Chapter 74: Thea Stands Her Ground
Thea looked up to see Everly, the new transfer student, approaching their table. Everly’s smile seemed genuine, but her eyes held a hint of uncertainty.
"Charlotte, I greeted you, but why are you ignoring me? I want to be friends with you," Everly said, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and longing.
Charlotte responded curtly, "I don’t make friends with random people."
Everly persisted, "But I truly want to be friends with you."
Charlotte stood up, signaling an end to the conversation. "Thea, let’s go to our class."
As they began to leave, Everly asked, "Charlotte, I’m trying to be friends with you. Why do you have a problem with it?"
Charlotte retorted, "Why can’t you understand simple human language? I don’t want to be your friend."
Thea intervened, "Everly, don’t pester her. She doesn’t like when someone pesters her too much."
Everly’s expression turned confrontational, and she snapped at Thea, "Hey, you! You better shut up. I’m not talking to you."
The girl who accompanied Everly sneered at her, "Who are you to lecture us? You can be her friend, but we can’t. We’re far better than you. We have wealth, status, and style that can’t be matched with yours."
The group of friends surrounding Everly began to snicker and hurl harsh comments at Thea:
"Look at her, thinking she’s worthy of being friends with Charlotte."
"Some people are so thick-skinned, don’t they know their own place?"
"Does she think becoming friends with Charlotte will make her a princess?"
The group’s mocking laughter and condescending remarks filled the air, making Thea feel belittled and humiliated. Everly’s friends seemed to take pleasure in their cruel words, reveling in Thea’s discomfort.
"What? Are you all jealous?Try to make yourself like her.Otherwise whatever you say is meaningless.Thats why she is far more than you all.I personally made her my friend.Dont try to mock her."Charlotte couldn’t take it and spoke up for her bestfriend.
But Everly continued to taunt,"An orphan who has no background came to talk back to us.What a shame!I believe she is the reason why her parents had left her."Everly laughed mockingly.
Thea’s eyes flashed with anger, "What did you say?" she demanded.
Everly sneered, "Your lowly parents left you..."
’Slap!’
The clear sound of the slap rang in the room.Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on the dramatic confrontation
Unbelievable the woman held her cheek and screeched,"How dare you to slap me!"
"Don’t try to bad mouth my parents.You deserve. Watch your mouth.It won’t be just a slap the next time."Thea replied as she scanned the room.
It was a warning for all who were wagging their tongues about her.
Everyone was shocked.
It was rare to see her , usually soft spoken,lose her temper.
"You.. Alethea wait.I will make you pay for this slap."
With that Everly left with her group of friends and the crowd dispersed.
Charlotte grabbed her arm worriedly.
"She seemed to have connection.Will you be in trouble?"
Thea didn’t overthink it.She would usually steer clear of trouble unless it was necessary to intervene.This time around ,Everly had stepped over the line.
"It’s she who offended us first.Its okay.Let’s get back to the class."
After claiming Charlotte down, both went to attend their remaining classes.
It was almost time to get off university.
"I am going back , Thea.Do you want to go with me to home?" Charlotte asked as she was worried about her.
"No.I will go to the library to return those reference books.See you tomorrow.Dont worry I will reach home safely."Thea waved to Charlotte.
After Charlotte left.She went to the library to return the books she borrowed before.
After she returned the books to the library went downstairs to the ground floor.
As soon as she exited the university building,she was surrounded by a group of men.
The group leader was a tan man with an ugly scar on his neck.
"Are you Alethea?"
Thea took a deep breath to calm herself down .
"Who are you ?What are you doing here?"
He snorted."You bullied my girl .. didn’t you?"
With that he stepped forward, Thea’s expression hardened,"Who is your girl?"
"Stop playing dumb with me.You know very well what you did."
"For your information my fist are not for nothing .If you dare to touch my girl again,that is."With that, he clenched his and flexed his biceps
On the other side.
Ryder came to meet with the principal of the University.He came out from his office and overhead the conversation between a few female.
When he heard Alethea’s name he paid attention to them.
"I can’t believe that lowly class dared to slap me.How dare she!I will make her pay."
"Calm down...m Didn’t you ask your brother to help you in teaching that lowly girl a lesson?"
"Hmm I told him not to go easy on her.He will teach her a lesson she will never forget in her life."A ruthless look fitted across her eyes.The other female jumped when she noticed Ryder.
Ryder walked past them impassively.When he left, Everly heaved a sigh.
"He didn’t hear us.Did he?"
"Don’t worry.It doesn’t matter even if he did.Alethea is nobody."
Everly heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing that.
However Ryder frowned when he was descending the staircase.
Where is this feeling coming from?He thought still frowning.
Before he could figure out he had already arrived at the ground floor.As soon as he walked out of the building ,he saw a few burly men blocking Thea.
He immediately made a call as he walked towards them.
"I am going to teach you a good lesson.",the man with the scar uttered.
Just then another voice rang behind him.
"Thea."
Thea was stunned to hear Ryder’s familiar voice.He walked to her and pulled her hands.
"It’s already time for you to leave for home.Why haven’t you gone home yet?"
"What’s up with you guys?"
The man snorted.Since Ryder was alone ,he didn’t consider him as a threat.
"What? Gonna be a hero?Let’s see if you are up for it."
With that he attacked Ryder with a stick.
Ryder narrowed his eyes.Just when the stick was an inch away from his face,he grabbed it before throwing a punch at that man’s face.
The man grunted and groaned, clutching his cheeks.
The rest of the group didn’t catch what had just happened.They looked at the situation in stunned silence.
The scared-face man pointed at Ryder.
"You played dirty!"
As soon as he finished speaking Ryder crushed his hand.
"Now you know who you shouldn’t cross."
"Ouch!"
The man groaned in pain.
"Brother I am sorry .I will never do it again."
Ryder finally let him go after hearing his words.
At that moment, a security guard from the building rushed over.
"Call the police."
"No.Please let us go!"
No matter what they said, Ryder’s resolve remained the same.He looked at Thea and asked, "Are you okay?"
"I am fine.I didn’t know you can fight Mr Thompson."she winked at him.
After complementing him she realised that they were still holding hands.
"Thanks since it’s late.I will be heading home."
With that she let go of her hands.She wanted to leave but he quickly grabbed her hand again.
"I will send you back."
No one uttered any words on their way back until the car was parked in the garage.
As she buckled up the seat belt,Ryder asked,"What was that?"
"Hmph?"
Then she realised what he was referring to."It’s not a big deal.I slapped his girl who is studying in our university as she bad mouthed my parents."She didn’t want to elaborate about the incident."Thanks for helping me out,Ryder."
Throughout the journey in the car, no one spoke a word with each other. Ryder glanced at her and found she was resting with her head against the seat, closed eyes.
Finally, the car pulled up to her house. As he stopped the car, he noticed that her eyes were still closed.Not wanting to disturb her.He decided to let her take her rest.
