Rural Belle & Three Heirs by Harper Hall

Chapter 39 Is This How You Behave?

When Lucy spoke, her words carried an unsettling weight, because her dad was the Academic Dean at Quest University, and indeed, he had the power to kick students out. This made everyone shut up real quick-Most students at Quest weren't from wealthy backgrounds, and the threat of expulsion could disrupt their lives significantly. Sometimes, life really did suck.

Seeing everyone fall into a hush, Lucy's smugness became palpable. She soaked in the silent reverence, relishing the control she wielded. With a particularly nasty gleam in her eye, she turned her focus back to Chloe. "Chloe," she sneered, her voice dripping with condescension, "I already told my dad about you hitting me last time. It won't be long before you're kicked out. Let's see how you show off then, how you flaunt in front of Liam. Top student? Who do you think you are?"

Chloe's patience was wearing thin. She had come to Quest University to study, not to navigate this petty high school drama. First, Lucy had ruined her dress at the welcome party; now, she was back at it with another round of provocations. Chloe took a deep breath, deciding it was time to settle this once and for all.

"You, Lucy, are just a bully," Chloe retorted, her voice steady yet resolute. "Want to expel everyone? Fine, start with me. If I don't get an expulsion notice today, you're a loser, and you have to shout 'My dad and I are losers' three times."

The room erupted in laughter. Chloe's challenge hit a nerve. Expelling students from Quest University wasn't a straightforward process. Without any serious infractions, there was little ground for expulsion. Even with her father's position, he couldn't act on whims. Chloe knew Lucy was all bluster.

barked into the phone, "Are you going to handle this? The ugly girl who hit me is acting up again. She said if you don't kick her out today, I have to admit we're total losers. She's so full of herself, even talking smack about you, a school leader. As the Dean, you have to put her in her place. Hurry up and get here; I'm waiting in the classroom." After hanging up,

through Rena. Typically the sort to avoid any form of confrontation, she had stepped into the fray, driven by the relentless bullying Chloe endured at Lucy's hands. Her nerves were frayed at the thought

whisper, "Chloe, the Academic Dean wields a lot of power. If he decides to mess with you, things could get really bad. Maybe you should call the guy who played basketball with us yesterday? He's got connections and might be

understand the inner workings of the affluent, mistakenly assuming Grant was some influential relative

smile. "Don't worry, Rena. This is no big deal. We don't need to drag him into this right now." "But... just

"Lucy's going to regret her stupidity. Let's hear what her dad has

you said, who's getting kicked out isn't clear yet. Chloe, thinking you're

she said, "Alright, since you think Liam won't back me up, let's see what he has to say for

Chloe video-called Liam instead of resorting to her usual