Chapter 168

Throughout the years Angeline and Ned grew up together, she never once heard of a Floyd family member in the Fletcher family.
Angeline did not wish to pursue the reason Bradley impersonated Ned’s cousin. However, Angeline was skeptical when she saw Bradley’s designer attire and at his casual mention of spending two thousand or a meal.
Bradley might leverage Ned’s identity to pose as a wealthy second-generation student at school. Alternatively, there might be issues with managing the financial aid she provided to Oceanford College. Bradley felt guilty but tried to appear calm.
He retorted, “Who are you to question me? Everyone knows my cousin adores Ingrid. You’re just a nobody living off the Fletchers. What could you possibly know?”
“I know enough to understand that one should not be deceitful or forget their roots,” Angeline responded.
Enraged, Bradley raised his hand to hit Angeline. Before he could even touch her, someone firmly caught his hand. Bradley’s friends immediately looked alarmed.
“Mr. Fletcher!” they exclaimed.
Bradley’s face turned pale.
“N-Ned he stammered.
Ned stepped forward and pulled Angeline behind him. He glared at Bradley and, with a grim expression, delivered a fierce kick to Bradley’s abdomen. Bradley clutched his stomach and fell to his knees. Ned did not stop there. He gave another kick to Bradley’s face.
Bradley crashed to the ground and looked up at Ned in terror. He tried to scramble away.
“N-Ned… I-I he stuttered.
Ned had his hands in his pockets. His face bore an expression of sharp, cold indifference. He stepped on Bradley’s head and tilted his neck slightly.
Angeline stood behind Ned and clutched her bag tightly. She recalled the times Ned fought back in high school. Now, he fought for her dressed in a suit, but his actions remained unchanged. He would step on his opponent’s head and tilt his neck, indifferent but irritated.
In the past, Angeline would approach those Ned had defeated. She would leave money for their medical expenses and issue a warning before she and Ned left the scene. Currently, she remained motionless and simply observed the scene.
Students from Oceanford College who had accompanied Bradley noticed his injuries. They hurried to intervene.
“Mr. Fletcher, please,” they pleaded.
“Bradley is said to be your cousin. Spare him.”
“Indeed, Mr. Fletcher,” another added.
“Bradley was merely trying to defend your honor.”
“Mr. Fletcher, it’s been years,” a third student said.
“But as your cousin, Bradley was only getting angry on your behalf.”
Ned’s response was cold.
“When did I ever have a cousin like you?” he asked while his foot still pressed on Bradley’s head.
Bradley screamed. He held onto Ned’s foot but was too frightened to pull away.
“Mr. Fletcher, we have met before,” he cried out.
“You were at Oceanford College last time, and I escorted you to the director’s office in the new building. Everyone assumed we were related when they heard me call you ‘Ned’. It was all their assumption. I merely didn’t correct them. Please, forgive me.”
“So, you’re saying you owe me an apology?”
Ned exerted more force in his step while staring down at Bradley.
Bradley quickly turned to Angeline and extended his hands.
“Angeline I mean Ms. Emmerson! I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault! Please, save me
The students who were with Bradley heard this and were shocked. Their eyes widened in fear as they stepped back.