contract was terminated.
Alice didn’t stick around. She turned and walked straight back to the IT department.
Outside the Nolan Group building, Halsey exploded.
“Get away from me! I don’t want any of you following me!”
15 Free Cone
If there was a time machine in this world, he swore-he’d go back to the day he posted that damn X.
He never should’ve claimed Damon as his student.
“Here.”
He pulled out the ink and shoved it into Damon’s hands.
“This was never opened. Consider it returned in full. From now on, you’re no longer my student. Goodbye.”
Panic hit Damon like a punch to the chest.
Everything had been going so smoothly just moments ago.
He’d brought that ink, something he’d practically traded half the Spencer family’s fortune for, and now it was worthless?
While Damon stood there in shock, Halsey didn’t wait-he jumped into his car and took off.
“Damon.”
Linda’s eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t mean to drag you down. I just wanted to help. I’m so sorry.”
But Damon couldn’t hear her over the noise in his own head. He had just gone from being a favorite student to being publicly kicked out.
How was he supposed to care about anyone else right now?
“Just go home. I need some time alone.”
Linda froze.
He really wasn’t rods to comfort her?
174
69 Collapse
He didn’t care about what happened to her?
For the first time, she felt it-he really might not care anymore
“Damon…
she choked out, wiping her tears. “Are you planning to abandon me?”
Damon’s face darkened.
“Can you stop already?!”
The words hit her like a slap. Her pupils dilated.
He’d just yelled at her.
She had always been the real heiress. She’d been pampered and spoiled her whole life.
No one had ever raised their voice to her, let alone one of her own brothers.
But now, over something so small, not only was he ignoring her-he was shouting.
She broke down and sobbed.
But Damon, already emotionally wrecked, only grew more annoyed by her crying.
“Fine, you won’t leave? I will.”
He flagged down a cab and got in without looking back.
Linda scrambled to catch another cab. She wanted to follow him.
But in the end, she hesitated.
What he said just now was out of anger. He’d still care about her later.
However, there were more urgent things she needed to attend to right now.
She took a deep breath. “Take me to the Spencers residence, she told the driver.
Her cab sped off.
Unbeknownst to her, another cab pulled out from the side and started tailing her.
Back at the design department, victory was sweet.
Reporters rushed to cover the story.
But after a few days of buzz and heated discussion, the hype had mostly died down.
2/4
69 Collapse
So, to keep grabbing clicks, reporters began releasing footage from that day in the design department.
With so many reporters present, there were tons of clips-every detail caught on camera: They were uploaded bit by bit.
And just like that, public opinion took a sharp turn. From angry insults to full-blown cancelation.
Damon had always been arrogant. However, his school is now facing backlash because of the scandal.
Just like that, he was caught in the fallout.
He might even face consequences from the higher-ups.
“Fantastic.” Damon sneered bitterly.
“All that effort and I still screwed it up.
“Was I really wrong?”
He thought of the stark contrast between Alice and Linda. His expression hardened.
“No. I wasn’t wrong-
“She’s still just a count girl.
But he couldn’t even finish the sentence. His voice faded into a hollow laugh.
He’d always trusted his own eyes. His own judgment.
The first time he met, Alice was up in the mountains.
He had climbed all the way up, panting and nearly passing out from exhaustion.
And yet, that girl-small and seemingly fragile-could hike it multiple times a day without breaking a sweat.
Being outdone like that, especially by a woman? He couldn’t accept it.
From that day on, he’d hated her.
Then, when they picked her up later, he’d seen Linda fall inside the car
He’d sensed it even then-Alice was too proud to pull something so low.
3/4
69 Collapse
But when everyone pointed fingers at her, he stayed silent. He even joined in.
He’d convinced himself he was doing the right thing.
So why was there this awful feeling twisting in his chest now? Why couldn’t he shake it?
Was it guilt?
Maybe. But just a little.
No way he’d actually feel sorry for some bumpkin like her.
He closed his eyes, pretending none of it ever happened.
Online, the story exploded. It hit the trending page instantly.
Halsey’s reputation took a nosedive.
Once praised as a national treasure and admired by all.
Now people were asking: how could someone who didn’t even recognize traditional patterns still call himself a professor?
The university didn’t hesitate. They issued a public statement. Halsey’s title was revoked, and his contract was terminated.