Chapter 87: Do you have any proof
Daniel was on his way back home when Henry’s urgent voice cut through the hum of the car.
"Boss, you need to see this."
Daniel frowned and took the phone, but the sight that met his eyes made his expression harden instantly.
His grip on the device tightened, jaw clenched. A beat later, his voice was sharp with command. "Take this video down. Before it goes viral."
The weight in his tone left no room for hesitation. Henry nodded quickly, already dialing and sending messages, pulling strings to scrub the footage.
But Daniel’s gaze didn’t waver from the screen. The video played again—Anna, fists flying, standing fearlessly against a group of boys outside Hill Valley Academy.
"Anna Clafford..." he muttered under his breath, his tone heavy with both frustration and something far more complicated. "Why can’t you ever stay out of trouble?"
The car shifted course at once, tires gripping the road as it turned sharply toward the academy.
***
Meanwhile, in Fiona’s apartment, the atmosphere had been serene—until Venus burst in. Fiona lounged with a cup of matcha tea, a facemask cooling her skin, when her manager shoved a phone toward her.
"Madam, look at this."
Fiona lazily cracked one eye open, ready with a sneer—until the video began to play. Her lips twitched, curling into a wicked smile.
Anna. Fighting. Standing her ground, throwing punches, sending boys twice her size stumbling back.
But just as Fiona leaned closer, the screen went dark.
"What—?" She tapped furiously, only to be met with a server error. A beat later, the video disappeared completely.
Her expression twisted. "Venus. I want that video. No matter what it takes."
Startled, Venus nodded and rushed out, leaving Fiona alone with her spiraling thoughts.
"That’s not the Anna I knew," she murmured, eyes narrowing as she replayed the scene in her mind. "You couldn’t even swat a fly. So why now? Just how much have you changed?"
Her wicked smile deepened. Whatever Anna was hiding, Fiona would uncover it—and use it to ruin her.
Moments later, Venus rushed back in, breathless. "Madam—the video is being pulled down from everywhere."
"I don’t care," Fiona snapped, her voice like a whip. "Find it. Use fan pages, trackers—anything. I want that video in my hands."
Venus paled at the venom in her tone and hurried away again. Fiona’s nails tapped against her cup, her thoughts dark. She wouldn’t rest until Anna’s image was torn apart.
***
[Hill Valley Academy – Principal’s Office]
The chaos outside had faded, but inside the principal’s office, the tension was thick enough to choke.
The boys stood in a row, their faces swollen and bruised from Anna’s fists. Across from them, Anna sat calmly, Betty at her side. Her sharp gaze swept over the boys, and each one instinctively flinched under her stare.
"Ahem." Principal Maxwell cleared his throat, pulling Anna’s eyes to him.
"Miss," he said sternly, "may I ask what compelled you to cause such a commotion outside my academy? And if that wasn’t enough, you laid hands on our students. For no reason." His sharp eyes demanded an explanation.
Anna remained composed, though her hand ached from the fight. She wouldn’t normally have resorted to fists—but when Theo grabbed her collar, the line had been crossed. Her temper had snapped, and the rest was inevitable.
’I should probably start training again,’ she thought with a mental wince. ’Ouch... my hand still hurts.’
Outwardly, her expression was cool. "Why don’t you ask your students instead? I’m sure they’ll be more honest now." Her eyes narrowed at the boys, her chilling stare making them shift uncomfortably.
But Theo recovered first, his voice sharp. "Dad—I mean, Principal Maxwell—this woman is lying. We didn’t do anything. We were just walking when she and Betty suddenly attacked us!"
Anna’s lips twitched at his audacity as he smirked, hiding behind his father’s title.
’Dad, huh? No wonder he thinks he owns this academy. He’s been bullying under that shield all along.’
Anna’s eyes hardened. "No, Principal. Theo is lying. He was the one who started the fight by blocking my path. My sister only defended me."
Betty quickly stepped forward, her voice trembling but firm, dismissing Theo’s words before they could spread further.
The truth was, Betty had always feared crossing paths with Theo—not because he was strong, but because he was Principal Maxwell’s son. A boy who hid behind his father’s authority, polishing a spotless public record while bullying students in the shadows. Spoiled, arrogant, untouchable.
Maxwell’s gaze flickered to his son. Theo shook his head quickly, feigning innocence. The principal’s eyes darkened. He knew. Deep down, he was well aware of his son’s behavior. But for the academy’s reputation—and his own—he would bury the truth at any cost.
"How can we believe you, Miss?" Maxwell’s voice was sharp. "Do you have proof that it was these boys who picked a fight?"
Anna almost laughed at the hypocrisy. So, he knows. And yet he’s still protecting his son.
"What proof do you want," Anna said coldly, "when the girl who’s been bullied is standing right here in front of you?" She gestured to Betty.
"Besides, you can ask the students who witnessed everything."
Maxwell leaned back in his chair, lips twisting into a dismissive smile. "Words aren’t enough. Rumors die down in a few days. If you don’t have evidence, then there’s nothing more to discuss." His eyes hardened, authority pressing into every word. "In fact, I believe you owe these boys an apology—for starting an unnecessary fight."
Theo smirked, his bruised lip curling in satisfaction as Maxwell leaned forward.
"Firstly, you entered these academy gates without permission. Then you assaulted my students," Maxwell said coldly. His eyes narrowed, flickering with cunning as they slid toward Betty. "And as far as I know, Betty doesn’t have anyone. She’s always been alone."
Betty’s eyes widened at the cruel jab. Her lashes trembled as she bit down on her lower lip, trying to hold back the sting of his words.
"In fact," Maxwell continued, his tone heavy with threat, "I should be taking action against you, Miss—and dismissing Betty for making false accusations against her classmates."
Betty’s breath caught. She stared at Anna, fear and helplessness clouding her gaze.
But Anna’s jaw tightened. Her eyes burned with fire as she rose slightly from her chair. "Who said she has no one?"
Her voice cracked like a whip across the room. Silence followed.
"She has me. I am her sister—her Big Sis." Anna’s glare locked onto Maxwell, unwavering. "And as for dismissing her... don’t you think that’s unfair? Because if I’m not mistaken, there have already been complaints about constant bullying in this academy."
Maxwell’s lips twitched, his composure beginning to falter.
"Didn’t you expel two girls recently? Or was that only because parents started raising their concerns?"
His face hardened, but Anna pressed on, her tone sharp as steel.
"Or perhaps you acted only to protect your academy’s reputation—not the students suffering inside it."
The room went still. Maxwell’s knuckles tightened against the desk, his calm façade cracking as Anna’s words struck where it hurt most.