Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 341: Seated calmly in her chair, Maia crossed her legs leisurely, her expression as still as a quiet lake. She swept a cool, assessing gaze over the cluster of students who had earlier tried so desperately to twist the truth. Finally, her eyes locked onto Loraine. "Ms. Harvey," Maia said, her voice low and cutting, "you have seen the footage. You know exactly what happened, do you not?" Loraine's throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. In all her years of presiding over Class One, never had she tasted such public humiliation. Her pride twisted painfully inside her chest.

She could not - would not admit to her failures, especially in front of so many professionals. Clenching her fists at her sides, she forced out a shaky defense. "Even... even if Ethan was being bullied," she stammered, "he should have come to a teacher for help." Feigning a shred of authority she no longer possessed, she met Maia's unblinking stare. "Regardless of the others' behavior, Ethan pushing someone first is also a problem! Both sides are at fault. As his guardian, you should have taught him-" "Better.

Now that everything is clear, there is no need to escalate this further." Both sides were at fault? A bitter laugh slipped past Maia's lips, cold enough to cut glass. The audacity of it - the sheer nerve. How could Wront University entrust a homeroom class to someone like this? Her brother hadn't done anything wrong and was targeted simply because he was a commoner. At first, he chose to endure it, but these students pushed their luck. Ethan only fought back when he could no longer take it. And here Loraine was, trying to sweep it under the rug with a single breath? Not a chance.

Maia straightened in her seat, her eyes gleaming with quiet fury. "My brother defended himself. He was protecting his dignity - nothing more, nothing less." : g⍶ⅼν⸳ Her voice rose, sharp and commanding, slicing through the air. Her gaze swept across the office like a blade, daring anyone to challenge her. "Tell me," she said, each word loaded with disdain, "is it so difficult to recognize right from wrong? Or have you all decided that blaming the victim is easier?" Loraine shrank beneath Maia's glare, her shoulders curling inward.

The students standing nearby shifted uncomfortably, their heads bowed in silent shame. A beat of silence stretched across the room before the other teachers, their faces taut with guilt, began to murmur in agreement. "I see no fault in Ethan's actions," one teacher said firmly. "The students who bullied him should be the ones answering for this." "Exactly! He was only trying to protect his backpack. How does that escalate to him being accused of violence? And why is the homeroom teacher glossing over the other students' far worse behavior?" "Such disgraceful behavior in Class One?

This is a matter for disciplinary action, no question about it." Maia shifted her piercing gaze back to Loraine, her voice steady as a hammer striking steel. "Not one of the students who bullied Ethan will walk away without consequences. If this is not handled properly, I will ensure that it is." Cold sweat trickled down Loraine's forehead. She opened her mouth, desperate for a retort, but no words came - only a brittle silence. Maia had thrown a heavy accusation at her, even dragging the other professors into the matter. At that moment, they glared at Loraine with dissatisfaction.

Some even pointed fingers at her and made comments directly. It was the first time Loraine had been cornered so thoroughly. Her jaw clenched tight as she narrowed her eyes at Maia, her voice dropping to a low hiss. "What do you want, then?" Maia, unfazed, crossed her arms with slow deliberation and leaned back into her chair. An air of quiet authority clung to her like a second skin. . . .