Chapter 66
Chapter 66 Quiet Protection Behind the Scenes
“M-maybe next time. My cousin is coming to take me for lunch p>
Zora looked at the circle of pretty girls, pursed her lips, and slowly declined.
“Zora p>
Just then, Reed appeared outside the classroom.
He leaned by the doorway, glancing inside to make sure no one was picking on her.
One look around, and he could tell-Zora was actually pretty popular here.
“Reed p>
Zora’s eyes curved into a gentle smile the second she spotted him.
W
“Reed, worried about leaving Zora in our class? Did you run here the moment the bell rang?” Hallie greeted him with a playful smile. She knew Reed well.
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“With you around, I’m sure you’d never let anyone bully Zora,” Reed replied easily, unfazed by her tease.
Jensen was close friends with Leighton, and his grandfather was on good terms with Chet. Naturally, he’d known Hallie for years.
Jensen had already asked Hallie to keep an eye on Zora, so Reed didn’t worry too much about her being mistreated at school.
Everyone in the international program came from wealthy, established families. Raised with proper upbringing, they could see through people’s true colors and never believed every rumor they heard.
Their grades might not always be top-tier, but they were far more mature and perceptive than most. With their family backgrounds secured, they’d never fight fiercely over petty favors or class rankings-those things simply weren’t worth their attention.
The Marlow family held great influence in Seacrest. Whether others wanted to curry favor with them or feared crossing them, no one would dare treat Zora badly here.
“Alright, we’ll head out. Save some time for Zora to hang out with us next time-we’d love looking after her.” Hallie laughed at his calm demeanor.
As she walked past him, she lowered her voice just enough for Reed to hear. “Zora still doesn’t know what’s going on in the campus forum p>
“Let’s grab lunch together another time then,” the other girls said regretfully. They’d been
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Chapter 66 Quiel Protection Behind the Scenes
looking forward to eating with Zora.
“Okay.” Zora nodded obediently.
Once the girls left, Zora stood up and walked over to Reed.
“Reed, what are we going to eat p>
She tilted her head up to look at him, eyes full of anticipation.
“What do you feel like having p>
Reed’s heart softened at her eager little gaze.
“I want something savory… and spicy p>
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15 Pearls
Zora had snacked all morning and craved something with a stronger flavor for a change.
“Then how about barbecue?” Reed immediately locked onto a target upon hearing her request.
“Barbecue? Yes please!” Zora nodded happily.
Reed left Havenridge High with Zora to grab lunch off-campus.
Meanwhile, a notice suddenly spread across all student group chats at the school.
“The drama on the campus forum stops here. Anyone who leaks further details will face expulsion from Havenridge and be blacklisted by the Marlow family p>
In an instant, all the gossip and whispers around school fell silent.
No one dared risk getting expelled. Havenridge High was the top school in Seacrest, offering not just top-tier education but invaluable social connections. Many families went to great lengths just to get their kids enrolled, all for the chance to build powerful networks.
Getting kicked out of Havenridge meant no other school in Seacrest would take them. Their parents would be furious if they found out.
Being blacklisted by the Marlows was even worse-it would effectively shut their family out of Seacrest’s elite social and business circles for good.
Seacrest’s high society was led by the Pierce family, with the Marlows second and the Nolans third. The heirs of all three families were close friends.
When the Marlows issued such a clear warning, the other two influential clans would undoubtedly back them up.
After buzzing for a while, all related posts on the campus forum were completely taken down.
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Chapter 66 Quiet Protection Behind the Scenes
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The removal was carefully handled-every post painting Zora in a bad light vanished entirely. while all content exposing Jolie’s true colors stayed pinned for everyone to see.
This obvious show of protection from the Marlows left everyone talking quietly.
Blood was clearly thicker than water.
Still, Jolie had been in the wrong from the very start.
Elite families had zero tolerance for those who couldn’t stay humble and know their place.
Jolie’s gentle, innocent reputation in high society crumbled completely. No one was willing to get close to her anytime soon.
The Knox family was only a second-tier clan, having climbed into elite circles purely through ties to the Marlows. Now that the Marlows were openly standing by the Knox family’s biological daughter, other powerful families dared not get involved in the conflict.
Jolie skipped lunch that day.
She sat alone in the classroom, scrolling through hateful comments about her online, her face dark and stormy.
Nothing but fair-weather followers, all of them.
“Jolie, what’s going on with the campus forum? How can people say such awful things about you p>
Tessa Frost rushed into the classroom, shocked to see the terrifying expression on Jolie’s face.
Jolie looked so scary in that moment.
“Tessa…” Jolie twisted her fingertips slightly at the sight of Tessa, then lifted her head. Her usually soft eyes glistened with tears, rims red and swollen.
“It’s okay, don’t cry. I’m right here for you,” Tessa hurried to comfort her. “Those people just follow whatever rumors they hear, total bandwagoners. Pay no mind to the forum drama. I know you’re the kindest person there is p>
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10:04 Sun, May 31
The Real Heiress’s New Family Adored by All