Chapter 252

Everyone nearby stopped what they were doing, and the crowd around them kept growing.
“What’s going on here? What happened?”
“Oh my God! Why is this lady on her knees?”
The moment Anastasia saw the scene, she knew it-Mary was doing this on purpose.
She was trying to use the crowd’s opinion as leverage.
Strangely, that realization calmed Anastasia down. She leaned back, lips curling in a cold, relaxed smile. “Let you go? What exactly have I done?”
Mary’s tears were pitiful. “My daughter Alice is about to be expelled from Kingsbridge University! And now she’s being thrown out of Rosewood Manor! She worked so hard to get into Kingsbridge, ma’am. How can you ruin her future over a little personal dissatisfaction?”
Alice, getting kicked out of Rosewood Manor and expelled from Kingsbridge University?
Anastasia glanced at the bodyguard beside her.
He leaned in and murmured, “The order to remove her from Rosewood Manor did come from Mr. Harrison Lancaster. As for Kingsbridge University, that’s their own decision.”
Anastasia remembered-back in the hospital room, Harrison had been typing on his phone, probably sending the order right then and there.
So, Alice was finally being shown the door?
That was just delightful.
A genuine smile spread across Anastasia’s lips, making no attempt to hide her satisfaction.
Mary’s eyes flickered with hatred, and she only cried harder for the crowd. Anastasia didn’t budge an inch.
She sneered, “Isn’t this exactly what Alice deserves? Did you really think, after what she’s done, she could just keep living at Rosewood like nothing happened?” Fresh chapters posted on.net
“Just kicking her out is merciful. What more do you want?”
At that, Mary suddenly dropped her head to the ground in a desperate bow. “Please, ma’am, I’m begging you please, I’m on my knees!”
She slammed her forehead down hard, over and over, until blood began to trickle from her brow.
Anastasia’s expression turned ice-cold as she recognized Mary’s malicious intent.
Sure enough, the spectators could no longer stay silent.
“How can you be so heartless, young lady? Can’t you see she’s hurt?”
“Seriously! It’s the modern age, and you’re still making people kneel and beg for forgiveness? Who do you think you are?”
“Tsk, typical rich girl behavior. That poor lady, being humiliated like this!”
Mary had come prepared-her clothes were deliberately plain, almost shabby, while Anastasia was still in her ceremonial dress, her posture and presence anything but ordinary, flanked by a team of bodyguards. The contrast couldn’t have been starker.
The bystanders, knowing nothing of the real story, filled in the blanks with their own assumptions.
With Mary playing the pitiful victim and Anastasia looking aloof and cold, the crowd had no trouble believing they were witnessing some privileged heiress bullying a struggling woman.
“Don’t be afraid, ma’am! Tell us what happened-we’ll help you. I refuse to believe there’s no justice left in this world!”
A young man stepped forward, face flushed with anger. He reached out, trying to help Mary up.
A glint of triumph flashed in Mary’s eyes, but she wiped away her tears and shook her head. “Thank you, thank you, but I can’t get up unless the lady allows it.”
She actually intended to stay kneeling.
Instantly, a wave of outrage turned on Anastasia, every eye in the crowd burning with judgment.