Chapter 55 Her Story
The headmaster gave a nod. “I understand what’s going on now.”
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Without sparing a glance for the registrar, he turned to the teacher standing outside the office. “Please see to her enrollment.”
The teacher nodded, quickly handling the necessary paperwork on her computer. A moment later, she handed Charmaine her new student ID. “Welcome back.”
Charmaine accepted it with both hands. “Thank you.”
The principal gave a brief look before he made his way toward the door, clearly content with the outcome.
The registrar watched them, irritation still burning in him, but there was also a flicker of relief.
Just as the principal reached the door, he paused and turned back. “Charles Pearce. You have been found guilty of serious violations of school policy. You have mistreated our students, and as of tomorrow onward, you will no longer be welcome here.”
One sentence sealed the registrar’s fate.
Charles stood frozen, stunned for a moment. Then, realizing the weight of the situation, he rushed toward the principal, eager to argue.
But the teacher and a bodyguard moved swiftly, covering his mouth and dragging him out of the room.
Charmaine made her way down the stairs, her eyes finding the headmaster once again, standing beneath a banyan tree, watching her.
She approached him, offering a small bow. “Thank you, Headmaster.”
The campus was quiet, most students in class, and the path was nearly deserted.
The principal’s gaze softened, and his eyes grew misty.
“Ms. Chara, I can never thank you enough. It’s been a year, hasn’t it? How have you been?”
Charmaine gave a brief nod, then asked, “And your son?”
At the mention of Felix, the principal sighed deeply.
“Thanks to you, Ms. Chara, my son escaped a place that would’ve swallowed him whole. He’s turned his life around now–quit gambling and found some direction. He’s teaching art to the freshmen here. If it weren’t for him recognizing you, I wouldn’t have known you were back.”
A shadow crossed the principal’s face. “I never imagined something like this could happen within our school. If I hadn’t arrived when I did, you might’ve been given an unfair treatment.”
Charmaine shook her head. “It’s nothing, really. I’m sorry to have caused you trouble.”
His expression hardened. “No, Ms. Chara. Your matters are just as important as our family’s. I know there were rumors two years ago, but don’t worry–I’ve already begun dealing with the issue.”
Felix, the principal’s son, had once been a promising young artist at Eragos, full of talent and potential.
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Chapter 55 Her Story
But he’d been led astray by a so–called friend and had sunk deep into gambling.
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His addiction took root and worsened. He even tricked his family into thinking he was leaving to study abroad, only to head to South Aspus, where he was drawn into the hands of criminals.
They kidnapped him, using his fingers to threaten the principal. One million, three million, five million- each demand greedier than the last.
The ransom money came in waves, but the criminals kept asking for more. Their greed knew no bounds.
Had Charmaine not saved Felix, who could say where things would have gone?
Two years ago, the headmaster had been frantic, barely able to keep his composure as he rushed Felix, barely alive, off the plane. Today, he was far calmer.
She knew the headmaster felt the need to show his gratitude. She also understood that if she refused his offer to help, he would carry a burden of guilt for not doing enough.
“Thank you, Headmaster. I’ll head to my class now,” Charmaine said politely.
“Of course, of course. Go ahead,” the headmaster replied, ushering her on her way.
Once, she had been in the same class as Felix. Now, he was in junior year. Today was the first day of the semester, and all the students were gathered for the opening lecture in the large classroom.
Charmaine walked toward the building just as the class break began.
The room was loud with chatter and movement, but when she entered, the noise immediately stopped.
She didn’t need to look around to know they were all staring at her, eyes wide with curiosity.
It wasn’t the first time she had been the subject of such attention.
Charmaine sat down in the front row, unaffected by the sudden silence around her.
She pulled out a pen and notebook, absentmindedly spinning the pen as she waited for the class to settle.
Whispers started to fill the air.
“Wait, am I seeing this right? Is that really her? Charmaine came back to school?”
“She dropped out two years ago. What’s she doing here? To study?”
“I thought they said she went overseas to have a kid? She still looks amazing! Her figure’s perfect, and her hair’s so thick. She actually looks better than before…
”
“Tch, my dad does business with the Reads. I know more than you guys. She went to South Aspus, just like Felix did. But Felix is a guy, so he just got beaten up a bit. His family has money, so they brought him back. But Charmaine? She’s a girl. Going to that place is like stepping into a wolf’s den. You know what I mean … ”
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Chapter 56 Rumors
