Addicted to you
Chapter 87: Master manipulator

Chapter 87: Master manipulator

Backup #2 gave her a sidelong glance but quickly averted her eyes.

There was guilt. Definitely fear. But behind it all... jealousy?

Interesting.

Yeri’s lips curled into a polite smile, eyes sharpening. _{free we\bnove(l).com}

"If that’s what you’re saying..." she began, tilting her head innocently, "then I’d just like to clarify something."

She sat straighter, turning slightly to address the room, but her gaze remained fixed on Tiffany and Backup #2.

"You’re claiming I instigated the fight. So tell me, what exactly did I say to cause the three of you who are as close as sisters to suddenly turn on each other and fight like unrestrained animals?"

Her voice was quiet, clear, but her words landed like needles.

"Is it truly worth throwing away your reputation, your education, and your dignity... over some guy? Is that the kind of loyalty your friendship holds?"

She paused, then slowly added, "If the teachers hadn’t arrived in time..."

Her voice trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

The room went still.

Even the teachers, who had tried to remain neutral, looked faintly disturbed.

Indeed, no matter the argument or reason, to be so violent with each other over a man? Not to mention, they are still students.

The Dean leaned forward, taking the situation more seriously.

Backup #2 swallowed. Her knuckles were white as she gripped the hem of her skirt.

Hearing Yeri said they fight like unrestrained animals, Tiffany was once again mortified, eyes uneasy.

How did Yeri end up unscathed?

Frustrated, Tiffany snapped, "You insinuated that my friends were seducing my boyfriend! Because of you, we misunderstood each other and fought. Isn’t that enough reason?"

"So you’re saying the three of you couldn’t resolve a misunderstanding like civilised people and instead chose violence?" Yeri replied, her tone gentle but laced with mockery.

Then she turned to Backup Mouth #2. "What evidence do you have that I instigated this incident? Because contrary to your accusations, I have more than enough proof: the school forum where you’ve repeatedly slandered me, the insulting messages you’ve sent, and dormitory CCTV footage clearly showing you three blocking my path everytime just to hurl insults at me face-to-face."

At that, Tiffany and Backup Mouth #2 visibly paled.

One of the teachers furrowed her brows in concern. "Yeri, why didn’t you report this?"

Tiffany hadn’t caused any serious damage yet. So Yeri figured the school would likely just give her a warning, and reporting it felt like a waste of time.

Shaking her head, Yeri replied pitifully, "Teacher, I just want to focus on my studies and graduate peacefully."

"See! See!" Tiffany suddenly leapt up like she’d been electrocuted, pointing accusingly at Yeri. "Dean, look at her! Pretending to be pitiful again, did you use that act to seduce my boyfriend?!"

"Enough!" the Dean interjected, exasperation in his voice. "You’re here to study, not fall in love. Fighting on school grounds over a man, have you considered how that affects your reputation and the school’s image? Tiffany and Rita, don’t think I don’t know your grades have been consistently below average. Maybe try dedicating this energy to your academics instead of chasing boys."

Tiffany and Rita both went white, unable to argue.

"I’ll be filing a formal report," the Dean continued. "All three of you will be under disciplinary review. Effective immediately, you’re suspended from extracurricular activities and campus events until further notice. If this kind of incident happens again, I will personally recommend expulsion."

Tiffany shot Yeri a glare full of hatred. "What about her?"

The Dean sighed. "There’s no evidence Yeri instigated the fight. Besides, your families agreed to settle this privately, so the matter ends here."

Yeri wasn’t surprised. Tiffany’s family must’ve reached out to the others especially that girl Cherry and likely paid handsomely to keep things quiet.

Just then, a knock echoed through the room. The secretary entered looking flustered, followed by a man in a suit.

"Apologies for the delay," the man said formally, handing his business card to the puzzled Dean. "I’m here to represent Miss Rhian."

Tiffany’s face lit up with smug triumph. "This is my family’s lawyer. Yeri caused me to suffer, and I’m not letting her off the hook. I refuse to settle with this bitch!"

Under everyone’s stunned gaze, the lawyer took out a document and handed it to Yeri. "Miss Zhi, please review this. If there are no issues, you may sign it."

Yeri casually accepted it, tilting her head as she skimmed the contents. "You want me to pay their medical bills, write a letter of apology, and publicly admit that I caused the incident?"

"Not just that!" Tiffany demanded. "You have to apologise to me in front of everyone at school. And as you can see, I can’t use my hand right now, so I expect you to act as my personal nanny. Consider it your show of sincerity. If you’re remorseful enough, I might forgive you."

"Apologise for what?" Yeri asked coolly. "Tiffany, it’s not my fault your brain’s defective. As for your hand, are your eyes broken too? Surely you know who actually injured you? Either this girl beside you or Cherry. Not me."

Tiffany was about to explode again, but her lawyer stopped her. With forced composure and a sarcastic undertone, he said, "Miss Zhi’s provocation is... impressive. As you can see, my client’s sudden lapse in self-control leading to violence was not unprompted. Given the current condition of my client and her friends, it’s clear the provocation was severe enough to incite a reasonable person."

Yeri sneered inwardly. As expected from a lawyer twisting the truth was something else.

So now she was being painted as the master manipulator? It almost sounded flattering. Almost.

"So, Mr. Lawyer, what you’re saying is that Tiffany is psychologically unstable? Like a rabid dog who bites anyone that provokes her?"

The lawyer’s mouth twitched. Glancing at Tiffany who looked about ready to lunge only confirmed what Yeri just said.

This wasn’t going as planned. Tiffany’s mother had assured him this was just a high school girl, an easy target. Yet here she was, calm and unshaken.

He couldn’t allow her to seek counsel. With a firmer, almost hostile tone, he warned, "Miss Zhi, reconsider. These terms are lenient. If you refuse, we will proceed with legal action for battery and assault. If this matter goes public, your reputation and the school’s will suffer."

"What’s lenient?!" Tiffany butted in again. "Like I said, I’m not settling! I want Yeri to pay for her crimes!"

Yeri almost burst out laughing but held it in. In front of the teachers, she had to maintain her gentle, well-mannered image.

Ignoring Tiffany, she replied politely, "Sir, I may not be an expert in law, but words alone aren’t enough to build a lawsuit. Battery and assault? Why? I didn’t lay a finger on Tiffany. Don’t think you can fool me."

The lawyer narrowed his eyes and pulled out medical reports detailing the injuries of Tiffany and her friends, hoping to intimidate Yeri into submission.

But before he could say more, another knock interrupted them.

A man entered the room, every inch of him radiating authority.

The room plunged into an almost unnatural silence.

Everyone, including the teachers, the secretary, and even Tiffany’s lawyer stood frozen as the new man adjusted his cufflinks, set down a leather briefcase, and handed the Dean a business card with calm professionalism.

The gold lettering on the card gleamed:

Nathaniel Armour, Senior Partner – A&K Imperial Law Firm

Tiffany’s lawyer visibly flinched. Even the name A&K Imperial carried weight in the legal world especially in civil litigation. It was a name powerful people dropped when they wanted to crush the other side before the hearing even began.

Not only was this man from the country’s most prestigious law firm, he was a senior litigator known for never losing a civil suit.

Everyone was stunned, including Yeri.

She hadn’t called for a lawyer.

Her parents didn’t even know about this incident.

So... Where did this lawyer come from?

Nathaniel Park turned toward her with a respectful bow. "Miss Zhi," he said smoothly, "I apologize for the delay. I was briefed only recently about your situation and came as quickly as I could."

Yeri blinked again. Briefed by whom?

She hadn’t contacted anyone and certainly not a law firm.

He gestured gracefully toward the table where the document Tiffany’s lawyer had given Yeri still sat.

"This document," Nathaniel said, "which demands a public apology, forced servitude, and payment of medical fees without liability established, amounts to coercion, intimidation, and a gross violation of my client’s rights."

Nathaniel Armour continued. "Dean," he began, turning toward the man now sitting with his hands steepled under his chin, "with all due respect, I understand this matter is still under the school’s jurisdiction. I assure you, I do not intend to disrupt your authority. However, my client was just presented with a coercive legal document, pressured without counsel, and accused without evidence."

Tiffany’s lawyer looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. Still, he cleared his throat and replied, "We have medical reports, visible injuries. Surely the Dean can see the damage my client and her friends suffered."

Nathaniel gave him a tight smile. "Injuries sustained during a mutual fight with no recorded instigation by my client, correct?"

"I—"

"Furthermore, I’d like to formally bring to your attention the prolonged bullying my client, Miss Zhi, has endured." He turned to the Dean. "Sir, how many offenses must a student endure before it becomes undeniable that she is being targeted?"

The Dean looked like he wanted to retire on the spot.

Tiffany’s lawyer made one final attempt to salvage the situation. "Still... with three injured girls and one completely unscathed, surely that raises questions—"

"Certainly," Nathaniel interjected, "and yet not questions of guilt. It raises questions about the credibility of the accusers."

"You’re twisting the facts!" Tiffany shouted, her cheeks flaming red. "You don’t know anything! This is all because she seduced Brother Marco! He used to care for me, now he won’t even return my messages!"

"Miss Rhian, was it?" Nathaniel said smoothly, adjusting his glasses. "Throwing accusations like that so casually... You might want to ask your lawyer to give you a quick lesson on defamation and malicious prosecution."

The room fell silent again.

Tiffany blinked, clearly short-circuiting. She turned to Nathaniel, then to her own lawyer, stammering, "Wh-What does that mean?"

Her lawyer sighed deeply and made a subtle hand gesture, silently promising to explain later. Not that he had high hopes, he had a feeling Tiffany wouldn’t grasp it even if he broke it down with finger puppets.

The Dean coughed into his fist, then looked at the two teachers as if pleading for divine intervention.