Chapter 218 The Vice Principal Came Running to Apologize
It was not hard to understand why Tobias was so shaken.
Chris pushed the wheelchair at a slow, steady pace into the corridor. Amelia's usually sleek hair was slightly tangled, falling over her shoulders. Her small, delicate face was as refined as ever, but her complexion had lost its warmth, faintly pale under the harsh hospital lights.
Her right pant leg had been rolled up to the knee. The exposed calf showed a large patch of bruising, mottled with angry red scrapes. Faint iodine stains marked her cheek where the skin had been cleaned, the marks stark against her naturally fair skin.
The navy short-sleeved shirt she wore left her slender arms bare. Both elbows were wrapped in gauze, the white fabric spotted faintly with blood. The sight made anyone's chest tighten.
Tobias was the only one who threw himself at her like a child, but Amelia could feel it—the worry radiating from everyone in the room the moment she appeared.
Kevin's concern was written plainly across his face. Asher stood beside Zander, both tense. Dorian's expression was tense, her usual composure fraying. Even Leroy, who rarely spoke, had his gaze locked on Amelia. Ryan, who almost never dropped his easy smile, looked uncharacteristically grave.
And then there was Michael.
With Kevin, Chris, Ryan, and even Jenny present, Michael did not step forward immediately. But when their eyes met, Amelia saw it—unmistakable worry, the kind that carried both fear and tenderness. She knew exactly how much he cared.
So she looked at him first, giving a small, deliberate glance meant to say she was fine.
Between people who care deeply, there is always a language beyond words.
Michael understood. The moment he caught that signal, he drew a deep breath, straightened his posture, and let his expression settle back into its usual calm.
Meanwhile, Tobias was still crouched in front of the wheelchair, eyes red, muttering about going after the horse. Seeing his sister like this hurt him more than any injury he had ever taken himself. He would have traded places with her in an instant.
He had twisted ankles, sprained wrists, even broken bones while playing basketball. Those things did not faze him. But Amelia had never been hurt like this before, and it tore at him.
"Don't cry," she said quickly, trying to soothe him. "It is not as bad as you think."
"My leg is not broken—just a hairline fracture in my calf. They will put a cast on and it will heal. My face and arms are just scrapes. Chris already treated them."
Everyone here had rushed to the hospital, waiting outside the exam room for what felt like forever, not knowing how bad it was. Hearing her say it aloud eased some of the tension in the air.
Even so, scrapes and a fracture were nothing to dismiss. Pain aside, an injury like that meant months of recovery, with careful rest afterward.
Kevin, dressed in a tailored suit and still wearing that sharp edge of worry, finally let out a slow breath. Relief softened his features only slightly. His eyes cut toward a man standing off to one side, his tone clipped.
"If I am not mistaken, every horse at Prestige High School was imported at significant expense. I even sponsored part of that program. And yet today, one of them managed to throw Amelia."
"Mr. Sherman, if the horses are not properly trained, the school should not be running riding classes so soon."
"If her injuries had been worse, could the school have handled the responsibility?"
Amelia turned her head and noticed the man Kevin was addressing—a middle-aged figure standing near the wall. She recognized him instantly. Jake Sherman, vice principal of Prestige High School.
Hearing Kevin's words, Jake's unease deepened. His posture dipped into a near bow. "Yes... yes, of course. Today's accident was entirely unforeseen. Miss Martinez's injury is the school's responsibility."
"Mr. Martinez, Mr. Johnson, you have my word—when I return, I will order immediate retraining of the horses. If necessary, we will replace the entire stable."
"All medical expenses for Miss Martinez will be covered in full. If she needs to recover at home, I will arrange for dedicated tutors to keep her coursework on track."
His tone almost painfully deferential.
It was not his usual manner. Jake was known for being proud, even a bit arrogant. But standing here were two of Prestige High's most influential sponsors.
Prestige High was a private school. Aside from a handful of scholarship students, nearly every student came from wealth. The school's facilities and faculty depended heavily on funding from the board and the parents' council.
Kevin had been a sponsor for years, ever since Zander and Tobias enrolled. After Amelia joined, he had invested even more.
When the sister of a major benefactor was injured on campus, it was no small matter.
Jake had rushed to the hospital the moment his secretary informed him, skipping over any internal investigation. But when he arrived, he saw not only Kevin—but someone else who caught him off guard.
Michael. The head of the Johnson Group. The most powerful man in River City. Someone far beyond the school's usual circles.
If Kevin was a key sponsor, Michael was the school's largest benefactor. The Johnson Group donated to education projects every year, and Prestige High, with its top university acceptance rate, was a regular recipient of substantial funds.
Normally, board meetings were attended by Eric Johnson, and Jake had never met Michael in person. He had not expected their first encounter to be in a hospital corridor.
Seeing Michael speaking with Kevin, Jake's surprise sharpened. He discreetly sent a message to his secretary, asking for details on Michael's connection to Amelia.
The reply came quickly—and nearly stopped his heart.
[Mr. Sherman, rumor has it that Mr. Johnson openly expressed his fondness for Miss Martinez during the school's anniversary event. It is believed she may be either his girlfriend or fiancée.]
Girlfriend... or fiancée?
That meant the girl injured today was either Michael's partner—or the woman he intended to marry.
Jake drew in a sharp breath.