Chapter 121: You’ve Been Served!
No one in the administrative office had expected this remarkably young and exceptionally handsome man to possess such overwhelming authority. Even more shocking was the revelation that he was the owner of the Stone Free Grand Hotel.
Luca Hale leaned back against the reception sofa, one leg crossed over the other. His right hand rested casually on the polished mahogany armrest while his index finger tapped the wood in a slow, steady rhythm.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Each crisp sound seemed to echo through the silent office, falling in perfect sync with the racing heartbeats of everyone present.
"Mr. Hale... please," Principal Monica said carefully, forcing a stiff smile despite the uneasiness creeping into her voice. "This may all be one terrible misunderstanding."
The moment Luca revealed his identity, an icy chill settled over her.
In a metropolis like Las Venturas, the Stone Free Grand Hotel might have been just another luxury establishment. But in Ashford, it represented prestige itself.
More than sixty percent of the city’s business conferences, high-end banquets, and political receptions were hosted within its halls.
Could someone of her position afford to offend the man who owned it?
Absolutely not.
And beyond his wealth, it was the calm authority Luca carried that truly unsettled her. Even the chairman of the Crystal Gems Educational Academy franchise lacked this kind of commanding presence. Every gesture, every glance, every word radiated quiet confidence.
She no longer doubted him for even a second.
"A misunderstanding?" Luca let out a cold laugh, though there wasn’t the slightest trace of amusement in it. "I stood here with my own ears and listened to that worm fabricate disgusting lies about my woman. Now you’re telling me it was all a misunderstanding?"
His sharp gaze locked onto the principal.
"Does that honestly sound reasonable to you?"
Slander?
Character defamation?
Principal Monica finally understood how serious the situation truly was.
She spun around, her expression darkening instantly.
"What exactly happened here?" she demanded, glaring at the battered instructor. "James!"
James Trav trembled uncontrollably.
His lips quivered as he began explaining everything in broken, stammering sentences. Faced with Luca’s overwhelming pressure, he no longer dared to invent another lie.
If Sophie Kennedy were called over for a face-to-face confrontation, every fabricated story would collapse immediately.
The office fell silent.
Only James’ shaky confession could be heard.
As he spoke, everyone watched Principal Monica’s expression grow darker and darker. The disappointment in her eyes slowly gave way to outright fury.
James’ legs shook so violently that he could barely remain standing. He stumbled backward before collapsing onto the floor with a dull thud.
Combined with his swollen face and bloodied lips, he looked utterly pathetic.
"You..."
Principal Monica pointed a trembling finger at him, her face pale with anger.
"James Trav... Mr. James..." she said through clenched teeth. "Do you have any idea that maliciously damaging another person’s reputation is a criminal offense? Teacher Kennedy is your colleague. She works under the same roof as you. Were your jealousy and resentment really so great that you stooped this low?"
She felt nothing but disappointment.
She had planned to publicly commend James at next week’s faculty meeting. His performance bonus had already been approved and was sitting on her desk.
Never in her worst nightmares had she imagined something this disgraceful happening under her watch.
"Mr. Hale, I..."
Before she could continue, Luca casually raised a hand.
The simple gesture silenced her immediately.
"You don’t need to apologize to me, Principal," he said coldly. "I’m not interested."
His eyes shifted to James.
"As for you..."
His voice dropped, each word carrying a terrifying calm.
"You spread malicious rumors about the woman I love."
"You’d better be prepared to face every legal consequence that comes with it."
"I want you to understand something very clearly."
"When adults make mistakes, the law holds them accountable."
"Mr. Hale, please!" James cried, his composure completely collapsing the moment he heard the word "legal."
"I was wrong! I admit it! I’ll apologize to Teacher Kennedy! I’ll pay whatever compensation you want! Please... please spare me!"
Luca laughed quietly.
"Compensation?"
He looked at James as though he were staring at something beneath contempt.
"Do I look like a man who’s desperate for your money?"
His smile disappeared.
"You can discuss compensation with my legal team."
"They’ll decide what you owe."
"You dared to slander my woman."
"I’m going to make sure you pay the highest price the law allows."
James stared at him blankly.
The last trace of color drained from his face.
His shoulders slumped as hopelessness swallowed him whole.
He understood now.
Luca had no intention of letting him walk away.
Just then, the sharp ring of a classroom bell echoed down the hallway, signaling the end of the final lesson.
Principal Monica quickly shot a desperate glance toward the reception desk.
The receptionist immediately understood.
She hurried out in her heels, rushing toward Sophie’s classroom as quickly as she could.
Moments later, Sophie Kennedy stepped into the lobby, her expression filled with confusion after seeing the receptionist’s unusually panicked face.
Almost at the same time...
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open.
Mason Reid stepped out first.
Behind him followed a team of sharply dressed legal executives and uniformed security personnel, all moving with disciplined precision in matching dark business suits.
The moment Principal Monica saw them, her heart sank.
For the last ten minutes, she had secretly hoped Luca had merely been bluffing.
That fragile hope shattered instantly.
"Good afternoon, Boss."
Mason and the executives bowed in perfect unison.
The overwhelming corporate presence they carried immediately silenced the entire office.
Teachers and staff stared at Luca in complete disbelief.
These were senior executives from the Stone Free Grand Hotel.
Yet every one of them addressed this young man with absolute respect.
"Who’s in charge of our legal department?" Luca asked calmly.
A woman wearing neatly pressed business attire and polished wire-rimmed glasses stepped forward.
"I am, Boss."
"My name is Sarah Quinn, Head of Corporate Legal Affairs."
"Good."
Luca nodded once before pointing toward the corner of the room where James knelt.
"I’m handing this matter over to you."
"There is only one objective."
"Use every legal resource available."
"File every civil and criminal action applicable."
"And make sure that piece of trash pays the highest price the law permits."
He never once mentioned James by name.
He didn’t need to.
Everyone in the room knew exactly who he meant.
After all, James Trav was the only person kneeling on the floor, bruised, bloodied, and trembling as his entire life crumbled around him.