Betrayed, Then Back For Blood

Chapter 46

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Brandon trailed behind Ashton like a shadow, holding a cup of bubble tea in his hand. He offered it to Briar with a polite nod. “Miss Jennings, Mr. Wade picked this up for you on his way.”

Criar rolled her eyes, biting back a laugh.

She wasn’t one to turn down a kind gesture, so she took the cup and muttered a quick “Thanks.”

Ashton glanced at his watch, as if waiting for someone. Noticing Briar hadn’t touched the drink, he nudged her gently. “Give it a try. How’s it taste?”

Briar lowered her gaze, poked the straw into the cup, and took a sip. The chilled bubble tea was refreshingly sweet, with chewy, bouncy pearls that hit all the right spots. “It’s really good,” she said, her voice softening.

“Glad you like it,” Ashton replied, a satisfied nod accompanying his words. Just then, hurried footsteps echoed nearby. His gaze shifted from Briar’s lips, still damp with bubble tea, to the direction of the sound–just in time to see Frank barreling toward them. The warm smile on Ashton’s face vanished, replaced by a steely glare.

Frank, seeing Ashton’s intense stare, stumbled, almost falling. He even started mentally preparing for how he’d call an ambulance after Ashton inevitably beat him up. Trembling, he stood before Ashton and managed a shaky greeting. “Ashton…”

just let out a cold huff

Brandon, hoping for a hint,

assumed Ashton was taking her to the infirmary, but instead, he led her straight to

the sofa in the principal’s office, sipping her boba tea and enjoying the air conditioning. She watched, utterly bewildered, as Marvin and Frank stared awkwardly at each other.

play well with Ashton. He emphasized the

and Abbie in tow,

Briar, but she knew Frank, the department heartthrob, and Principal Marvin. She frowned, puzzled–Marvin rarely

and Abbie froze, their confusion deepening when they saw

the man sitting next to Briar on the sofa. Even if they didn’t know who he was, the

confidence they’d wielded against Briar earlier evaporated, replaced

his aura alone was enough to rattle them.

sank as a terrifying thought hit her. ‘Why is he here? And

Briar had Ashton backing

face paled at the