Chapter 11: A Hundred Thousand Euros

Audrey's POV

I turned to find myself facing a middle-aged man—bald but sporting a thick beard of deep brown, his light brown eyes regarding me with a gentle strength that seemed to radiate warmth.

"Uncle Blake!" I exclaimed, delight flooding through me.

This man was a friend of my uncle's, or more precisely, a former student of my grandfather's. It was Blake who had recommended Ashford University to me in the first place.

"Poor child, I know your character well enough to be certain you would never deliberately harm a fellow student—though of course, defending yourself when they attack you first is perfectly justified," Blake said, his smile encompassing everyone in the room. He was never stingy with his smiles, though my uncle had once warned me that anyone who mistook his warmth for weakness would find themselves thoroughly defeated.

"I agree we should involve the police and review the school's security footage to prove Audrey's innocence," Blake continued pleasantly.

"Blake, I think you'll agree that as a member of the board of trustees, you shouldn't involve yourself in disputes between students. It wouldn't be proper conduct," Dean interjected.

"Come now, Dean, this Miss Anna has summoned her father here to back her up—why shouldn't I, as Audrey's elder, participate?" Blake's smile never wavered. "Besides, I'm confident the police officer will see justice done."

Dean pressed her lips together, clearly reluctant to agree immediately. But Wilson spoke up with easy confidence: "I also support calling the police. My Anna is the sweetest child—she would never bully a girl without parents."

I glanced at Anna with genuine surprise. Her microexpressions betrayed her—the moment her father agreed to police involvement, tension rippled across her features. Her fingers gripped the sofa's armrest tightly, and she shot a pleading look toward Dean.

How fascinating. In her father's eyes, Anna was apparently a kind and well-behaved daughter, yet here at school she took pleasure in tormenting me.

"Uncle Blake, I think the police will be here very soon," I said, waving my phone with a bright smile. "My friend has already called them."

"Audrey!" Anna's voice came out shrill.

"What's wrong, Anna? According to your father, if you're really a good girl, you have nothing to worry about."

I crossed my arms, regarding her with deliberate meanness.

Wilson moved protectively in front of his daughter, his eyes carrying a clear warning. Blake placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his gesture making it absolutely clear that he believed in me completely. The certainty of his support steadied my racing heart.

When the police arrived, Dean sent a message to the technician responsible for the security system, then turned to everyone with an expression of regret.

"I'm sorry, but the camera covering the incident location has been broken for a week now. I suppose we'll have to rely on witness testimony instead—"

"Dean! Are you joking?" I leaned forward aggressively, palms planted on her desk. "The camera's broken? How convenient. And by witness testimony, I suppose you mean Elizabeth and those other bitches?"

"Please watch your language, Audrey."

Dean adjusted her glasses with prim disapproval. "The camera malfunction was beyond our control. No one could have known an incident would occur in that spot a week later. Yet on your very first day back at school, this happens."

I could feel fury building inside me. Was she actually blaming me for this? This was textbook victim-blaming!

"Who says there's no footage?" Blake had remained silent since Dean's announcement about the broken camera, but now he spoke, his smile completely gone. His expression was serious—no, complex, as though he were deeply disappointed in Dean.

"Excuse me, officer, but I believe I have backup security footage."

Blake retrieved a tablet from his briefcase and pulled up a downloaded video file, his smile turning self-deprecating. "I never imagined that a camera that broke last week would still manage to remotely save today's recording."

Dean's face turned ashen.

As Wilson leaned in to watch the footage, Anna tried to stop him. "No, Dad—"

In the video, Anna's face was twisted with viciousness as she called me a whore and ordered Mary to hold me down. I watched Wilson's expression shift to shock. But when the footage showed me fighting back, his face transformed again—this time into anger.

"Officer, I believe this was clearly an act of self-defense," Blake said firmly.

The policeman nodded slowly. "Though I wonder if perhaps Audrey's self-defense exceeded reasonable limits?"

Wilson clenched his fist and made a sharp gesture. "Exactly, officer! My daughter never actually hurt her, yet she pinned Anna to the ground and seriously violated her dignity!"

"Mr. Wilson, at Ashford University, this isn't the first time Anna and her friends have bullied me. But it is the first time I've fought back," I said coldly, studying him. My pupils reflected a man of extremes—someone whose unconditional love for Anna meant protecting her at the expense of innocent people like me.

"Perhaps I should pursue charges for all the previous incidents of bullying—"

"No!" Wilson cut me off sharply, turning to the officer. "Sir, would you mind stepping out for a moment? I'd like to speak with Miss Audrey privately."

The policeman understood. Wealthy people always preferred to settle matters behind closed doors. He left efficiently, closing the office door behind him.

Blake, however, settled back into his chair with leisurely ease, completely ignoring Wilson's wary glance.

"Miss Audrey, Blake here isn't the only member of this school's board of trustees. I've been making substantial donations to Ashford University's library and academic buildings for years. If I insist on having you expelled, who do you think would have more support—those who want you out, or those who want you to stay?"

Rage ignited in my chest. This despicable Wilson was threatening me. And I couldn't simply disregard it—Blake was an elder I respected, and I had to consider the position this would put him in.

"Wilson!" Blake rose angrily. "Your behavior right now is hardly that of a gentleman."

"But it's exactly what a father should do!" Wilson didn't back down an inch. "Miss Audrey, as long as you agree to drop this matter, I'll act as though none of this ever happened."

"No, Dad, I want her to apologize to me!" Anna planted her hands on her hips, her confidence fully restored.

Wilson considered this briefly, then smiled at me. "If you're willing to apologize to my daughter, I can pay you a hundred thousand euros and donate a million euros to Ashford University."

It wasn't a fortune, but it was meant to humiliate me—because in their eyes, that's all I was worth.

I couldn't stand this father and daughter anymore. Their arrogance disgusted me.

Anna looked at me with pure provocation. Was she betting I wouldn't dare discipline her in front of Wilson?

Unfortunately for them, they thought they were bullying someone weak, but they'd actually provoked a lioness.

I walked over and slapped her hard across the face. The sound rang out sharply, stunning everyone into silence—including the self-satisfied Wilson.

"You bitch!" Anna screamed, completely losing control.

Wilson recovered and actually raised his hand toward me—was he planning to punish me on Anna's behalf?

I'd already prepared to defend myself when a cold, ruthless voice cut through the room.

"Who dares to touch my woman!"