Chapter 379
With the situation holding steady for now, Rylie made time to collect Melany from school, the two of them heading to a nearby café for their tutoring session.
Traveling to Serenity Manor after school had always made Melany late getting home, so they chose a spot closer to campus to make things easier.
The day before the exams, as Rylie arrived to pick Melany up, she unexpectedly crossed paths with Brightwood High’s principal. Though they had never met, he recognized her name immediately.
“Dr. Owen,” the principal greeted warmly, extending his hand with a friendly smile. “I’m Gunter Wells. We haven’t met before, but I’m sure you know Kory Ashton.”
Gunter laughed. “We’re always complaining about our necks, aren’t we? We can’t seem to stop doing cervical traction.”
Rylie’s brows lifted slightly as a thought came to mind. “You shouldn’t do that. It’s bad for you.”
“I know, I’ve been good about it. Same old issue as Kory’s, and he shared part of his prescription with me. I’m feeling much better now,” Gunter said with genuine enthusiasm. “He even showed me your photo, and I’ve been hoping to thank you in person. Please, Dr. Owen, don’t turn me down. Let me treat you to dinner! How about Savory Haven?”
Savory Haven was widely regarded as the top dining spot in Crolens, famed for its exquisite dishes and steep prices. It was just about dinnertime after school, and Rylie often took Melany out to eat before their tutoring session. Seeing the chance for a free meal, she decided not to decline and asked Melany, who was weaving her way out of the school gates with the crowd, “What do you feel like eating tonight? Or should we head to Savory Haven?”
Melany quickly shook her head. They had been eating at the upscale restaurant almost every day lately. The dishes were undoubtedly delicious, but she always knew that this was a place with steep prices. The one time she had glimpsed a bill by accident, the sky-high figures still left her stunned. Even after discovering that the owner of Savory Haven was a friend of Rylie’s and allowed her to dine there for free, the thought of it still weighed on her. So she said softly, “Cheese fondue. I just want regular cheese fondue this time.”
Rylie gave a small nod. “Alright, cheese fondue it is.”
Gunter’s smile widened with genuine warmth. “Alright then, cheese fondue it is.” It was the first moment Melany had seen the usually stern principal show such a friendly, almost charming side.
Among the stream of students leaving the school, a few classmates caught sight of Rylie standing with the principal. Their whispers carried curiosity.
“Why’s Mr. Wells with them?”
“Who knows?” One of Zaylee’s friends, eager to share the scene, quickly snapped a photo and sent it to her, adding a stream of gossip-filled messages. After exchanging a few excited texts, the girl slipped her phone back into her pocket and trailed behind the trio at a distance, curiosity pushing her to see what else she might uncover.
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