Chapter 489

Time ticked by, second after second, and not a soul entered the conference room.
Lauren’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.
How naïve can Anastasia be?
All around, the other students watched with barely concealed amusement, waiting
to see Anastasia humiliated. Yet Anastasia herself seemed utterly unbothered. She simply smiled, glanced at her phone, and announced the countdown.
“Three minutes left.”
“One minute.”
“Time’s up.”
Anastasia set her phone down.
Still, no one had shown up. The most update n0vels are published on
Lauren could barely contain her laughter. Her eyes glittered with scorn and smug satisfaction as she glanced at Anastasia, certain she’d won this round.
But Anastasia didn’t spare Lauren a single look. Instead, she waved toward the door.
A moment later, a sharply dressed young man strode in, his suit immaculate, glasses perched on his nose-none other than Hugo, Mr. Lockwood’s assistant.
Unlike Anastasia, Hugo wasn’t a student at Westbridge Medical Institute. He was simply Mr. Lockwood’s right hand a fact that immediately caught everyone’s attention.
Murmurs ran through the room. Why was Hugo here? What was going on? Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, a sense of foreboding washed over her.
Her worst fears were realized in the next instant.
“Hugo, here’s the list of Westbridge’s audit students to be dismissed. Take it, and make sure every single one of them is gone within three days. Not one stays,” Anastasia said crisply.
Without hesitation, Hugo made a copy of the list, handling the matter with his usual efficiency.
The room erupted in chaos.
A moment ago, no one believed
Anastasia’s claims. Who would have thought she had the authority to expel students? But with Hugo here, everything changed. This wasn’t a bluff Anastasia wasn’t just talking big.
Hugo answered only to Mr. Lockwood. His presence meant this was an order from the top. Was Anastasia really about to kick those students out?
“Anastasia!” Lauren shrieked, springing to her feet. “Are you seriously expelling all those people? Do you even know what you’re doing?”
Anastasia’s expression remained serene. “Thanks for your concern, but I know exactly what I’m doing. You don’t need to worry about it.”
She couldn’t be bothered to listen to Lauren’s tirade. “This authority was given to me by the dean. If anyone has a problem, take it up with him.”
She checked the time. “That’s it-meeting adjourned.”
The purpose of today’s meeting had been simple to make it clear to the students of Westbridge who was now in charge. She hadn’t expected Lauren to be so impatient, to walk right into her own trap, practically begging to be put in her place. Well, Anastasia had no intention of showing mercy.
The truth was, Westbridge had far too many audit students-so many, in fact, that they outnumbered the full-time students. But instead of making the most of this opportunity, most of them spent their days plotting and stirring up trouble. Lauren, of course, had always shielded them, turning a blind eye to the chaos and disorder they created. Mr. Lockwood had been growing increasingly dissatisfied with the situation for some time.
Now that Anastasia had replaced Lauren, cleaning up Lauren’s supporters was a necessary first step if she wanted to restore order to Westbridge.
She’d mentioned the audit student problem to Mr. Lockwood in passing, and he’d promptly granted her full authority to dismiss them.
Today, she didn’t just have the power-she had the perfect excuse. Lauren had practically handed her the opportunity on a silver platter.
As Anastasia left the conference room, her spirits soared.
And outside, the real upheaval was only just beginning.