Chapter 135
“Don’t say that.” Worried that Anthony might get upset, Eleanor quickly tried to smooth things over. “Mr. Blair, thanks for coming all the way here today. You must be busy, so we won’t take up any more of your time.”
Anthony glanced up, his gaze drifting over Charlotte’s face with a gentle warmth before a small smile played on his lips. He turned and walked off without another word.
“Charlotte, you can head back too.”
Charlotte nodded casually, grabbed her backpack, and lifted her chin, her pretty face cool and composed. “Goodbye, Ms. Adams,” she said softly.
She barely spared Ronald a look, then walked away without hesitation.
Ronald’s expression darkened. He put his hands on his hips, glaring at Charlotte’s retreating back. “Does she think I’m dead or something?”
Shirley pressed her lips together, mumbling just loud enough to be heard, “I don’t think she ever saw you as a real person.”
“What did you say?” Ronald shot Shirley a cold glare. The thought of a troublemaker and cheater scaring off his favorite student made his blood boil.
“That’s enough, Mr. Lee. Shirley’s the one who was wronged here,” Eleanor cut in, stopping him.
“Shirley, if you need any compensation, the school can reach out to the Dean family for you.” Eleanor remembered that Shirley was an orphan, living with just her sick grandmother. She knew they could use the help.
“No, I don’t want it.” Shirley gripped her hands tight and lifted her chin, sounding braver than ever before. “Ms. Adams, I… I want to transfer to Class C. Is that okay?”
Eleanor was caught off guard. Shirley’s grades might have been low in Class A, but she was still too bright for a regular class.
“Go on then, get going,” Ronald said, almost relieved. “If you hang around with losers, you’ll end up kicked out of Vanguard High just like her.”
The hallway was quiet.
Charlotte walked alone, her backpack swinging from one hand, her face set in a frosty calm.
Suddenly, a shadow closed in behind her, carrying an intense,
ift move
overwhelming presence. Charlotte’s eyes flashed with cold alertness. In one she spun and launched a sharp roundhouse kick at the figure behind her. The kick was quick and fierce, impossible to counter for anyone without serious training.
Anthony dodged easily. As Charlotte’s kick missed, he caught her wrist and pulled her in, all in one smooth motion.
She stumbled forward, colliding with
his chest. His scent-fresh, clean, and unmistakably Anthony-filled her senses. For a moment, she was caught off guard She ooked up slowly, but before she could say anything, Anthony’s deep voice, low and teasing, brushed against her ear.
“What are you doing with your hands?”
She realized she was pressed up against him, one hand on his shoulder, her cheek against his chest. The closeness made her cheek warm. When she recognized his face, she gently stepped back, her expression suddenly soft and sweet.
“Why are you still here?”
Thinking of how Steven had acted earlier, Anthony lowered his head so they were
eye to eye. “I was worried Lottie might get scared and start crying.”
He reached out, his fingers rough but gentle as he brushed the corner of her eye, his touch and voice full of warmth.
Whatever shadows were left in Charlotte’s heart faded away.
Anthony glanced down, checking her hand carefully. Once he was sure she wasn’t hurt, he finally relaxed. “Next time something like this happens, don’t try to handle it on your own.”
Charlotte blinked at him, a little puzzled.
Anthony’s deep voice came again, a hint of mischief in it. “Let Andrew deal with it. He can take a hit.”
Charlotte stared for a second, then the corners of her lips curled up, and a bright, beautiful smile lit up her face.
“Go on, get back to class. I’ll come pick you up tonight, okay?”