Dorian watched as Aveline was carried onto the helicopter by Orion. It was only then that he realized how powerful her family truly was. He had always believed his own family was well-off and that one day he could win her over. Who would have thought that Aveline came from a family so influential that even the school principal treated them with immense respect?
For a long time, people like Celestia and Liora had assumed that Aveline was with Orion for his money. But now the truth was out-they had been childhood sweethearts all along. This fairy-tale-like story, unfolding in real life, left everyone stunned.
Celestia, remembering how she’d repeatedly offended Aveline, felt a chill run down her spine when she thought about Aveline’s formidable parents.
Meanwhile, Solene was sobbing uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears as she kneeled before the principal. “Principal, I beg you, please don’t fire my father. If he loses this job, how will my family survive?”
Lee, who had enjoyed a close relationship with the principal, knew that the principal might have turned a blind eye in other situations. But this time, the person they had crossed wasn’t ordinary-it was Julian.
“This situation is entirely your fault,” the principal said, his tone cold. “As a teacher, you broke the law and abused your position. And you-out of jealousy-hurt another student. Let this be a lesson for all of you.”
“Principal, just who is Aveline’s father?” someone asked, echoing the question on everyone’s mind.
“That’s what Lee wanted to know as well.”
“Her father is none other than the legendary Julian Barnet! He’s a man of myth, an unstoppable force in the business world for decades, spanning industries and investments. And don’t even get me started on his family background-it’s as vast and intricate as his empire.
“Crossing him? Do you have any idea how easily he could buy this school and kick me out? Forget about him; even her mother is not someone to mess with. She’s the head of the Montgomery family, one of the four great aristocratic houses. Their holdings here in Clothville are just a fraction of their empire. They dominate markets across Europe and New York.
“If I were to put it simply, their wealth is enough to circle the globe countless times. Considering all this, you should count yourself lucky that the punishment was so lenient.
“And let me tell you something about Mr. Barnet-he’s notorious for being fiercely protective of his wife. Once, a man tried to touch Mrs. Barnet at a party, and by the next day, his company was gone…”
Before the principal could finish his story, the gym teacher came running in. “Principal! The speakers are still on!”
The principal’s face turned pale. Did that mean everything they had said had been broadcasted to the entire school?
The students on the field were stunned. Aveline’s background was even more impressive than they’d imagined. She was born into a family most could only dream about.
“Oh my God, Aveline is that rich? And to think she’s been so low-key these past two months. She dresses in outfits that cost only a few hundred dollars-you’d never guess.”
“Yeah, if it were someone else, they’d be flaunting it non-stop.”
“Why is she even attending Cherrywood? With her status, she should be at some elite private school.”
“Who knows? Maybe she has her reasons. She keeps a low profile because she doesn’t want people to know about her family. Too bad it’s out now.”
“If I’d known, I would’ve become her best friend. With connections like hers, who wouldn’t want to be close to her?”
“You’re so shallow!”
“Don’t pretend you’re not thinking the same thing. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with a princess like her? Liora was such an idiot.
“She used to be so close to Aveline. Aveline, who rarely opened up to anyone, trusted her enough to lend her homework and even money. She clearly considered Liora a real friend. But then what did Liora do? She made Aveline deliver a love letter to Orion, who’s her boyfriend, and even tried to hit her. That’s just asking for trouble!”
“Exactly! No wonder Orion only has eyes for Aveline. They’re the real deal.”
“Ugh, I’m so jealous! Aveline is beautiful, smart, and comes from such a prestigious family. Plus, she has a perfect boyfriend. If only I could be her…”
The crowd erupted in envy, especially those who had mocked Aveline before. Now, they were filled with regret.
Liora was frozen in place, finally realizing that she could never come between Aveline and Orion. They were childhood sweethearts, and not even her own family background could compare to Aveline’s.
Dorian, too, stood in shock. He had heard of Julian before-his father’s company was just a small distributor under Julian’s vast empire. In a way, Julian was the reason his family even had their livelihood. And to think, he had once been proud of his family’s wealth, only to find out it was nothing compared to Aveline’s.
—
On the helicopter, Aveline sat beside Orion, facing her parents, Aurora and Julian, whose expressions were icy. This time, they were truly angry.
“Mama…” Aveline whispered tentatively, but Aurora ignored her, the chill in her demeanor making both Aveline and Orion shiver.
“Daddy,” she tried next. Julian had always been the one to spoil her. Although Aveline was usually well-behaved, she occasionally acted a little willful, knowing her father would indulge her. Gently tugging on his sleeve, she pleaded, “Daddy, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry. It’s just a minor injury, really.”
“Getting your foot punctured by a rusty tack is a minor injury? What if it caused tetanus? What if it had been something worse? Aveline, it might seem small to you, but have you thought about how your mother and I felt? Do you know how worried we were?”
“Daddy, I know I was wrong. Please don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?” she said, her voice soft and pleading.
“Do you think I can just stop being mad because you asked me to?” Julian retorted. “Your foot-”
“Ouch!” Aveline suddenly cried out, interrupting him.
Julian and Aurora instantly turned to her. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Julian asked, his anger forgotten as he scooped her into his arms.
“My foot hurts. It really hurts,” she whimpered.
“Let Daddy take a look,” Julian said, inspecting her foot with concern. To him, Aveline was still his little girl, no matter how grown-up she was.
“There’s no bleeding. Why does it hurt?” he asked, puzzled.
“I don’t know. It just started hurting all of a sudden,” she replied.
Julian and Aurora were so focused on her that they didn’t notice Orion stifling a laugh. He knew Aveline better than anyone. Even if she were in real pain, she would never make a fuss. She was clearly exaggerating now to win her parents’ forgiveness.
After confirming that her injury wasn’t serious and that she just needed rest, Julian and Aurora finally relaxed. Despite it being a minor wound, Aveline had become the center of attention at home, treated like the most precious treasure.