Cliff's POV
"Apparently, the principal investigated the matter after the incident. It was a girl named Raven who did it. This girl happens to be a good friend of Miss Coleman," Elliot said.
I furrowed my brows. This was becoming increasingly suspicious. If Melinda's friend was involved in this, could Melinda really be completely unaware?
My trust in Melinda was beginning to waver.
Elliot continued, "Alpha Cliff, perhaps this matter is related to Miss Coleman. Should we continue the investigation?"
I rubbed my temples.
Vanya had been defamed and bullied, yet she hadn't mentioned a word of it to me.
Did that mean I was so unimportant to her?
My heart was filled with a mix of emotions. I felt heartbroken for Vanya's ordeal, guilty for my own negligence. My attitude towards Melinda was also changing as I began to re-evaluate her role in these incidents.
"Since the principal has already investigated, there's no need to dig further," I said in a flat tone. "Just make sure Melinda keeps her distance from those students. They might corrupt her." In truth, I was also conflicted. I didn't know whether to believe Melinda or not. But without concrete evidence, I could only advise her to stay away from those people to avoid further trouble.
Elliot hesitated but, seeing my expression, could only respond, "...Yes, Alpha Cliff."
Vanya's POV
I walked into the second teaching building with Grace.
She couldn't believe that Cliff had eavesdropped on our conversation. Now that things had escalated, she said indignantly, "He defends Melinda even in front of you. What a jerk!"
Although Grace was angry, she was more worried about my situation. She asked, "You just had a major falling-out with Cliff. What are you going to do now?"
She was concerned about my life in the Todd family.
After all, I was still Cliff's wife, the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack.
Grace was full of regret, but I said, "I used to avoid conflicts with Cliff, but who can stay meek forever? I don't want to avoid him anymore."
In fact, I had already planned my own way out. It didn't matter that much whether I offended Cliff or not.
"Grace? What are you doing here?" Derrick, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and holding a stack of books, looked like a scholar.
Grace sized up Derrick and said with an indescribable expression, "I'm here to drop Vanya off at school. And you... are you role-playing?"
"Lack of taste! This is the hit style now!"
"What's that?"
"..." Judging by Derrick's reaction, he didn't want to continue chatting with Grace.
While they were talking, I quietly put on a scarf.
Better safe than sorry. If Derrick saw the marks on my neck, he would surely tell Theodore.
I was also puzzled. Why was I suddenly so afraid of Theodore finding out about this?
"Miss Dalton, don't leave after school. Theodore said he'll come to pick you up," Derrick said.
"What for?" I immediately became alert upon hearing this.
Derrick looked puzzled, "What do you mean, what for? Your company is opening today. Aren't you, the owner, going to show up?"
It then dawned on me.
Right, the company was opening.
I had been so preoccupied with Cliff and Melinda's issues lately that I had handed over all the preparatory work to Theodore and Derrick, completely forgetting that the company was officially opening today.
"Congratulations, Vanya. This is what you call a failure in love but a success in career. I'm the largest shareholder of your company!" Grace patted my shoulder.
Derrick muttered quietly beside her, "The largest shareholder isn't you."
Grace looked puzzled and asked, "What did you say?"
"Nothing," Derrick pretended to whistle nonchalantly.
I shook my head with a wry smile, "But I really might not make it today."
"Why?" Derrick looked confused.
Only Grace knew the reason.
Sure enough, at noon, Cliff's call came to the school.
Instead of contacting me directly, Cliff had reached out to the dean, asking him to pass on the message that I should return home immediately.
Veronica had found out about last night's incident and had come to our house to make a scene.
Meanwhile, the Dalton family was also in turmoil. Mirabel had been waiting for this opportunity to see my downfall. The news from last night's Hammond family gala, where Cliff had left his legitimate wife for another woman, had spread like wildfire throughout the internet.
At noon, Aldridge had almost flooded my phone with calls, but I didn't answer any of them.
When Elliot drove Vanya back to the Silver Moon Pack, Veronica was so angry that she threw the water glass against the wall. Cliff had no choice but to kneel on the ground, not daring to utter a word.
I saw that Cliff's clothes were disheveled, with marks of being hit, and his face was somewhat pale.
"Vanya, you knew about this all along, didn't you? And you just let them carry on like this?!" Veronica's chest heaved with anger.
"If Alpha Cliff likes it this way, there's nothing I can do," I replied indifferently, acting as if it had nothing to do with me.