Divorced, But Queen - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Nathan's eyes bulged when he saw Aria.
"Why is it you?" he demanded.
Aria gave him a quick glance but remained silent as she pulled out a chair and sat down.
Micah spoke up, "No one else had time. Mr. Saxon asked Miss Aria Saxon to come."
It stung Nathan's pride to have someone he disliked witness his most humiliating moment.
Still, the mess was his making, and he had no right to blame anyone else.
These people were tough to deal with, but Nathan was curious to see how Aria would handle it.
Once he'd calmed down, he figured he might as well step aside. "She's my guardian. You want to figure things out, talk to her."
Thorne spoke up first, "You're—"
Aria interrupted, "I'll understand the situation first, then we'll talk about compensation."
At the mention of compensation, Thorne's eyes lit up, but before he could speak, Aria shot him a look that silenced him. "Don't interrupt me, or we're done here. We'll call the police."
The dean and Valerie exchanged a glance.
Valerie wondered, 'Is she being too arrogant? Maybe. But at least it is quiet now.'
Maelis gritted her teeth. "Fine, you figure it out. But don't think this is over—my son was hurt, and it's not finished."
Aria turned her eyes to Nathan, taking in his disheveled school uniform, torn collar, bandaged forehead, swollen left cheek, darkened lips, and the bloodstains on his neck.
"You guys really scratch each other like that when you fight?" she remarked.
Nathan, frustrated by her gaze, was ready to retort, but paused. "Is that really the point?"
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Did you lose the fight?"
"No," Nathan responded without hesitation. "I win."
Thorne and Maelis were seething, ready to erupt when Nathan added, "Tavion runs his mouth, so he's paying the price."
Thorne and Maelis exchanged looks, their fury momentarily quelled by the thought of a bigger payout.
They had researched—the Saxon family was one of Mandino City's four major families. Asking for a few million wasn't out of the question.
Aria's gaze swept over the two boys before locking onto Tavion Vellier.
He was tall, overweight, with green-dyed hair, and covered in a few noticeable wounds.
The most serious injury was to his right leg, which was wrapped up like a pig's trotter.
She glanced back at Nathan. She thought, 'Really stupid. He doesn't even know how to strike in the shadows.'
A sharp whistle cut through the room.
It was Tavion.
Tavion grinned cockily. "Nathan, is this your sister? She's got a nice figure—better than your girlfriend's."
Nathan instantly lost it, charging at Tavion, but before he could reach him, Valerie stepped in front of him. "Tavion's parents, your son's words are a bit too harsh."
Thorne scoffed, turning his head away.
As Aria looked at the teacher protecting Nathan, she slowly stood up and said, "Compensation will be reduced by 300 thousand dollars."
The room went still.
Thorne wondered, 'What?'
Before anyone could respond, Thorne rushed forward, slapped Tavion hard across the back of his head.
His beer belly jiggled with the force of the slap.
"Useless. Apologize!" he shouted.
Tavion cried out in pain, still stunned, before being forced to bow.
"He's young. He doesn't understand. I've already taught him a lesson," Thorne said with a patronizing smile, his voice smooth and apologetic.
The dean and Valerie fell silent.
Valerie thought, 'Is this really the same man who'd been cursing us for the past hour?'
Nathan was just as surprised.
He thought, 'Is this how it would be resolved? I have money. I can handle it myself!'
Aria's tone remained calm. "You hit the wrong place. His mouth is the dirty part."
The slap echoed across the room, landing squarely on Tavion's already wounded lips.
He howled in pain, tears filling his eyes.
The office was dead silent; only the distant sounds of a classroom could be heard.
Valerie, seizing the opportunity, took a sip of water, finally breathing a little easier.
"Ms. Saxon, here's what happened…" Valerie began explaining the whole situation.