"After all, if he does it over the PA system, I can't look him in the eye to verify his remorse."
Seriously?
Zane was momentarily at a loss for words.
Securing the public apology was a massive victory. Did she really need the guy to grovel at her feet and beg for mercy on his knees?
This was crossing straight into psychological torment.
A single glance at Levi confirmed it; blazing rage was practically shooting out of the boy's eyes.
"Then how would you like to verify his sincerity?"
Lillian asked, suppressing a wry smirk.
Frankly, she was thrilled that someone was finally putting these arrogant, entitled brats in their place.
What did it matter if Claire rejected Sloane?
People had the right to say no.
What gave him the right to twist the truth and vilify the girl?
Was his precious goddess so incredibly fragile that she couldn't handle a simple refusal?
Did the entire universe really have to revolve around Sloane Sterling?
Did the Sterlings hold the deed to the planet?
"Doesn't the University Games kick off on Wednesday? Why not have Levi deliver
his apology on stage during the opening ceremony?"
Zane tossed out the suggestion casually.
For a fleeting second, Lillian was convinced Zane had lost his mind.
How was he even more unhinged than his student?
"You know perfectly well the dean will be at the Games! Allowing a public scandal at
the opening ceremony would get me fired on the spot!"
Lillian fought the urge to kick Zane next.
The bastard really knew how to back her into a corner.
"So, what's your alternative?"
Zane crossed his arms, leaning fully into his role as an unreasonable tyrant.
A massive headache bloomed behind Lillian's temples.
She turned back to Claire. "Claire, how about this? Levi goes to your classroom and apologizes to you in front of your entire class."
"That way, you can verify his sincerity face-to-face, and he can officially clear your name regarding the rumors."
Claire remained utterly silent.
Was she rejecting the offer?
Lillian suppressed a sigh. Geniuses were always impossibly high-maintenance.
The medical faculty had ruthlessly poached Claire from the math department. If Lillian's student caused this prodigy to transfer out, she would become public enemy. number one.
"Claire, why don't you propose a solution?"
Lillian just wanted the girl to spit out her demands and end this psychological torture.
The suffocating silence was like a slow execution.
"Ms. Vance, Levi spread his vicious lies in the cafeteria multiple times. That's where this entire mess began."
Claire finally spoke, putting Lillian out of her misery.
Lillian instantly caught her drift. "You want Levi to publicly apologize in the cafeteria?"
"No! You can't!" Levi exploded before Lillian could even finish her sentence.
He loved holding court in the cafeteria and soaking up the admiring gazes of his underclassmen.
But apologizing there in front of everyone? That was social suicide! would His reputation. FindNovel.net
completely dest suicidet
Levi panicked, wildly desperate to save himself.
He had to fight back.
qo
Sloane, however, didn't dare say a word in his defense this time.
She was terrified of getting dragged down with him.
The sheer thought of having to
aire cafeteria made Sloane to Claire in front of the et
nauseous. She would never subject herself to that.
"What do you mean, 'no'? You had no problem opening your mouth in the cafeteria
when you were spreading rumors."
It wasn't Lillian who spoke, but Norris.
With Professor Norris chiming in, Lillian remembered that he had personally
witnessed the entire confrontation.
She absolutely had to give him face.
If she pissed him off, he might just snatch Claire right back to the math department!
Lillian shot a vicious glare at Levi. "Professor Norris is absolutely right! Why can't you do it?"
"You started those rumors in the cafeteria, so you'll end them in the cafeteria. Finish what you started!"
Levi was stunned. Finish what he started?
Was she seriously weaponizing a motivational quote against him?
But with his counselor laying down the law, what ground did he have left to stand
on?
Levi instinctively looked toward Sloane.
He prayed she would step in and defend him.
Her father was Vice President Sterling, after all. Surely the faculty would bend to her
influence?