Divorced, But Queen - Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Elric knew better than to directly demand a high price; Aria was not someone to be trifled with. "Your brother's injuries have nothing to do with my son," he stated coldly.
Aria gave him a sharp look. "We didn't ask you for any money. It's normal to have some friction during a basketball game, but you don't even know who actually bumped into your son. So why are you targeting Nathan?"
The situation on the court had almost turned into a brawl, and no other parents had gotten involved, except for them.
Her gaze was chilling, eyes as sharp as if she could read his soul.
Elric flinched and quickly averted his eyes, adopting a defensive stance. "We just want thirty thousand dollars. For someone like you, Ms. Saxon, that amount is just pocket change, isn't it?"
Aria glanced briefly at Leofric, who stood protectively by his mother's side, then returned her attention to Elric.
"I won't give you any money," she replied flatly.
He pressed, "Fine, then give it to my son."
"What's his is mine," he muttered dismissively.
Aria was unbothered. "I'm not trying to make things difficult. If Leofric can get into a prestigious university, I'll pay thirty thousand.
"If you agree, we'll sign an agreement. If not, you can talk to my lawyer."
Elric thought for a moment and realized pressing the matter further wouldn't benefit him, so he backed off.
His goal had been accomplished.
Aria took a piece of paper from Valerie and prepared an agreement, pen in hand.
Nathan leaned in to glance at the paper and couldn't help but mutter, "Your handwriting is terrible."
Aria simply replied, "Those who cause trouble don't have the right to speak in front of me."
"I was just trying to help!" Nathan shot back.
"Fool," she retorted.
Nathan's nostrils flared in frustration.
Valerie quickly interjected, "Respect your sister."
Reluctantly, he swallowed his words.
Once the document was signed, Elric walked away with a spring in his step.
Leofric glanced at Aria and then followed his mother out.
Aria stood up. "Sorry to trouble you. Now that it's resolved, I'll be leaving."
"It's no trouble at all," Valerie said with a smile, clearly approving of how Aria handled the situation—simple and direct.
"Ms. Saxon," Valerie continued, "why did you agree to pay so quickly when it's obvious that Leofric's parents are trying to extort you?"
Aria thought back to Leofric.
His school uniform was faded, his frame thin and frail, showing signs of malnutrition.
His mother was no better.
"It's because the money doesn't matter for me," she said simply.
Those words left Valerie speechless.
Micah, suppressing a chuckle, observed with growing complexity in his eyes.
He thought to himself, 'Everyone says Ms. Saxon is cold and ruthless, but there's a kindness in her.'
Just then, Micah's phone buzzed. It was a message from Logan: [Is it all sorted?]
Micah replied: [Yes, Mr. Saxon. It's done.]
Logan ordered: [There's an issue with a project. Come back quickly with your bodyguard. We need to take care of it.]
Micah was taken aback. Logan's messages were always demands, never explanations.
After exchanging a quick word with Aria and Nathan, he left immediately with the bodyguard.
Nathan, feeling both grateful and awkward, turned to Aria. "Thanks for today. I'll pay you back, really. I'll cover the thirty thousand."
Aria didn't bother responding—after all, she hadn't come for him.
The two were never on the same wavelength anyway. Nathan, unfazed by her lack of response, pushed open the door and left.
His friends immediately swarmed around him.
One of his friends exclaimed, "Nathan, I didn't expect you to be so tolerant. Even though you've got a temper, you didn't ask us to pay for anything after all that."
Nathan looked confused. "Pay for what?"
Another chimed in, "We heard! Your family bought you a huge insurance policy. Anyone who hurts you has to pay, right?"
"Your family is really nice. After all that happened, you didn't ask Tavion to pay?" the third said.
Nathan was at a loss for words.
How could he explain that Aria had taken care of everything? If the Vellier family came looking for him again, things would get worse.
He could only nod. "Yeah, they bought it for me, but it's not a big deal."
But it was a big deal.
That night, after the incident, Logan immediately bought high insurance policies for everyone in the family.
His good friends, while being provoked by others, pushed him forward, shouting, "Beat him up! If you get sued for compensation, you can't afford it!"
Word spread, and soon, his classmates treated him like a pariah, avoiding him as if he were a plague.
Anything even remotely risky—like moving heavy things—he was excluded from.
He became the fragile little boy of the entire grade.
Nathan, oblivious to how his life would change, looked around and saw a girl with a low ponytail and black-framed glasses.
Their eyes met.
"Move. You're in the way." Her voice was clear, but with an icy edge.
Nathan instinctively stepped aside, then looked back at the girl, only to see her frozen, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.
She stood motionless, staring at something, or rather, someone.
Nathan wondered, 'What is going on?'