Rural Belle & Three Heirs
Chapter 57 Can't Leave Directly

When Angus and Kassy heard about the Gibson Group, they were totally shocked. "The Gibson Group? You mean..."

The Gibson Group had been blowing up ever since they teamed up with the Davis Group. In just a month or two, they were already making a name for themselves in Sovereign City.

Chloe chimed in, "Yep, I've got a connection at the Gibson Group and can totally get you and Kassy jobs, no problem. But listen, we might be regular folks, but we can't just let this slide. Ford might be the Dean, but he can't just kick out innocent students. And Lucy's got it out for me, Chloe. No way I'm letting Rena take the fall for me."

Chloe's determined stance left Angus and Kassy with no choice but to agree. Not long after, Zara and Tony showed up at the Penrose residence and got to work. Within a few hours, everything was set up perfectly.

Meanwhile, Grant had set up a dinner with Beckett Wallace, the president of Quest University, and Ford. When Ford found out Grant wanted to have dinner with him, he got all dressed up, hoping to impress Grant and boost his career. Grant was curious about the beef between Chloe and Lucy, so he tried to get the scoop from Ford. To his surprise, Ford twisted the story, making Chloe out to be the bad guy. But Grant, knowing Chloe was reasonable despite her temper, saw through Ford's mix of truth and lies.

Grant didn't put much stock in Ford's words. He remembered Chloe's request to have Ford revoke Rena's expulsion.

Ford, not wanting to mess up in front of Grant, quickly assured him, "Mr. Martin, don't worry. Since you asked, I can take care of this. I'll start working on it as soon as I get back tonight. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even consider letting such a disgraceful student back into the school."

Grant was pissed by Ford's words. He knew Rena as a sweet and gentle girl, not a disgraceful student. Frustrated, he slammed his wine glass on the table.

Just then, Stanley rushed in with a phone. After whispering a few words to Grant, he showed him the news on the phone.

A news report in Sovereign City accused the Academic Dean of Quest University of abusing his power to protect his daughter and bully innocent classmates. The report included student testimonies and tons of video clips of Lucy tormenting her peers. One clip even showed Lucy at the Penrose residence, ordering Angus to hit Rena.

Chloe's rush to protect Rena in the video only made Grant angrier, his face darkening with a terrifying seriousness.

Ford, clueless about the online news, was still holding his wine glass, happily drinking with Beckett. As the careless Academic Dean got a bit tipsy, Grant couldn't take it anymore and slammed the table.

He coldly said to Ford, "Is this the 'disgraceful student' you were talking about? Is this the 'school bully' you mentioned? You and your daughter have really turned Quest University into your own personal playground." Grant's sudden outburst left Beckett and Ford completely stunned.

"Mr. Martin, what's going on? Why are you so angry?" Beckett asked, totally confused.

Ford chimed in, "Yeah, Mr. Martin, is there a problem? How does this involve me and my daughter?"

At Grant's signal, Stanley placed the phone in front of Ford and Beckett. Watching the videos, Ford started sweating and was at a loss for words, sobering up real quick. Beckett was just as shocked. If this got out, Ford would totally ruin Quest University's century-old reputation.

"Mr. Kim..." Beckett gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to strangle Ford.

Ford mumbled incoherently, not knowing what to say.

Grant stood up, straightened his suit, and coldly said to Ford and Beckett, "You better give me an explanation for this. Otherwise, the Martin Group's donations to Quest University will end this year. I sent the future mistress of the Martin Family to your Quest University to study, not to be mistreated!"

With that, Grant turned and left with Stanley, leaving Beckett and Ford standing there, looking at each other in dismay.

When Chloe got back to the Martin Mansion after eight in the evening, she was utterly exhausted and dragged herself upstairs.

The news release had gone off without a hitch. She and Philip gathered evidence from students, while Tony and Zara, using Zara's journalism connections, got reporters' attention.

The story quickly blew up, putting a ton of pressure on Quest University to respond. Under such scrutiny, the school couldn't just let Ford off the hook, and Rena's expulsion was likely to be overturned.

Had Chloe known it would be this straightforward, she wouldn't have wasted money on porridge for the utterly useless Grant.

Seeing no one in the living room, Chloe went to her room. Just as she was about to take a shower, she got a call from her grandfather.

Nicholas had seen the news online about Chloe being bullied at school. He kept apologizing to Chloe, "Chloe, I'm so sorry. You've been through so much in Sovereign City, being bullied like that."

Facing Nicholas's superficial concern, Chloe played along. She pitifully asked Nicholas, "Grandpa, I've been so wronged here. Why don't you let me come home?"

Hearing Chloe say she wanted to go back home, Nicholas quickly changed his tone. "Chloe, what do you mean go back home? You need to grow stronger through adversity. You can't leave without finding a husband. Stay with the Martin Family. This kind of mistreatment will never happen to you again."