Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 321

Mandy shot him a cold, mocking smile. "As long as you understand, I'll leave the rest for you to clean up."

The principal kept a wide, ingratiating grin plastered on his face until Mandy, the walking disaster, finally left his office. Only then did his expression collapse into gloom.

If he'd known she'd be this much trouble, he never would've taken Ethan's hush money back then, let alone try to fire Mandy for so-called "personal conduct" issues. Who could have predicted that Ethan would change his mind and say there was no need to fire her? But ever since then, Mandy had latched onto him like a parasite that simply wouldn't let go.

Somehow, she'd managed to dig up every sordid detail about his affair with a student. From that moment on, she held all the cards.

Anytime he dared go against her wishes, she'd dangle that secret over his head, threatening to expose him. He regretted his choices every single day.

Sure enough, less than half an hour after Mandy left, a group came storming into his office complaining that she'd gotten into a fight in the cafeteria.

The principal stared at the three girls, disheveled and on the verge of tears, and his already foul mood turned even worse. He slammed his hand on the desk, unleashing a furious tirade. Spittle flew with every word, as if he might drown them with his anger alone.

The girls stood frozen in shock, faces flushed with humiliation, tears brimming in their eyes. How could this be happening? They were the ones who'd been attacked-so why were they the ones getting chewed out?

...

Mandy stalked out of the school, everyone and everything grating on her nerves. She needed air-space to breathe.

she stepped outside, a sleek motorcycle screeched

the pavement, exuding a rugged charisma. He pulled off his helmet,

It was Normand.

coolly. "What

asked. But halfway there, a friend called,

the ex-girlfriend who'd dumped him not

bruised his ego in a way he just couldn't let go. He'd drowned his

opportunity. Maybe if he showed up with Mandy-someone beautiful, unpredictable—it would rattle Scarlet, and he'd get a little of

told Mandy about the

my thing,"

would it take

She paused.

"Money."

to make cash some other way—and if there

brightened immediately. "How

much are

"Depends on how convincing you are. If you agree

girlfriend for the night, how about ten

dollars for one