The Fake Heiress Turns Out to Be a True Tycoon! novel Chapter 416

Chapter 416: Chapter 416: The Dean Has Returned

Chase Jennings’ voice wasn’t loud, but his tone carried an undeniable firmness that demanded no questioning.

Fiona Harper realized what he was referring to, her face instantly flushing bright red.

Ava Zimmerman had already looked up at Chase when he pointed at her. Her sullen eyes lingered for just a moment before quickly darting down, betraying little emotion.

Fiona Harper was initially shocked to hear the word "friend" from Chase. When she grasped the meaning, her voice trembled slightly,

"I... I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was your friend. But what I said earlier... I truly meant no malice."

"Malice isn’t yours to define."

Chase Jennings glanced at Fiona with evident impatience, feeling that the girl before him smelled more and more like fake sweetness—an attitude he outright disliked right now.

His expression grew colder,

"None of us here are deaf or blind. Do you honestly think no one could see through your petty games? Apologize!"

The deliberate heaviness in Chase’s voice as he emphasized the word "apologize" made Fiona Harper flinch in fear. Without daring to say anything further, she hurriedly turned around, eyes reddened, and apologized to Ava Zimmerman,

"I’m sorry. What I said earlier must have hurt you... but I truly didn’t mean anything by it."

Ava Zimmerman looked at the pitiful figure in front of her, laughing coldly in her mind but betraying no reaction on the surface. Her head remained lowered as she spoke in a hoarse, timid voice, "It’s fine."

Just hearing her voice sent Chase Jennings’ thoughts back to the night when she had spoken to him.

Back then, Chase wondered why a woman’s voice could sound so unpleasant. But after reading her file, all he felt toward her was sympathy.

At thirteen, she survived a devastating fire. Her throat was damaged by the smoke, and her face was ruined.

She lost her family, leaving only herself to struggle through life until high school, where she eventually dropped out.

Chase Jennings used to think he couldn’t imagine someone living such a miserable life.

Yet despite her misfortune, she managed to maintain a kind heart. After finding him attacked, she stayed by his side and ensured he was brought to the hospital, disappearing quietly afterward.

Chase thought, indeed, he had once been too superficial.

A person’s value cannot be judged by their appearance.

The more beautiful a woman is, the deadlier her schemes.

Fiona Harper watched as Chase Jennings walked over to Ava Zimmerman’s side, wanting to say more, but the mall’s owner had already stepped forward and motioned with his hand,

"Which brand’s planner are you? I think your company ought to send someone else for coordination."

Upon hearing this, Fiona Harper immediately abandoned any concern for Chase Jennings.

She quickly went over to explain herself to the mall owner.

Today was her first solo exhibition planning project since her promotion. If they replaced her, she’d be a laughingstock back at the company.

She decided to figure out a way to explain things to Mr. Chase later, hurrying off after the mall manager and owner instead.

Once Fiona walked away, Chase Jennings and Ava Zimmerman could talk more freely.

Chase asked her, "Do you remember me? You saved me two days ago."

Ava Zimmerman nodded. "Are you alright now?"

"Thanks to you."

Chase said, "Today, I came specifically to thank you. Rest assured, from now on, no one here will trouble you again. If you want a position change or need anything else, just tell me."

Chase’s words carried undeniable confidence. Although the mall had no ties to his family, he had this assurance and dared to promise her.

Ava Zimmerman, hearing his offer, showed no trace of excitement on her face and instead remained calm as before.

"That won’t be necessary."

She said, "I’m used to it."

Her simple words struck Chase Jennings, hitting a part of his heart unexpectedly.

With each sentence Ashton Todd uttered, nearby students instinctively angled their ears closer. By the end, the group surrounded him like a closed blossom.

As they listened intently, the director’s voice abruptly stopped on stage. And just moments later, the director, who had supposedly been standing in the front, seemed to teleport almost instantaneously to Ashton Todd’s side.

Unhurriedly, he picked up the conversation,

"Indeed, I did fight, but as Mystical Sect practitioners, we don’t call it a fight—it’s called a spar."

He spoke with a pleasant smile, turning his gaze toward Ashton Todd,

"Ashton Todd, please be mindful of your wording. Otherwise, should you abroad use improper terms, foreigners might mistake our academy’s students for being incompetent in their craft."

Ashton Todd, having been rescued two months ago from Myan North by a mentor: ...

It’s common courtesy not to expose someone’s embarrassing moments—why wasn’t the director following that rule?

The director then glanced at the students surrounding Ashton Todd, adding, "I’m not one hundred and fifty years old—I’m one hundred and forty-nine. It’s written clearly in the school records."

At once, the surrounding students straightened in their seats.

Finally, the director’s gaze settled on Scarlett Jennings, who was seated in the front.

She sat upright and composed without the slightest trace of having just listened to gossip moments ago.

He fixed his eyes on her for a long moment, and then his gaze shifted to the glowing little paperman peeking curiously from her shoulder.

The director narrowed his eyes slightly, suddenly understanding how her duel with Gregory Xander had summoned the Dragon God’s Power through that storm.

Scarlett Jennings felt the weight of the director’s prolonged stare on her, and while she remained poised, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of nervousness.

For a moment, she thought the director wasn’t going to say anything further—but then, he spoke, his tone tinged with hidden meaning,

"...Your little paperman is quite impressive."

Scarlett Jennings: ???

So... should she thank him?