Marry Ex's Billionaire Uncle After Divorce (Aurora and Jasper) novel Chapter 191

Chapter 156: The Verdict

(Author’s POV)

Phineas came out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, hair still damp, wearing a grey t–shirt. He stopped when he saw the tray.

He looked at it for a moment – the toast, the cheese, the mug still steaming – and something shifted in his expression. Not dramatically. Just a quiet settling, like something had eased.

He came up behind her and put his arms around her, slow and careful, not pulling her in, just resting there. She felt herself go still.

He didn’t push it further. He just bent his head and pressed a light kiss to the top of her hair.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

Her ears went warm. She cleared her throat and said something about needing to shower, and she was out of his arms and across the room before she’d finished the sentence.

She heard him exhale behind her, and she was almost certain it was a laugh.

The next morning, Mr. Zimmer arrived at school earlier than usual.

He’d been teaching for fifteen years, and he’d learned to read the temperature of a situation. The speed with which the administration had moved on the Leo Caldwell matter – quietly, firmly, and without any of the usual hand–wringing about donor relationships – told him something he hadn’t expected. Someone with real weight had made a call.

He didn’t know who. He didn’t need to.

–

What he did know was that Quentin Rathbone had not gotten the message.

By third period, Quentin had found Leo twice in the hallway and was working on a third approach. He was doing it with the particular confidence of someone who believed consequences were a thing that happened to other people.

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Quentin said, falling into step beside Leo near the lockers. “Everyone knows your sister found herself a sponsor. You’re only here because she’s good at making the right friends.”

Leo didn’t slow down. “My GPA is a 3.9. What’s yours?”

“I’m not talking about grades.”

“I know.” Leo glanced at him sideways. “That’s because grades are the one thing you can’t buy your way into.”

Quentin’s face went red. He stepped forward, and Mr. Zimmer’s voice cut across the hallway.

“Quentin. My office. Now.”

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Tag A

Ciatery

Quentin turned with the relaxed expression of someone who expected to hear good news. He followed Mr. Zimmer down the corridor and dropped into the chair across from the desk like he owned it.

Mr. Zimmer sat down, folded his hands, and looked at him.

“The school has made its decision regarding the disciplinary review.”

“Right.” Quentin nodded. “So Caldwell’s out?”

“No.” Mr. Zimmer held his gaze. “You are.”

Quentin didn’t move for a second. “Sorry?”

“You’re being expelled. Sustained bullying of a fellow student, public defamation of his family, and conduct unbecoming of this institution. Your father’s behavior when he came to campus was also noted.” Mr. Zimmer’s voice was even. “This school has always put character first. That’s not negotiable.”

Quentin stood up. “My family donates to this school every year. My father is on the board.”

“I’m aware.”

“I will make one phone call and pull every cent of that funding.”

Mr. Zimmer looked at him without blinking. “There will always be someone with more weight behind them than your family, Quentin. You’ll understand that eventually.”

Quentin left the office with the door hitting the frame behind him.

By lunch, the story had spread through every grade. Leo heard three different versions of it before he’d finished his sandwich. He sat quietly and listened to people speculate about who was behind the reversal, what strings had been pulled, what it meant.

He knew exactly what it meant. He knew exactly who had made the call.

He sent Phineas a text that just said: *Thank you.* Then he put his phone away and went back to his food.

Across the city, Zachary Rathbone received his son’s call and drove to the school in a fury, certain he could sort it out in ten minutes. Principal Quinn saw him for six and sent him home. Zachary sat in his car in the parking lot afterward, running through explanations that made him feel better. Leo Caldwell was nobody. A scholarship kid with a sister who’d clearly found herself a useful connection somewhere. That was the only explanation. A woman with nothing to her name didn’t get this kind of backing any other way. He told himself that, and drove home.

In the house he’d bought with his wife’s family money, Tiffany Rathbone had been going through his phone records for six hours. She’d found nothing. She was still looking when her own phone rang.

She didn’t recognize the number but picked up anyway.

“Mrs. Rathbone?” A man’s voice, calm and professional. “This is Mr. Zimmer calling from the school. Quentin left his water bottle in my office. You’re welcome to come collect it whenever it’s convenient.”

Tiffany frowned. “You’re calling me about a water bottle?”

A brief pause on the other end.

“You weren’t informed?” Mr. Zimmer said. “I’m sorry – I assumed you knew. Quentin was expelled today.”

Tiffany pushed through the school’s front doors so fast the receptionist barely had time to look up.

She’d spent the entire drive over rehearsing what she was going to say. Her son was on the honor roll. Her son had never once been in trouble with the administration – not officially, not on paper. Whatever had happened between him and that Caldwell boy was a misunderstanding, and she was going to make that very clear.

Mr. Zimmer’s office door was open. He looked up when she walked in, and his expression didn’t change. “Mrs. Rathbone.” He gestured to the chair across from his desk. “Please, sit down.”

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Name Is Aurora