Chapter 123

Charlotte’s words stopped everyone cold.
Everybody knew Andrew, Parrish, and Dennis came from families with serious influence. No one actually believed the school would expel any of them.
Charlotte was a different story. The Main family was well-known in Cabinda, and if Steven backed her up or if she apologized and acted a little more humble, there was still a chance she could stay.
But right now, it was clear Steven wasn’t going to lift a finger for her. And Charlotte, well, she looked like she didn’t care about anything or anyone. She just stood there, bold as ever, saying she wasn’t the one who was going to leave. Where did she even get that kind of confidence?
“If you’re not the one leaving, what, you think my son should go instead?” Henry Dean finally exploded. He shot up from his chair, glaring at Charlotte.
“Wow, Henry, you really are sharp. You must be psychic.” Charlotte kept her eyes down, her face mostly hidden, but there was this heavy, intimidating vibe about her that didn’t match her age at all. Even Henry, who’d been around the block more times than anyone, felt a weird chill run through him.
But then he shook it off. She was just a cocky kid. Why should he be scared of her?
“Is this what Vanguard High is turning out after all the money and buildings I’ve donated? Kids who don’t know how to admit when they’re wrong?” Henry was so mad he could barely get the words out. He turned to Ronald and Eleanor, his voice sharp and cold. “Let me be clear. If you don’t expel her and you let her drag the rest of the student body down with her, I won’t just sit back and watch. And neither will the Blair or Ford families. They won’t go easy on her, or on Vanguard High.”
That not-so-subtle threat sent a shiver down Steven’s spine.
If Charlotte got hurt, that was one thing. But if the Main family got dragged into this mess, he couldn’t let that happen.
“Charlotte, just shut up!” Steven’s anger and fear finally boiled over. “You still refuse to admit you’re wrong. How did I end up with a daughter like you? You’ve
embarrassed the Main family enough.”
“You’re out. You don’t get a say in this.”
Steven glanced at Ronald, who looked like he wanted to throw Charlotte out the window himself. “Mr. Lee, get her withdrawal paperwork ready. Right now.”
He was ready to drag her out himself if he had to.
“I already called Mr. Baker. He’ll be here any second,” Ronald chimed in, practically giddy. Once everyone was against her, he wanted to see how long Charlotte could keep acting tough.
“We were the e ones who hit him! Why
are you blaming Charlotte?” Andrew
was so angry he nearly started swearing. Steven hadn’t even bothered to get the facts before demanding Charlotte apologize and leave. If she got expelled now, she was finished. Was he getting senile or something?
“Exactly, this isn’t on Charlotte,” Parrish jumped in, his eyes cold as he glared at Dennis, clenching his fists. “He was just asking for it.”
Shirley bit her lip, lifted her chin, and spoke up firmly. “I… I can testify. Charlotte didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You all—” Henry Dean’s fists balled up, and he looked ready to explode, but then
he remembered who he was dealing with and bit his tongue.
“See? Charlotte’s only been here a
little while, and she’s already leading three students down the wrong
path Ronald his tone dripping
with sarcasm as he looked at Eleanor. “If we let her stay, she’ll probably turn the whole school into a mess like her.”
“Ms. Adams, you fought for her to stay in the first place. Now look at what’s happened. You can’t just wash your hands of this.”
and
Eleanor’s face had gone completely white. It was obvious what was happening here. They were all terrified of upsetting the Ford Blair families, so they were pinning everything on Charlotte and making her the scapegoat.