Chapter 244
As Anthony ushered his group of students by, the leader of the sleek black sedans had already ignited the engine, and the men standing beside the vehicle were beginning to file in.
A curious student, eyeing the procession of cars, noticed something unique about their license plates and blurted out, “Check out the plates on those cars!”
The student’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough to make one of the men, who was about to get in his car, turn around with a piercing glare that seemed to carry the weight of death itself. The student shivered involuntarily and huddled closer to his classmates for comfort.
Mirabella, trailing at the back of the pack, lazily lifted her gaze to take in the scene before quickly, and without emotion, turned her attention away.
Standing in the Hammond family’s section, the driver bowed respectfully to the stern man, keeping his silence until the last car had driven away. He wiped the sweat from their brows and, without explaining to the students, opened the door to the minibus and ushered everyone inside.
barve
Once on the bus, the frightened student seemed to snap reality, his face still showing traces of shock as he murmured to a classmate, “That guy was terrifying, like one of those cold–blooded hitmen you see on TV.”
“I feel you. His gaze was like it could crush anything.”
Most of the students who had come to Riverdale for the competition were from ordinary walks of life, sheltered from the more sinister and bloody aspects of the world, living their lives pure and carefree.
Mirabella looked out the bus window, her expression detached, her eyes lost in the distance.
Beside her sat Vincent, who overheard the front row students‘ conversation and couldn’t help but glance at Mirabella. From the moment she boarded the bus, her face showed no signs of fear or panic like the other students. Her composure was as if she had merely encountered an everyday person dealing with everyday matters.
Vincent’s family was well–known in Radiant Ridge, and though he had seen his fair share of high–stakes situations, the sight of those men had stirred a subconscious dread within him. albeit not enough to make him lose his composure like the others.
But Mirabella, she seemed like someone who had been exposed to far grander scenes.
“Aren’t you scared at all?” Vincent asked her quietly.
Mirabella turned to look at him, her answer serious, “Of course I am.”
Vincent was puzzled. Was she scared? She didn’t look it.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she pulled it out to read a message.
Chapter 244
James: [Where’s the hotel your school’s booked?]
Mirabella didn’t bother to hide it and typed back: [Near Prestige College.)
James: [Studying tonight, or do you want to check out the town? Riverdale’s nightscape is pretty decent.]
The Pill: If I go out, Mr. Hammond will probably break my legs, ‘seriousface.jpg.“)
James let out a light chuckle on the other side of the phone, his usually stern face relaxing into
a lazy smile that seemed to spread a good mood throughout the car.
Curtis, who was driving, caught sight of his boss‘ smile in the rearview mirror and almost dropped his jaw in shock.
What was going on? He had never seen the boss with such an expression. Downright spooky!
Sitting in the passenger seat, Wyatt seemed accustomed to his boss‘ occasional departure from his usual stern demeanor.
Wyatt didn’t notice Curtis‘ reaction and looked back to casually suggest, “James, maybe we should invite Ms. Mirabella for dinner later?”
