Daxton was stunned into silence. He had no clue how the recorder had ended up in his pocket, leaving him fumbling for an explanation he didn't have. Seraphina turned to Adam, her voice calm but cutting. "Here's your proof. As Ryder said, people who lie, spread false accusations, and bully others don't belong at Bloomington School." Her words hit like a hammer, sharp and direct. Ryder's face turned ghostly pale before flushing with embarrassment. Annika finally broke the tension. She spoke sternly, "Ryder's actions were out of line, but you should've brought this to a teacher, Seraphina. The school would've handled it. Instead, you caused chaos by spraying your classmates with water and making a mess. That's on you." Ryder eagerly nodded along, relieved to have the spotlight shift momentarily. Nevertheless, Seraphina stood her ground. She locked eyes with Annika, her gaze unwavering and cold. "I believe the school won't be able to address this impartially, especially since Ryder is your nephew, Ms Goddard." Annika bristled, ready to fire back, but Seraphina pressed on. "I've already heard from other students that Ryder has a habit of pulling stunts like this. Setting traps, pranks—obviously, whatever punishments he's gotten so far haven't taught him anything." She shifted her attention to the crowd. "What's the real purpose of education? It's not just about grades or college acceptances—it's about teaching students to be decent, responsible people. Character-building comes first. I'm sure you understand this, Ms. Goddard." Her words cut like a knife, laced with sarcasm. "Today, it was a harmless prank with a king ratsnake. What about next time? What if it's something dangerous? Someone has to make him understand the consequences of his actions. I wasn't pranking him—I was teaching him a lesson, trying to steer him toward becoming a better person. You don't need to thank me for it." The students exchanged glances, some suppressing laughs. As much as her speech felt over the top, it had an annoying logic. Annika's face hardened, her irritation barely concealed. Before she could respond, Adam stepped in to diffuse the situation. "All right, that's enough. Everyone, head back to class," he ordered firmly. The crowd slowly dispersed, though the buzz of whispers lingered. "How do you think this will end?" Kelly asked, her voice low. "Probably nothing serious. Did you see how Mr. King was defending her? She'd already be expelled if she weren't from the Whitewood Family. She's only this bold because she has powerful connections," Abigail sneered, conveniently ignoring her own privileged position.As expected, the school decided to resolve the matter quietly. Both sides were blamed—Ryder for starting the prank and Seraphina for her retaliation. With no serious harm done, the incident was downplayed. "Both of you were in the wrong. Apologize to each other, and we'll consider the matter settled," Adam ordered, his tone firm but even. The very idea made Ryder's blood boil. Apologize? After being humiliated in front of everyone? And now they expect me to say sorry to her? Not a chance! Adam's gaze moved between them before landing squarely on Ryder. "You were the instigator. You need to apologize to her first." Ryder's jaw tightened, his defiance radiating off him. "You could expel me right now, and I still wouldn't apologize!" He turned to Seraphina, his eyes full of hatred. "If you're waiting for my apology, you'd better wait until the next life!"