Chapter 410

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On the way back , Aria was unusually quiet . Martin could tell she had something on her mind , so he didn’t press her and simply asked the driver to drop her off at Mayen Garden first .
“ Aria , ” Martin said warmly , “ if you ever need anything , anything at all , just let me know . ”
Martin genuinely admired her . She was sharp , unflappable , and carried herself with an easy confidence , yet there was something so clear and honest about her heart .
She’d made her way on her own and still managed to shine . She was born to do big things . Being friends with her was all upside , no risk .
Aria nodded with a grateful smile . “ Thank you , Martin . It
Martin waved , grinning . “ Take care , Aria .”
Meanwhile , back in the Todd School’s side hall , Axton’s face was a mask of rage , finger nearly jabbing i into Finlay’s nose . “ Have you lost your mind in your old age ? Making Culver the head of Todd School – you’re going to run us into the ground ! ”
Finlay was unruffled . “ I’m just following Father’s wishes .”
“ He was confused ! And now you’re confused right along with him ! Culver ? He’s not qualified ! You’d be a better head than him , even Nikolas would be
better ! ”
Axton’s voice wavered , the fight giving way to old pain . “ What does Culver have that makes Maverick like him so much ? ” His eyes glistened .
Finlay’s answer was gentle . “ He’s the same as ever .”
Nikolas watched the exchange , the heaviness in his chest nearly making him speak – but he caught Finlay’s eye and swallowed his words .
Finlay said quietly , “ Father has his reasons . What’s done is done . Stop fighting the new headmaster . ”
Axton scoffed , shaking out his sleeves and stalking toward the door . “ If that’s how it is , I won’t set foot in Todd School ever again ! ”
He stormed off . For a long moment , Finlay just stood there , then sighed deeply and walked back inside .
Nikolas followed him in . Only when they were alone did he speak up . “ Dad , I don’t think Axton’s involved in that business . If he was , he wouldn’t have shown up today or nearly ruined the succession ceremony . ”
“ Should we tell him ? ” he asked .
Finlay shook his head . “ He can’t keep a secret . Better not to . ”
He changed the subject . “ How did it go , testing Aria ? ”
Nikolas’s face turned a bit pink as he recalled the pond – side incident . “ She figured it all out right away .”
He was supposed to be testing her , but Aria hadn’t bothered hiding anything . She just and the medical book . Instead , Nikolas ended up blurting out everything himself .
right out and said she had both the National Doctor’s Seal
Finlay frowned . “ You told her everything ? ”
“ Yeah , ” Nikolas said , a little sheepish . “ She admitted she has the Seal and the book . ”
Finlay was a bit surprised by how frank Aria had been . “ And you didn’t try to get them back ? ”
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Nikolas shook his head . “ Dad , honestly , they’re safer with her . And besides , Grandpa gave them to her – we really have no right to take them
grandfather . God knows how he’s doing ..
Nikolas hesitated . “ Aria asked me for everything we’ve found about the case over the years .”
Finlay went silent , weighing the risks – whether Aria could help without leaking anything . At last , he said , “ Give it to her . We’ve come up empty for years .
Let’s see if she can do better . ”
Nikolas nodded . “ Alright .”
By the time she got home , Aria had received an encrypted file : [ The password is my grandpa’s birthday .]
But Maverick’s birthday was public info . Aria doubted it would be that easy . She typed it in . Password incorrect .
She pulled out her computer and sent six dots to Nikolas .
Nikolas : [ You don’t know my grandpa’s birthday ? ]
Aria : [ Last time I saw him , I was nine . ]
A moment later , Nikolas quietly sent over the correct password . Aria opened the file and scrolled to surveillance footage from that day .
She watched closely : Maverick had still been unconscious , in a Todd family car .
The crash wasn’t serious , but several people were hurt and three ambulances had shown up .
Aria rewound and replayed , then messaged Nikolas : [ Did you look into the ambulances ? ]
Nikolas : [We did . They were legit , all registered to the hospital . ]
The Todd family car was in frame the entire time – except when a huge truck blocked the camera , hiding the back of the car . The feed showed no one entering the area .
Nikolas : [ We checked those two trucks , too . Nothing came up . ]
If nothing was wrong with the trucks , it would mean someone just vanished into thin air . Impossible .
Something felt off . Aria snipped a section of the footage and sent it to Vanessa : Can you check if there’s anything strange with this footage ?
Vanessa was an expert at this , even more so than Aria .
Two hours later , Vanessa texted back : [ That surveillance was doctored . There’s a blackout from 3:52 to 4:07 . Whoever did it is a pro . If I hadn’t done this kind of work before , I’d have missed it . By the way , how’d the trial go ?]
Aria froze , smacking herself on the forehead . She’d been so caught up with the footage , she’d forgotten all about the hearing .
Vanessa : [ Don’t tell me you got so busy with the surveillance that you forgot to show up at court . ]
Aria quickly shut her laptop .
Vanessa : [ Aria , that’s just disrespectful to Hannah . If I were her , I’d be pissed . ]
Aria replied , a little helpless : [ Gotta run . ]
She hurried downstairs and drove to the courthouse , arriving just in time to see Owen and Ramon walking out with a few others . Owen was head – down , texting .
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A moment later , Aria’s phone started buzzing .
Ramon spotted her and called out , “ Ms. Saxon ! ”
Owen looked up , saw Aria , and immediately hung up , walking over . “ All done on your end ? ”
Aria gave a small , tight smile . “ Yeah , I’m finished . ”
Ramon was beaming . “ Hannah’s in custody now . We’re just waiting facing real time . ”
Aaron , who’d also been at court , waved . “ Ms. Saxon ! Long time no
sentencing . It’s not the most serious offense , but she’s racked up enough to be
ee ! ”
Aria smiled . “ It’s been a while . ”
Helen and a few volunteers hurried over . “ Ms. Saxon ! ”
“ Hey , everyone , ” Aria said , her ‘ smile warm . “ You all haven’t eaten , right ? Lunch is on me .”
Ramon was quick to agree .
Owen nodded . “ Alright . ”
The students still had things to handle at school , so they left with the school’s legal staff .
Aria said , “ I’ve got my car . Let’s meet at Amour Bistro . ”
Ramon headed off with the lawyers , Aaron tagging along . “ I’m riding with Ramon ! ”
Aria turned to Owen . “ Let’s go . ”
“ Yeah . ”
“ Owen ! ”
Dexter strode over , eyes dark with anger . “ The sentence you’re recommending is too harsh . If the verdict’s excessive , we’ll appeal . ”
Owen just shrugged . “ Do what you want . ”
Aria let out a soft laugh . “ Didn’t you see the news today ? ”
Dexter scowled , “ What news ? ”
Aria’s smile was razor – sharp . “ Because of that National Doctor’s Seal , Culver’s inherited Todd School . ”
Hannah’s theft charge wasn’t going to carry the maximum penalty , unless that Seal was the reason Culver became head of the school .
Then the stakes were way higher . Three years , minimum . If they appealed , Hannah would only get hit harder .
Aria waved him off , all cheer . “ Go ahead , appeal . I’ll be there in person next time . ”
Her mood was infectious . Owen grinned , too . “ Yeah , I’ll be waiting for Dexter’s appeal day . ”