Chapter 448 Did You Just Get Schooled?
Look at that: a simple class reunion.
It nearly gave Sweet a close shave.
Who would clear Sweet's name if he weren't a top-tier hacker?
Seeing Burl about to ramble on, Thalassa glanced around and located the power switch on the screen.
Walking over, she unplugged the power cord.
The world went suddenly silent.
All eyes turned to Thalassa, who remained as calm as could be.
What did that guy say again? Chelsea was her ride-or-die, and Janna considered her a babe, too? And Darwin even went out of his way to dispel rumors about her! Who was her husband, again?
"So, any other doubts, classmates?" Thalassa sat back down, sweeping a genial smile over the crowd.
"Thalassa, nobody here meant any harm," Aurora said softly. "In everyone's hearts, the academic prodigy is someone they've loved since day one. When that scandal broke, everyone instinctively wanted to protect you from getting hurt. Now that everything's cleared up, we're all relieved."
"No bad intentions?" Kenny spoke up, his gaze icy as it swept across everyone's faces. "After everything you’ve done, you have the audacity to say that you had no bad intentions. Amazing! What would it mean if there were malice?"
"Kenny, don't bite the hand that feeds you. We're just questioning things for your good!" Jasper rebuffed, clearly irked when Kenny scolded Aurora. "Take your anger out on the rumor spreaders; why lash out at Aurora?"
Thalassa was silent.
With a thud, she placed her glass back on the table.
Everyone gaped at her in astonishment.
"You've got a problem that won't quit today, huh? Have you taken my kindness for weakness?" She locked eyes with Jasper. "From the moment I walked in, you've been snide and edgy. I can't see how you're trying to help anyone; you're just itching for a fight."
"You..." Thalassa had pierced Jasper's true intentions, and his face turned red.
"This is my family's hotel; I don't welcome you—get out!" In a fit of embarrassed fury, he bellowed.
Everyone was stunned.
Sure, the hotel belonged to his family.
But disregarding Thalassa's background and looking solely at Kenny's presence... How could he dare to be so bold?
They all rushed to calm the situation. At that moment, a stern voice boomed, "Ungrateful child!"
As people turned to look, they saw a portly middle-aged man hurrying in.
"Dad?" Jasper needed to be more knowledgeable. "What are you doing here?"
"Miss Carey..." Looking utterly flustered, the middle-aged man approached Thalassa and said, "I apologize for my poor parenting. This kid has been spoiled and rotten by his grandparents. He has offended you..."
"Dad, what are you doing?" Jasper was utterly dumbfounded.
"Director Longway, funny how fate works," sighed Thalassa, giving Jasper a look that said more than words ever could. "Just yesterday, you discussed the hotel merger with me, and here I am today with your... illustrious son."
Jasper's dad felt as if Jasper himself had eaten his heart. He had heard that Kenny of the Walker family would attend the alum event at the hotel and came over in a rush, hoping to make connections.
But as soon as he arrived, his secretary told him that Thalassa was also attending the gathering arranged by his son Charles.
He couldn't have been happier.
He was telling everyone that Charles's network now far surpassed his own.
But then, right as he arrived, he heard Jasper telling the person he wanted to impress to get out of his hotel—a total mess of words.
"It's my fault for not raising him right." Mr. Longway's sweat beaded on his forehead as he apologized to Kenny and Thalassa. "Miss Carey, Mr. Walker, please accept my apologies. I will see to it that he learns his lesson!"
Jasper was shell-shocked.
He had never seen his father like this.
"How you choose to raise your child is your business," Kenny said as he stood up, his towering height exuding an imposing aura. "Since your son has clarified that we're no longer welcome, my wife and I should take leave."
Wife?
Mr. Longway looked at the pair in surprise. He was nowhere near close enough to Kenny or Thalassa's circle of friends to have been aware of their marital status.
"Kenny!" Lay hurried over, trying to salvage the situation. "We rarely get together. If it's not good here, let's go somewhere else..."
"It's unnecessary," Kenny replied, calm as ever. Though detached by nature, he understood the rules of human engagement. There were things one ought to do, but only Thalassa was important to him. "Ought to" didn't mean "had to."
With a brisk grip on Thalassa's hand, he walked away decisively, leaving the chilly words behind.
Thalassa felt a gaze land on her as they were leaving with tangible force. She instinctively looked back and locked eyes with Hannah. Unintimidated, Thalassa glanced at her before turning away. They were both old souls, wise to the world. Thalassa didn't believe Hannah wasn't involved in the evening's theatrics.
"Never again will I bring you to such an event," Kenny said seriously once they were outside. He had intended to introduce Thalassa to more people as his wife, but he hadn't anticipated such a fiasco.
"Huh?" Thalassa was still holding Kenny's hand. She quickened her pace, looking up at him with a tilt of her head. Kenny couldn't help but find her irresistibly adorable.
"Does this mean we won't go out anymore to socialize?" she asked.
"Of course not..." Kenny began.
"I was hoping you'd take me to see where you went to school and meet your classmates and teachers," Thalassa said with a hint of disappointment, taking a few steps back as she faced Kenny.
"Aren't you upset about today's events?" Kenny was genuinely concerned Thalassa might be troubled by it.
Shaking her head, Thalassa smiled and replied, "Why would I be upset? Burl's antics nearly had me dying of laughter, and then the entrance of Director Longway was the icing on the cake. What are the odds, right?"
Kenny gazed at her affectionately. Irrespective of their surroundings and the people passing by, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She was the one he'd known from the first glance was right for him. Thalassa was his sunshine, his destiny. No one else's soul resonated with his quite like hers.
Daisy Quinn had followed them out. She was the mastermind behind the posts in the forum and the video that had just played on the screen. When she was just a kid at summer camp, she met Kenny. He was unlike anyone she'd ever met.
He was always immaculate and eternally serene.
When she took a fall, covered in dirt and the object of everyone's laughter, only Kenny extended a fragrant, soft handkerchief to her.
From that moment, Kenny became her ideal.
She studied relentlessly, pushing herself to get into the same schools as him.
She wanted to confess her feelings.
But he was always surrounded by crowds of attractive men and women.
So, she underwent plastic surgery and worked out tirelessly.
Eventually, she became beautiful.
Then she rushed to confess.
But he said, "I don't recall the things from our childhood. I appreciate your kindness, but I'm not planning on dating."
Later, she would confess repeatedly, every so often.
She became known in the study-abroad community as the infamous Kenny-obsessed suitor.
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