Chapter 9 Have Her Write
An Apology
Coen strode forward, his face hard. “What’s happening here?”
Norene wiped her tears. “I just finished my interview and ran into Joanna. She yanked me aside and started hitting me. I
don’t know why… Maybe she’s mad because I’m dating her ex.”
Coen’s expression darkened as he turned to Joanna. “You attacked someone over something so trivial?”
Joanna clamped her mouth shut, refusing to respond.
Norene’s bruised face spoke for itself. No excuse would change what had happened.
Still, if Joanna stayed silent, she risked getting in serious trouble with the school for assaulting a schoolmate.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Owen casually interjected, “This is only my second time visiting this school since I got back, and I’ve already stumbled upon something like this. Does this sort of thing happen all the time when I’m not here?
With discipline this poor, how can I trust my son’s education to this place? As for that donation for the new lab building…
I might have to rethink it.”
Joanna’s head snapped up, shock clear in her expression.
Owen’s words had cornered her completely.
Coen felt a wave of panic and wiped the sweat from his brow. “Mr. Harvey, please! Every school has a few troublemakers,
but they don’t reflect our values! I promise you–I’ll deal with this properly and give you a satisfactory explanation!”
Owen arched an eyebrow. “Oh? And what exactly do you plan to do about this girl?”
Coen hesitated before offering, “What if… we expel her?”
Joanna felt like the ground had been ripped from under her. Everything spun. She swayed, barely keeping her footing.
If they expelled her, she’d lose her diploma. No diploma meant no decent job. No job meant she’d be stuck in Qakvale
forever.
“Mr. Schultz…” she started, her voice unsteady.
Coen cut her off with a sharp glare.
Left with no choice, she turned to Owen, eyes wide with desperation. She didn’t speak, but her silent plea was
unmistakable.
Gone was her usual tough exterior. Fear and helplessness were all that remained.
Strangely, Owen found this raw panic far more satisfying than the stubborn defiance she had shown earlier.
“Hmm, this seems a bit harsh,” he mused. “Why don’t we ask the victim’s opinion?”
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Chapter 9 Have Her Write An Apology
He shifted his gaze to Norene. “Well, Miss, what do you think?”
Norene could hardly contain her delight. She had assumed that since Joanna would soon marry into Owen’s family, he would naturally take her side. But to her surprise, he disliked Joanna even more than she did!
A surge of vindictive excitement rushed through her.
She didn’t just want revenge–she wanted to make Joanna suffer.
Without hesitation, she strode forward, her hand lifting high.
Her sharp nails caught the light, promising to leave deep, angry marks on Joanna’s skin. Joanna saw the fury burning in Norene’s eyes. She knew there was no escaping this. If she dodged now, Owen might make things even worse for her.
Taking a slow breath, she curled her hands into fists and shut her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.
The air shifted as the slap swung toward her. The force of it sent a breeze through her hair.
Something inside Joanna snapped, like a thread pulled too tight.
But the expected sting never came.
She blinked in confusion, her breath catching when she saw Owen gripping Norene’s wrist mid–air.
Norene flinched, pain flashing across her face. “Mr. Harvey, what are you doing?” she demanded, disbelief lacing her voice.
Owen remained composed. “Violence only fuels the fire. It solves nothing.”
Norene pressed her lips together, frustration bubbling up. “Then tell me, how am I supposed to settle this?”
Owen’s expression turned serious. “Have her write an apology letter. A proper one. She needs to reflect on her actions.”
Norene stared at him, stunned. That was it? After everything, just a letter? Was he actually being serious?
“Brilliant idea, Mr. Harvey!” Coen exclaimed, eager to settle the matter. Without hesitation, he ordered Joanna to submit the
apology letter on time.
Joanna let out a deep breath, unable to hide the relief washing over her. A grateful smile broke through as she said, “Thank
you, Mr. Schultz!”
Owen fixed her with a long, deliberate stare. “Be sure to reflect on every slap you’ve delivered.”
Her chest tightened. So he hadn’t let that go. She swallowed hard and nodded. “Understood, Mr. Harvey.”
And just like that, the matter was brushed aside.
Everyone seemed content― except Norene. No one had even bothered to ask if she was okay with this! She was the victim! Shouldn’t her opinion matter?
Before she could protest, Coen smoothly led Owen away, shutting down any chance for her to object.
Norene seethed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Joanna, you’re really something. Winning Owen over so fast? You must’ve picked up quite a few tricks that night!”
Joanna’s lips curled into a smirk. “Curious, are you? I can call Owen back to explain everything. Want me to?”
Of course not! Only an idiot would spread rumors about Owen and his daughter–in–law right in front of him. That was practically begging for disaster.
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Chapter 9 Have Her Write An Apology
Norene shot Joanna a withering glare, then stormed off, her swollen face only adding to her humiliation.
Joanna merely shrugged and made her way to lunch.
But just as she reached the gate, she spotted a familiar figure leaning against a sleek car.
Owen stood there, hands in his pockets, watching her with lazy indifference.
Joanna’s heart gave an unexpected jolt.
For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, she had the distinct feeling he was waiting for her.
Forbidden Lust: A Night With My Husband’s Father
