Chapter 1018
"Let's head out."
"You got it."
As soon as Juniper started walking, her classmates, still slightly in shock, quickly snapped out of it and hurried after her.
"Juniper, are you alright?"
Hattie tugged gently at her sleeve, asking cautiously.
Even though she had heard rumors about Juniper being "good in a fight," seeing it firsthand was deeply shocking.
Especially that slap-it had nearly sent Sheryl flying into orbit.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Juniper smiled faintly, massaging her wrist with lazy indifference. "It's been a while since I had to get physical. My reflexes are getting rusty."
"Sheryl's dad is on the university board of directors..." The class president pressed his lips together, offering a concerned warning. "You slapped her in front of everyone today. With how petty and vindictive she is, she's never going to let this go."
"Board of directors?"
Juniper let out a cold laugh, her tone drawling. "From the way she acts, you'd think she owned the university!"
Even if her last name was printed on the school's deed, what was there to be afraid of?
She was just a basic mean girl.
"But..."
Hattie was genuinely terrified now, stammering and struggling to find her words.
"You weren't scared when you were arguing with her."
Juniper stopped and looked at Hattie with a half-smile.
"I was just so angry, and I wanted to stand up for you. I wasn't thinking," Hattie said, rubbing her ear, her voice dropping nervously. "Now that I think about it, I was basically throwing eggs at a rock."
Her family had no power or money.
Crushing her would be entirely too easy for Sheryl.
She might literally get expelled tomorrow.
"Do you regret it?" Juniper stared right into her eyes.
"Me?"
Hattie bit her lip, looking guilty for a split second before suddenly raising her head high. "No, I don't. I'll never bow down to two-faced snakes like her."
"If she actually tries to get me expelled, I'll go live on social media and expose the whole truth."
"It's the internet age; I refuse to believe Sheryl Yardley can cover the sky with one hand."
"You've got a pretty good backup plan," Juniper patted her shoulder, her voice steady and calm. "But as long as I'm here, no one is going to touch you."
She shifted her gaze to the rest of the CS students behind her and added, "No one is going to touch any of you."
"Yeah."
The students nodded one after another. Goddess was fiercely loyal. They weren't afraid of Sheryl. Even if her dad was rich and powerful, could he possibly take on Mr. Schwartz? That was Goddess's fiancé!
...
Inside the Principal's office.
Barnaby Yardley barged through the door, dragging Sheryl behind him, absolutely furious.
"Lionel, I need an explanation for this!" Barnaby pointed angrily at Sheryl's swollen face, which was streaked with theatrical tears. "Juniper Payne openly assaulted a student on campus! demand that the school expel her immediately.
"Exactly," Sheryl chimed in, holding her cheek, her voice shrill. "I want her kicked out
of Eclara University."
"Well, this..." Hearing the vicious
demands from the father and
daughter, Lionel Landon rubbed his
nose offering an awkward smile. "Did I hear you correctly? You want Juniper expelled from Eclara University?"
"You heard right," Sheryl nodded emphatically.
"That doesn't seem like a good idea," Lionel kept his polite smile, patiently explaining. "Juniper is the pride of our university. As the national.top Scorer in the entrance exams, her value to this institution is...
"Lionel!" Hearing the principal making excuses, Barnaby's face hardened, and he interrupted bluntly. "The university's funding for next year's investment projects hasn't been secured yet, has it?"
Lionel's voice cut off abruptly, his smile vanishing. The Yardley family had money. And since Barnaby was on the board of directors, he donated quite a bit every year.
Lionel was grateful for that. Which was exactly why he was trying so patiently to stop this man from digging his own grave! He really needed to weigh his options and realize who he was dealing with.
"Barnaby..."