Reborn Rich: Prices Dropped, My Savings Didn't novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: I Will Counterattack Without Holding Back

Cecilia Sterling’s opening words were shocking. She had just turned this into a criminal matter.

’Indecent assault?’

That was no laughing matter.

Mrs. Lane immediately flew into a rage and shot back, "You’re spewing nonsense! My son, he..."

"Didn’t you say you have security footage of the incident?" Cecilia Sterling calmly cut her off. "Then you should know perfectly well that he grabbed me by force. I only acted in self-defense after struggling and repeatedly warning him to stop, all to no avail. This entire incident, from start to finish, is Shawn Lane’s fault and his alone. He’s in the hospital because he got what he deserved!"

"You two were boyfriend and girlfriend. How could it be..."

Mrs. Lane tried to argue again, but Cecilia cut her off once more. With a serious expression, Cecilia clarified her position. "The day I met you, I broke up with Shawn Lane on the spot. That very night, I returned all of his things to him at school. There are witnesses to this. We’ve been broken up for a while now. He’s the one who won’t stop harassing me. Do you want to see the messages he’s been sending?"

"And let’s be clear, even if we hadn’t broken up, him grabbing me without my consent is still a crime. Anything that isn’t consensual is illegal!"

Principal Warner, being a law school graduate himself, subconsciously nodded after hearing Cecilia speak. "Ms. Sterling is correct. The crimes of rape and indecent assault are not contingent on the relationship between the parties. Even within a marriage, if the woman does not consent and the man uses force, it is considered rape."

"Principal Warner!" Mrs. Lane glared, her voice filled with outrage. "My son is lying in a hospital bed right now, and you... you’re just going to cover for her?"

Principal Warner looked troubled. If what Cecilia Sterling said was true, then she was not at fault.

Besides, judging by Mrs. Lane’s reaction, Cecilia was likely telling the truth.

Cecilia Sterling calmly took two steps forward, until only Director Sanders separated her from Mrs. Lane. She then spoke with a serene expression. "There’s no need to pressure the university, and certainly no need to make things difficult for the principal. Any accusation must be based on facts, not on who happens to be lying in a hospital bed."

"This incident happened off-campus. I didn’t want any more trouble with Shawn Lane, so I was planning to let it go."

"But since you insist on pursuing this, I suggest you call the police. Because if you pressure the university into disciplining me unfairly, I will, without a doubt, press criminal charges against Shawn Lane."

Cecilia’s speech was fluid and her logic was clear, leaving Mrs. Lane with absolutely no room to maneuver.

Mrs. Lane stared daggers at Cecilia. She knew she had no other option, but she was, after all, the matriarch of the Lane family. Confidence was one thing she never lacked.

She reined in her fury and said menacingly, "Do you really think you can threaten me? Do you have any idea who you’ve just crossed?"

The shift in her aura made Mrs. Lane exceptionally intimidating at that moment. Director Sanders, standing in front of her, didn’t even dare to breathe.

Cecilia, however, just smiled faintly, showing not a trace of fear. "It’s hardly a threat. Who could I, a university student with no connections, possibly threaten? I’m merely communicating with you, using direct language to state my position."

As she spoke, Cecilia’s tone suddenly shifted, taking on a chilling edge. "But if someone were to threaten *me*, I would certainly retaliate with everything I’ve got."

Principal Warner sneered. "The matter might be over, but what about the four high-magnification, high-power astronomical telescopes the Lane Group promised to donate to the astronomy department? That’s all down the drain now, isn’t it?"

It dawned on Director Sanders, and he slapped his thigh. "Of course! How could I forget? Those four telescopes cost nearly one thousand dollars combined! That’s critically important for our university’s astronomy department!"

Lorcain Tech’s astronomy department was relatively unknown among the nation’s universities, but the equipment it required was a bottomless pit of expenses. Everything was costly. The department had its basic infrastructure, but the university couldn’t afford—and was reluctant to invest heavily in—the high-end and top-tier equipment needed for what it considered a weaker program.

But ever since Shawn Lane, son of the Lane Group chairman, enrolled in Lorcain Tech’s astronomy department last year, the Lane Group had donated nearly one thousand dollars in just one year to upgrade the department’s equipment. They had even promised to donate four top-of-the-line astronomical telescopes to the university during the upcoming National Day holiday.

Principal Warner had been eagerly awaiting National Day. With those four telescopes, even if Lorcain Tech’s astronomy department couldn’t compete with Aerospace University, it could certainly rise to the top ranks among universities.

After all, the economic base determines the superstructure.

But after today’s fiasco, the telescope donation was most likely dead in the water. The more Principal Warner thought about it, the more his heart ached. He could only try to console himself with the faint hope that Mrs. Lane wouldn’t interfere.

「Meanwhile」

Cecilia slipped into the campus convenience store, planning to grab some snacks and drinks for Estelle Goodman.

Director Lawson followed her, pleading earnestly, "I’ve always known you to be level-headed, but what you did today was so risky. It’s a good thing Shawn Lane’s medical report didn’t show any serious injuries. Otherwise, what would you have done?"