Chapter 121

The mob surged toward Harrison and Rosalind.

Shouts erupted across the campus grounds. "Fight! There's a fight happening!"

Alistair had been reviewing student files in his office when the commotion reached him. He rose abruptly, his voice icy. "What's happening out there?"

"Professor Whitmore," a breathless male student gasped, "Julian Ashford and his gang cornered Harrison and Rosalind near the quad... it's bad... they're pulling hair, scratching faces..."

Alistair's expression darkened instantly. He rushed out with Gregory Thornton, the department chair.

From a distance, the scene unfolded before them. Julian's cronies lay unconscious on the grass, victims of Harrison's sleeping powder. Julian himself was pinned to the ground, with Harrison yanking his hair while Rosalind clawed at his face in furious retaliation.

"Ow! My scalp! My face!" Julian howled.

Alistair stood frozen.

He'd expected to find Harrison and Rosalind being attacked. Instead, they'd turned the tables completely. The two women had Julian at their mercy, exacting brutal revenge.

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Alistair was witnessing that truth firsthand.

"Let me go! Do you know who my family is? The Ashfords own half this town! My parents will have you expelled from Willowridge!" Julian shrieked.

Gregory stomped his foot in frustration. "This behavior is unacceptable! Brawling on campus? All of you - call your parents immediately!"

He turned to Alistair. "Professor Whitmore, you sponsored Harrison's enrollment, correct? What do you propose we-"

Alistair straightened his tie, distancing himself. "I merely facilitated the paperwork. Harrison has a legal guardian. Contact them."

A crowd had gathered outside Gregory's office, eager spectators to the unfolding drama.

Harrison, Rosalind, and Julian had been separated when Julian's parents arrived.

Reginald Ashford slammed his fist on the desk, his face crimson with rage. "This is outrageous! Were these hooligans raised by wolves? Look what they've done to my boy! I demand justice!"

Beatrice Ashford clutched her son protectively. "Our precious Julian has never been struck in his life! Expel these two troublemakers immediately!"

Julian, still seething, added, "Yes! Expel them! Or I'll make sure this isn't over!"

Harrison and Rosalind stood against the wall, supposedly reflecting on their actions.

Rosalind argued, "We fought back, but he harassed us first!"

Julian jumped up. "Lies! Where's your proof? But everyone can see what you did to me!" He pointed to his visible injuries.

Rosalind clenched her fists, lacking concrete evidence. "You little-"

Harrison placed a calming hand on her arm, shaking his head subtly.

Julian touched his bruised face. "They must be expelled today!"

Outside the office, Arabella watched the proceedings with satisfaction. Seeing the Ashfords' intimidating presence and their demands for expulsion, a smug smile crept across her face.

Everything was going exactly as planned.

She'd been the one to secretly orchestrate Julian's harassment of Harrison. Now the results were even better than she'd hoped.

Arabella slipped away from the crowd and immediately called Isabella, eager to share her victory.

"Isabella? You'll never guess what happened! Harrison's about to be kicked out of Willowridge!"

Isabella's delighted laughter crackled through the phone. "Seriously, Arabella? You're incredible! I can't believe you managed to get her expelled so quickly."