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Novel Catalog
Chapter 48: Manuel Shows Up
Lindsay’s eyes blazed with fury as she pointed a trembling finger at Ainsley’s nose. “How dare you speak to me like that? Are you thinking of rebelling against me?”
Ainsley remained unflinching, her expression as calm and controlled as ever. She glanced briefly at Lindsay, her gaze cold and indifferent, before looking around the room at the gathered school leaders.
“Hello, school leaders,” Ainsley began, her voice steady and composed. “First of all, I apologize for disturbing you with my personal matters. However, I would like to address the issue at hand. You want to convict me based on a photo—one with nearly the entire image mosaicked. Doesn’t that seem a bit ridiculous to you?”
Her words rang out with a confidence that made the room fall silent. It was clear she was no longer the meek, submissive woman Lindsay once controlled. Instead, Ainsley stood before them with a quiet authority that left no room for doubt.
The room’s leaders exchanged uncomfortable glances, the weight of the situation heavy in the air. While they understood that the photo wasn’t proof of anything, none of them dared challenge Lindsay directly. Her influence in the school was undeniable, and they knew how precarious their position could become if they angered her.
Lindsay, her lips curling into a sneer, narrowed her eyes at Ainsley. “If I didn’t have enough evidence, do you think I’d bother coming here?” she spat, her voice dripping with venom.
With a flourish, Lindsay pulled a small USB drive from her bag and handed it to Raymond’s assistant. “Let’s see if you’re still so arrogant after seeing this.”
The assistant quickly inserted the USB into the projector, and the screen flickered to life. Ainsley’s stomach twisted as she saw the surveillance footage begin to play. The image was grainy and blurred, but her own figure was unmistakable, walking into a hotel with a man.
Ainsley stifled a laugh, incredulous at the lengths Lindsay had gone to fabricate this. The footage was an attempt to frame her, a distorted recollection of the evening when she and Manuel had gone to dinner. But Lindsay had taken it a step further—altering the video’s timestamp to last year and removing Serina from the footage.
The most glaring flaw, however, was the blurry image of the man. The person beside Ainsley was impossible to identify, but Ainsley knew exactly who it was: Manuel. Lindsay had intentionally obscured his identity, perhaps to avoid revealing his involvement.
“This is your trump card?” Ainsley couldn’t help but mock, her tone cutting through the tense silence. “Mrs. Baldry, you should consult a technical expert before trying to frame someone. Look at the watermark under the date—there are two dates on the footage. The rest of the video is blurry, but that detail is clear.”
Ainsley’s words caused an immediate stir. The school leaders, previously too hesitant to speak up, now leaned forward, squinting at the projector. Sure enough, as the video continued to play, the watermark under the date became visible, revealing a subtle discrepancy in the timestamps.
The leaders’ eyes widened in realization. Lindsay’s attempt to manipulate the evidence had backfired spectacularly.
Lindsay’s face turned beet red as she realized her carefully crafted scheme had been exposed. Her eyes widened with disbelief and rage. Slamming her hand down on the table, she glared at Raymond, her voice like a whip. “Mr. Ford, I can assure you, if you do not fire Ainsley today, I will personally ensure that the Baldry family withdraws all support from this university. You’ll regret this decision.”
The tension in the room escalated. Ainsley could feel the pressure mounting, the heat of Lindsay’s fury threatening to burn everything in its path. She wasn’t afraid, but she knew the stakes were high.
Just as Raymond seemed to hesitate, the door to the conference room suddenly opened. A beam of light cut through the dimly lit room, and in walked Manuel.
His presence immediately shifted the atmosphere. The room fell into an uneasy silence as Manuel strolled in with an air of controlled power, his tailored suit emphasizing his broad shoulders and commanding presence. The coldness that radiated from him made everyone in the room instinctively lower their gazes. It wasn’t just his appearance; it was his sheer aura, the kind of power that made even the boldest hesitate.
Raymond and the others exchanged glances, clearly surprised by Manuel’s sudden arrival. They stood in deference, greeting him with respectful nods, but it was clear none of them knew how to handle the situation now that this formidable figure had entered.
Manuel barely acknowledged the room, his piercing gaze fixed entirely on Ainsley.
For a moment, Ainsley felt a strange sense of calm wash over her as their eyes met. Without saying a word, Manuel seemed to communicate a quiet reassurance. Ainsley had no doubt that Manuel was here to help, and somehow, that made her feel grounded amid the storm.
The tension in the room was palpable as everyone awaited Manuel’s next move. But he remained silent, his gaze never leaving Ainsley as if to say, I’ve got this.
Ainsley couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude, mixed with a deep sense of security. With Manuel in the room, she knew Lindsay’s manipulations wouldn’t succeed. This was no longer just a battle between her and Lindsay. This was about to become a fight that Lindsay could never win.
