Chapter 60: Drunken Confession
Slowly, Lucien pulled back from the hug and brushed his hands over Ash’s cheeks, wiping away his tears. He gave a small, reassuring smile.
"Why are you crying?" he asked softly.
Ash sniffled, shaking his head. "You’re the one making me cry."
Lucien let out a quiet laugh. "Don’t worry...I’ll be okay. Just keep going to school."
He added, "That video is probably causing a buzz in the media right now. I’d rather stay home for a while until it calms down."
Ash shook his head. "I’ll stay with you."
Lucien placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "No...don’t let my misunderstandings with Adrian affect your final exams. You need to stay focused. Didn’t you tell me you wanted that scholarship?"
Ash nodded.
"Then keep going," Lucien said softly but firmly. "Focus on your future."
...
Ash drove Lucien’s car toward the school, the morning air heavy with tension. His mind replayed Lucien’s words, each one echoing in his chest like a quiet ache.
As he neared the gate, he noticed a commotion; journalists and paparazzi already waiting, cameras flashing the moment they spotted the car.
Ash exhaled, his jaw tightening. "Again...always Lucien’s name on the headlines. Can’t they give him a single break?"
The crowd surged forward eagerly, surrounding the car. Guards rushed in, struggling to push them back and make way.
Microphones and cameras pressed close to the windows.
"Young Master Ash!" one reporter shouted. "What do you feel about Alpha Lucien cheating on you?"
Ash’s eyes flickered with frustration, but he said nothing. He simply pressed the accelerator, driving through the chaos-silent, focused, refusing to give them the story they wanted.
After parking the car in the school lot, Ash stepped out quietly, straightening his uniform.
As he walked toward the main building, students along the path moved asides at him, respectfully, bowing slightly. But once he passed, whispers followed, low murmurs mixed with the faint sound of notifications as everyone stared down at their phones.
He kept his head high, ignoring the stares and the gossip that buzzed behind him.
When he entered the classroom, the same reaction spread; eyes turning, some curious, some sympathetic. Ash acted unbothered, walking calmly to his seat.
He greeted Naomi softly before sitting down. She kept sneaking glances at him, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
Ash sighed, leaning slightly toward her. "Don’t give me that look. It’s making me uncomfortable."
Naomi blinked, caught off guard.
He added with a faint smile, "Don’t worry. I’ll feed your curiosity later."
Her lips curved into a small, satisfied smile, and she finally turned away.
The bell rang, signaling the start of morning prep.
Ash’s eyes wandered to the empty seat beside him. "Is Martin not coming to school today?" he asked quietly.
Naomi nodded. "Yeah, he texted me. Said he’s unwell."
During the morning parade, as Ash and Naomi walked toward the assembly grounds, a group of juniors gathered nearby, whispering among themselves.
"Did you hear?" one of them said in a low, excited tone. "At the Eastern warehouse, thirty-five people were killed! They say a golden figure appeared and wiped them out in seconds. Only one person survived."
Another gasped. "All of them? That’s...brutal."
A third student added, "I bet that figure didn’t kill for no reason. They must’ve provoked it somehow."
"Even so," another muttered uneasily, "that’s too much."
Before the talk could spread further, Ash’s voice cut in; calm but firm. "You’re in school, not a gossip club. Focus on your books instead of spreading things you don’t understand."
The students froze, quickly bowing their heads and scattering in silence as Ash and Naomi continued toward the assembly area.
The assembly carried on as usual. When the teacher on duty finished, Ash stepped forward, and a ripple of shock ran through the crowd. He never came up on stage unless the principal called him; today, he had chosen to.
He cleared his throat. "Good morning, school."
"Good morning, School President," teachers and students replied in unison.
Ash let the silence hold for a beat. "I know you’re all curious, speeches aren’t really my thing. I’ll be brief."
Whispers rose. He raised a hand to quiet them.
"I’m here to announce two rules. Listen carefully."
Students glanced at one another, murmuring. Ash continued, his voice steady and controlled.
"First: as school president and trustee on behalf of Alpha Lucien, the owner of this school, I’m clarifying a rule. No mobile phones, tablets, or iPads are to be used on school grounds during school hours."
Murmurs swelled into questions. One student called out, "Why are you banning devices?" Another added, "Then what are we supposed to use?"
Ash held up a hand. "Because recently, there have been unnecessary rumors and gossip spreading online, and you’re breaking Rule No. 16." He pointed to a junior. "Tell them."
The junior answered quickly, "Rule No.16: Gossip about high-ranked officials is prohibited."
"Correct," Ash said. "So, from today, you’ll return to using stationery in class. No devices."
The crowd buzzled, some annoyed, but no one argued-not with the school president and the Alpha’s trustee speaking.
Ash glanced at the guards parading behind the student. His tone went firmer. "Second: I don’t want to see any paparazzi, journalists, or non-school personnel near the school compound. No deliveries or outside food brought in. If you need anything, use the school dining hall."
Voices rose at once: "That’s too much!" "Not fair!"
Ash’s expression hardened; his voice cut through the din. "If anyone plans to defy these rules, try-and you’ll see the consequences." He paused, letting the words sink in. "This school is a place of learning. I will protect it."
Silence fell again. The students exchanged looks; the tension simmered, but the message was clear: he meant it.
...
At night, Adrian stumbled through the doorway, the smell of alcohol heavy on him. His shirt was untucked, his eyes glassy, clearly drunk after a long, distressing day over Lucien’s viral video and Ash’s backing him.
Bravin had driven him home after his father insisted on having a word with him. Adrian swayed into the living room, where his father, Ash’s mother, and Celeste sat waiting in tense silence.
"I’m here, Father," he said, his voice low and slurred.
His father’s face darkened. Without a word, he rose and struck him sharply across the face. The sound cracked through the room.
"How dare you show up in front of me like this?" he barked. "Since the day you married your wife, you’ve done nothing but disappear. And now you return drunk?"
Adrian’s lips curled faintly. "You forced me to marry her," he said coldly. "What next; are you going to force me to fuck her too?"
Another slap landed, harder than the first. Adrian stumbled back, catching himself on the wall. A thin line of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. He wiped it slowly, eyes meeting his father’s with steady defiance.
"I married her for your sake," he said quietly. "But I will never love her."
His father’s fury deepened, and Celeste began to cry softly, her hands trembling in her lap.
Before things could worsen, Ash’s mother stood and stepped between them. "That’s enough," she said firmly, her tone calm but resolute. "Adrian, you’re exhausted. Go and rest. You can talk when everyone’s calm."
She gently guided him toward the guest room. Adrian didn’t resist, though his steps were uneven and heavy. Behind them, his father turned to comfort Celeste, murmuring, "Don’t take his words to heart. Once he sobers up, he’ll take them back."
Inside the room, Ash’s mother helped Adrian onto the bed, removing his shoes before pulling the blanket over him. She sat at the edge of the bed, brushing her fingers through his messy hair.
"Son," she said softly, "you shouldn’t have spoken to your father like that."
Adrian’s voice came out thick and unsteady. "But I don’t love her."
"I know," she said quietly, "but you don’t have a choice. She’s the one you were betrothed to, the mate chosen for you since childhood."
Adrian groaned, turning his face to the side. "No...no, she’s not my mate."
Ash’s mother hesitated. "How can you be so sure, Adrian? You haven’t even touched her."
His eyelids drooped, words slurring as he whispered, "Because...I already met my mate."
Her brows drew together. "You’ve met them? Who is it?"
Adrian’s lips curved faintly, voice low and almost dreamy. "Ash..." he murmured before drifting into silence.