Liam snorts. “Okay, yeah,” he admits, “makes the whole thing worth it.”
Lilia throws her hands up. “Speak for yourself! I got bitch slapped.” She gestures to her cheek. “And Ava dug her claws into me.” She winces as she touches it.
Will tilts his head. “Did you forget what you did tomyface?”
Lilia rolls her eyes. “You deserved it.”
He scoffs. “Did I now?”
“Obviously!”
Before they can start round two, the office door swings open, and Christian and Bea step out. One look at their faces and my stomach drops.
Christian barely spares us a glance before shaking his head, and from next to him, Bea mutters a quick “Good luck” and gives us a thumbs-up, but it’s the most unconvincing thing I’ve ever seen.
Then the secretary calls our names, and I know there’s no turning back.
Our fate has officially been sealed.
Mr. Ryder sits behind his desk as we walk in, looking frustrated and… tired. I almost feel bad for him, he has to deal with so many disasters in just one day.
He sighs. “Would someone like to explain why my staff had to break up what I can only describe as a caféteria riot?”
Silence.
Then, because Liam has no concept of self-preservation, he leans forward, elbows on his knees. “Technically, it wasn’t a riot. An aggressively coordinated disagreement?”
Mr. Ryder just stares at him, unimpressed, and I notice how similar his look of annoyance is to Christian’s. “Mr. Grey, I suggest you do not make this worse for yourself.”
The amused look on Liam’s face falters, probably seeing the look on the principal’s face. And he straightens slightly, clearing his throat. “Yes, sir.”
“I hear you escalated the situation, along with my son.” His gaze sweeps over all of us before landing on Will and Liam. “Is that what happened?”
Will answers with a quick, empty “Yes, sir.”
“Well…” Liam says at the same time, and every single gaze lands on him.
He looks around, reading the room, and he exhales, slumping slightly. “Yes, sir.”
Mr. Ryder gives them a long, disappointed look. The kind that makes you want to sink into your chair and disappear.
Then, his gaze shifts to me, his expression softening slightly. “Adeline, I assume you had nothing to do with this?”
I hesitate, fingers twisting in my lap. Lilia, beside me, nudges me gently, shooting me a reassuring smile.
“They were defending me,” I say through a long breath. “Because of something Naomi did.”
From the corner of my eye, I catch Liam glancing at me, and I hate what I see in his expression. Hate that everyone is seeing me this vulnerable.
Mr. Ryder looks like he wants to ask what exactly that something was, but then his gaze flickers over me—over the way I’m still holding my side, over the exhaustion probably written all over my face, over the bruises—and his expression shifts. There’s something like understanding there, or maybe just… acceptance.
Instead, he nods once. “I will take the necessary actions,” he says firmly. “Naomi has already been suspended, and Ava and the others involved will face disciplinary action.”
Lilia exhales, visibly relieved.
“As for the rest of you,” Mr. Ryder continues, “starting from tomorrow, you will all be receiving a two-day suspension.”
I see Will raise his eyebrows, like he doesn’t quite believe it. It’s only for a second, but Mr. Ryder catches his expression. “Would you like me to make it longer?”
