Chapter 74: 'I want the hand that hit my sister!”

Chapter 74: “I want the hand that hit my sister!” Author’s POV "What do you think you are?" the dean barked, glaring at Seraphina with disgust in his eyes. His voice echoed through the office, as it was loud enough to make the other teachers flinch. "Sir, didn’t I already say that I was equally involved?" Max interjected, stepping forward. "I was the one who distracted her and kept talking. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me." "Really, Max?" The dean turned his head toward him, his voice soft now. "Who are you trying to fool? You expect me to believe that?" Max scoffed, as a sarcastic smile appeared on his lips. He was about to say something when Seraphina raised her hand, stopping him, and stepped forward. "It’s fine, Max," she said calmly in a low but steady voice. She turned to the dean and looked him straight in the eyes. "I don’t think I’m anything special," she said softly. "All I believe is that I’m a student of this school, and I deserve the same treatment as everyone else." She took a deep breath and clenched her fists at her sides. "But from the very first day I came here... It’s like I’m not even allowed to breathe the same air as the other students here. Even if I move a little, you guys blame me and are even eager to punish me!" Her voice trembled slightly, but she didn’t stop and went on. "You hit me on the head without asking what happened, without checking the facts. You didn’t even bother to listen. Just because I don’t have a powerful last name or a rich backing like this guy," she pointed at Max, "you’ve already decided I’m wrong." The room fell silent for a second. "You don’t want a student like me here, right? Then just say it. But don’t hide behind rules and punishments when clearly, this is about bias... not discipline." Her words left all the teachers stunned. Even Max was surprised. He had never seen this side of her before. She was not yelling or crying and was just stating the facts. "Sir, she is right. Let’s hear what she has to say," Seraphina’s homeroom teacher spoke up gently, stepping beside her and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She was the only one in the faculty who ever tried to protect Sera. But the other teacher, who had hit her... He wasn’t ready to back off. "Are you saying we should tolerate a student like her?" he growled as his eyes were fuming with rage. "She’s nothing but a charity case... picked off the streets, given a seat that she doesn’t deserve... and look at her attitude, as if she were the real heiress of the Lancaster family. Seraphina flinched slightly, but she didn’t lower her eyes. "And let’s not even start on her so-called family," the teacher spat, waving the folded paper roll in the air. "Even Mrs. Lancaster didn’t bother to show up. Doesn’t that tell us to expel her already? She’s a vixen who is trying to make her way in high society, and it was right of me to put her in place." He raised the roll again, voice rising, "If you ask me, I should’ve hit her a hundred more times—" Click. The door opened, catching everyone’s attention as the teacher stopped his hand in mid-air. A gust of cold air followed the man who walked in. A tall and lean man entered with his sleeves rolled up just enough to show the veins on his forearms, as his steps were slow and deliberate. His black shirt clung to him, making it obvious for his abs, but what was scary was his blazing eyes. It was Asher Lancaster. The room fell silent, and even the dean’s lips tightened. "Sorry I’m late," Asher said in a calm but dangerously cold tone. He was still holding the chocolate and the gift box in his hands as his eyes scanned the room as if he were counting the number of enemies around him. He stepped inside slowly, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. "So..." he said, cracking his neck slightly. "Who. Hit. My. Sister?" He said one word at a time, clenching his teeth. Everyone was too stunned to move, let alone speak. Asher’s gaze locked onto the teacher in question, who still held the folded paper roll mid-air like a weapon. "You?" Asher asked with an expressionless face. "I... I was just trying to discipline her," the teacher stammered, dropping the roll behind him as if it’d never been in his hand. "She was out of control, and students like her, who are good for nothing—" Before he could complete what he had to say, Asher’s laughter echoed through the room. "My sister has been ’out of control’ since the day she was born..." he said. "But no one.... And I repeat, no one has the right to raise a hand on her." "Asher," the dean tried to speak, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "We were just trying to maintain order—" "Order? Who are you fucking kidding?" Asher cut him off. "And this school should thank its stars that my sister even agreed to study here. Because if it were up to me, I’d rather homeschool her myself and hide her so that fuckers like you doesn’t have the guts to mistreat her." He turned to Seraphina, his tone softening. "You okay?" he asked, ignoring the rest of the room. Seraphina gave a tiny nod. She was in disbelief that Asher had shown up out of nowhere. "Good." He turned back. "Because now I’m going to make sure others are not okay." Asher said and looked at the dean, "I want the hand that hit my sister!" "What!?" Everyone’s eyes widened in shock. "Mr. Asher, I heard she is just a charity case! Why bother..." the dean said, but before he could complete, came a slap across his face, leaving everyone speechless. "Come again?’ Asher asked, glaring at him.