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Novel Catalog
Chapter 46: Lindsay Traps Ainsley
The photo circulating online was taken long after Ainsley’s divorce from Cason. Even if it had been captured while she was still married, it didn’t prove an affair. She was simply getting into another man’s car—hardly evidence of infidelity.
But this time, the public’s reaction was more measured. While many students sided with Ainsley, the forum comments reflected a mix of skepticism and judgment.
Ainsley scrolled through the posts, her fingers moving lightly over the screen.
“Ms. Easton must have offended someone, right? Why else would there be so many people criticizing her on the forum? A photo without evidence is nothing.”
“I don’t think so. It’s her fault. Otherwise, why target her?”
“Focus on the real issue—Ms. Easton is divorced at such a young age!”
While some defended her, Ainsley couldn’t shake the feeling that the tide was turning against her. The Baldry family was far-reaching, and their influence could hurt her in ways she wasn’t ready to confront.
Meanwhile, Lindsay sat in Raymond’s office at the University of Washington, putting on an air of superiority as she sipped her tea. She wasn’t there to have a casual chat. She was there to make her demands.
“Mr. Ford,” Lindsay began, her tone laced with condescension, “I’ve already told you everything. Ainsley is a disgrace to our family. How dare you hire someone like her? Don’t you worry about the reputation of the university?”
Cody, Ainsley’s mentor, sat across from her, seething. “Mrs. Baldry, you’re making baseless accusations. Ainsley is one of my best students. You can’t come in here spreading rumors based on a blurry photo. This is ridiculous.”
Lindsay didn’t even look at Cody as she dismissed him with a wave. Her focus remained on Raymond. “A photo like that says everything about her character. Our family might not have many shares in the school board, but we are still part of it. Do you really want to risk offending us over one teacher? Are you willing to throw away our support for this… girl?”
Raymond hesitated. As the head of the university, he understood the importance of maintaining relationships with the board members, especially influential families like the Baldrys. Ainsley’s reputation was now under fire, and although Raymond valued her as a teacher, he couldn’t ignore the pressure from Lindsay.
He sighed, clearly compromised. “Mrs. Baldry, I understand your concerns, but we need more than just a photo to make a judgment. I’ll arrange a meeting with the school leaders to discuss this. We’ll call Ainsley in, and if the allegations are true, we won’t cover it up.”
Lindsay didn’t let her satisfaction show, but the gleam in her eyes spoke volumes. She knew Raymond had caved. But this was just the beginning. She had more than just a photo to rely on, and soon, Ainsley’s world would be upended in ways she couldn’t yet imagine.
With a final, sharp glance at Cody, Lindsay stood up. “I’ll let you handle it, Mr. Ford. But remember, we have the power to make or break this institution.”
Raymond nodded stiffly, clearly eager to move the conversation along. He gestured for Cody to take over.
As Lindsay left, Cody sighed, his heart heavy. He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Ainsley. She had married into a family like the Baldrys—rich, powerful, and unrelenting. What had driven her to that? How much had she suffered?
Back in her office, Ainsley was still scrolling through the comments, growing more frustrated with each passing minute. Then, her phone buzzed.
“Hello, Professor Wade,” Ainsley answered, recognizing the voice on the other end.
Cody’s voice was low, almost apologetic. “Ainsley, Mrs. Baldry came to the university today. She’s trying to force us to fire you. The board’s involved, and they’re planning a meeting to discuss your future here. You should come by and deal with it.”
Ainsley was quiet for a moment, her mind racing. The Baldry family wasn’t going to let this go. But Cody’s message wasn’t just an alert—it was an invitation to confront the situation head-on.
“I understand, Professor Wade. I’ll come right over,” she replied, her voice steady despite the unease twisting in her gut.
As Ainsley hung up, a sense of determination rose within her. She had no intention of backing down, but facing the university’s leaders, especially with Lindsay’s influence looming over her, would be no easy task.
She wasn’t going to let them ruin her career—not without a fight.
