Public Apology
"Really? She agreed to withdraw the lawsuit?" Saira exclaimed with delight.
"Yes, she agreed. In the future, if anything happens, tell mommy, and I'll take care of it," Dalia said softly, stroking her long hair.
"Okay."
Once Dalia left, Saira sent this good news to the group chat. Natalie, upon receiving the news, was feeling quite smug when her door was pushed open. Her father walked in and sat across from her.
"When did you learn to do such things?" he questioned coldly.
"Dad, what are you talking about?"
"You don't know what you did?"
"That's the truth. If she dares to do it, why can't I talk about it? She doesn't feel ashamed for doing it; why should I be afraid of saying it?" Natalie retorted stubbornly.
"You foolish girl, even if she did those things, it's not your place to gossip about it online. Your Uncle Lin called to question me, and you've embarrassed me completely. Tomorrow at school, you will apologize to her. And this matter will be over."
"I won't apologize," Natalie said defiantly, her neck stiffened.
She believed she wasn't wrong. If she wasn't wrong, why should she apologize?
"If you don't apologize, then your bags, clothes, shoes, and your credit card will all be cut off. Don't think about asking anyone else for help. When you come to your senses, you'll get them back."
"Dad!" Natalie pouted in dissatisfaction.
Her father remained unmoved.
Seeing that he was serious, Natalie finally lowered her head. "Fine, I'll apologize."
The next day, Saira got up half an hour early as usual, asking the driver to take her to school first. Zuri drove her eye-catching blue sports car to school as usual.
Upon seeing her, Natalie said, "Come with me."
The two walked to a corner, and Natalie, with a stiff neck, said, "I'm sorry."
"What did you say? I didn't hear it."
Natalie was furious. This damned girl was definitely doing this on purpose.
"I'm sorry," Natalie said through gritted teeth.
If it wasn't for the allowance, she wouldn't bow down to this malicious woman.
"So you're apologizing."
"Alright, I've apologized."
As Natalie turned to leave, she heard a faint voice behind her.
"I don't accept this apology. I want you to apologize to me in front of the entire school."
If she didn't do this, Zuri would never wash away those stains.
"Don't push it too far," Natalie glared at her, "You dream of me apologizing in front of all the teachers and students!"
"It's fine if you don't apologize. We'll continue with the lawsuit. Anyway, I have evidence against you. As long as we go to court, you will lose," Zuri said calmly.
"You..." Natalie was fuming, her eyes glaring at Zuri with malice. "Fine, I'll apologize. Just wait."
Natalie stormed off.
"Come out."
Zuri suddenly spoke to the seemingly empty surroundings.
From the tree above, a nimble figure landed gracefully.
"You noticed me," Azura leaned against the tree trunk, a lollipop in her mouth. "Are you sure that girl will apologize to you in front of everyone?"
"She won't," Zuri replied without hesitation.
Azura was intrigued. "If you know she won't, aren't you afraid she'll do something else?"
"Afraid?" Zuri smiled faintly, her eyes deep. "I just fear she wouldn't dare."
Azura's eyes lit up.
This is going to be good!
After the morning classes, all the teachers and students gathered on the playground for the radio exercises. Today was also the monthly speech day, and the speaker was the student council vice president, Arthur.
Looking at the spirited Arthur on the stage, Zuri's bright eyes gleamed with a hint of bloodlust.
"Do you like Arthur?"
Suddenly, a voice appeared quietly behind her.
Azura, at some point, had joined their class and was now standing behind her.
Azura seemed to have remembered something. "Almost forgot, you are the eldest daughter of the Lin family. The one with the arranged marriage must be you. So, that preening peacock on stage is your fiancé."
"Tsk tsk, what a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung."
Azura looked regretful.
Before Zuri could respond, Shaina spoke quietly from the side, "Azura, it's not nice to call Zuri cow dung right in front of her."
Azura's lips twitched, giving Shaina a look as if she were an idiot.
Zuri smiled silently.
Such low-level instigation!
"Are you blind? If your eyes are bad, get them treated," Azura retorted bluntly.
"You..."
Shaina wanted to snap back but was silenced by Azura's cold, sharp gaze.
On the podium, Arthur's arrogant gaze swept over the girls below, seeing their faces and eyes full of admiration and reverence, he felt both proud and disgusted.
When his eyes met the infatuated gaze of a chubby girl from Class 7, he almost gagged.
Admiring glances from beautiful girls were enjoyable, but when ugly girls looked at him like that, it was revolting.
Farah excitedly grabbed the girl next to her, "Arthur just looked at me! Arthur is so handsome, so handsome."
He wouldn't be interested in you anyway.
The girl next to her rolled her eyes inwardly. Arthur cursed her as a pig behind her back, and she didn't even know it.
Arthur finished his speech, and the audience erupted in applause, his admirers clapping fervently.
Arthur, like a gentleman, placed one hand on his chest, bowed, and walked off the stage gracefully.
"Ah, I love Arthur so much."
"Arthur is my prince charming. How can he be so perfect?"
While the girls were still immersed in Arthur's dazzling charm, Natalie quietly took the stage, gripping the microphone, her gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally landing on Zuri.
The students were surprised to see her.
"Why is Natalie on stage?"
"What is she going to do? Give a speech too?"
"Oh my god, I don't want to waste more time listening to another crappy speech."
The students murmured. They were already fed up with the monthly speeches. Listening to two in a row was pure torture.
"I'm here today to say something to Zuri," Natalie began.
The previously listless students perked up.
This was going to be interesting.
"Zuri, if you have the guts to do such things, you should have the guts to admit it. If you dare to do it, don't be afraid of people talking. Your whole body is filthy. Who knows if you have some dirty disease? You act all high and mighty. I'll never apologize to someone as dirty and despicable as you!"