Chapter 129
“Dad, why did you hit me?”
Dennis had just managed to get up when another slap landed on his face. His cheek stung, and he barely had time to react.
“All you do is make trouble at school. And when you get caught, you try to blame someone else.”
Henry Dean pointed at Dennis, his face twisted with anger. He spoke in a low, cold voice. “You’re going to apologize to Charlotte. Right now. Do it.”
The harsh sound of the slap still echoed through the office.
Andrew and Parrish stared, eyes wide. They looked completely shocked. What on earth was going on?
Steven and the teachers stood frozen, too. None of them could believe what they were seeing. Had Henry Dean lost it? Just a few minutes ago, he was demanding that Charlotte explain herself. Now he wanted Dennis to apologize to her?
“Henry, Dennis is the one who got hurt. Why are you—” Ronald started, testing the waters.
“No. This is Dennis’s fault,” Henry Dean interrupted, gripping his hands tight as he cut Ronald off. Sweat dotted his forehead as he looked at Charlotte. “I’m truly sorry for what I said earlier, before I knew the truth. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.”
“And as for my useless son Henry Dean yanked Dennis over, shoving him in front of Charlotte and pushing his head down. “Why are you just standing there? Apologize.”
“Charlotte, if you can forgive Dennis, whatever punishment you want, we’ll accept it. No questions asked.”
His attitude was so humble, it looked like he might drop to his knees right there.
Henry Dean’s sudden turnaround left everyone stunned. The office was dead silent, every eye on Charlotte.
She lifted her head a little, her face striking and bright, but her eyes were icy cold. Just looking at her made it clear that an apology wasn’t going to be enough to calm her down.
Henry Dean’s heart thudded in his chest. He felt like he was waiting for the axe to fall.
“Expel him. Dennis needs to leave the school.”
Expelled?
Ronald felt his heart sink. With Dennis’s grades, he was a sure thing for any top university. If he left now it would be a huge blow to Vanguard High and their honors class.
Everyone knew how much Henry Dean spoiled Dennis. No matter what happened, he always protected him, never letting him take the blame or suffer any real
Qu
consequences. Why was he acting like this now?
“Dad!” Dennis’s eyes filled with tears. He pressed a hand to his swollen cheek, voice shaking with disbelief “The entrance exams are coming up.
1
If I have to drop out can’t even take the exams or get into a good university!”
“Charlotte is the one who started this. Andrew and Parrish were the ones who hit me. I’m the one who got hurt. Why am I the one being kicked out? It’s not fair!”
Why was his dad suddenly so afraid of Charlotte? What had changed?
“You brat,” Henry Dean’s face twisted with anger. He raised his hand to hit Dennis again, but before he could, Charlotte’s cool voice broke the tension. “Henry, don’t hit him.”
As soon as Charlotte spoke, Henry Dean dropped his hand right away and looked at her with a nervous, almost hopeful smile.
Charlotte tilted her head, her lips pulling into a lazy, almost teasing smile. “If you’re going to hit him, at least wait until you get home and do it right.”
Andrew and Parrish exchanged glances, then burst out laughing.
That was just like Charlotte. Even in a tense situation, she could stay dead serious and still make everyone laugh.