True Heiress Returns to Her Unemployed Rich Family (Arabella) novel Chapter 396

Chapter 396 Matthew Intervenes

An invisible pressure made Ruby’s heart stutter.

My God, where did this terrifying aura come from all of a sudden!

Seeing Ruby frozen, Arabella’s voice dropped several degrees colder. “Apologize. Now.”

Ruby flinched, snapping back to reality. She stiffened her neck defiantly. “Why should I?”

“You’ve been running your mouth with baseless garbage. Asking you to apologize is already out of respect for my uncle.” Otherwise, she’d only be digging herself a deeper hole.

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“Don’t you dare use my father to threaten me. Even if the sky fell today, I wouldn’t apologize,” Ruby shot back furiously, her eyes red from the slap.

“Oh, really?” Arabella raised an eyebrow, her gaze laced with mocking disbelief.

Seeing that look, a chill ran down Ruby’s spine. “What are you going to do?”

“Spreading malicious rumors, defamation, personal attacks, refusal to take responsibility, a thoroughly poor attitude.” Matthew’s cool, dispassionate voice cut through the tension, sending a collective shiver through the onlookers. “I believe graduation is approaching. I wonder if a student with such a severe conduct record can expect to walk at commencement?”

Ruby jolted in fear. Her dad had promised that once she graduated, he would help set her up with her own business venture. If she couldn’t graduate… wouldn’t her plans be completely ruined?

Lucas cheerfully added fuel to the fire. “It’s worse than that. Depending on the severity, she could get a formal disciplinary mark on her permanent record, be subject to academic probation, or even face expulsion.”

“No! Shut up, just stop talking!” Ruby couldn’t bear to hear it. Covering her ears, she shouted angrily.

“Apologize to Lucas.” Arabella’s voice rang out again, unwavering.

Feeling utterly cornered and humiliated, Ruby gritted her teeth and glared. “Fine. But you have to apologize to me, too. You hit

me,”

She couldn’t let Arabella humiliate her without getting something back. She had to claw back a shred of dignity.

Arabella glanced at her own hand, then told Ruby with an air of genuine regret, “You’re not worth the apology.”

“You!” Ruby’s face instantly flushed a mottled purple with rage.

Naomi spoke up softly, playing the peacemaker. “Arabella, Ruby was wrong, but hitting someone isn’t right either. You really should apologize to Ruby as well.”

Arabella gave Naomi an icy look. “If you want to mediate, learn to read the room first.”

“Arabella, we’re all family here. I just want things to be fair.” Naomi tried her best to maintain her poised, earnest demeanor.

Arabella let out a short, derisive laugh. “Family? Fair?

“Where was this ‘fairness‘ when she was openly insulting my character? Where was it when she was slandering my friend? All those

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Chapter 396 Matthew Intervenes

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vile, disgusting words–you didn’t lift a finger to stop her. Where was your precious ‘family‘ bond then? And now you want to talk to me about family? Don’t you find that utterly ridiculous?”

“I… I didn’t… Arabella, I just…” Pressed by Arabella’s sharp, direct questions, Naomi couldn’t form a coherent sentence, her face growing even paler.

“Arabella, don’t pick on Naomi just because she’s trying to be decent! If you have a problem, take it out on me!” Ruby shouted defiantly.

Arabella shifted her cool gaze back to Ruby. “Apologize. Right now. Out of respect for your parents, I’ll let today’s matter end here. Otherwise, you know exactly what will happen.”

“So you just get to slap me for free?” Ruby protested, unwilling to concede completely.

She knew she had to apologize today, but she was hell–bent on dragging Arabella down with her.

“Whether it’s ‘for free‘ or not depends entirely on your future behavior.” Arabella offered a ‘kind‘ explanation. “If you learn your lesson, then it served a purpose. If you continue to run your mouth and spout nonsense…”

She gave a slight, regretful shrug. “Then I guess it was free.”

“Pfft… Hahaha…” Lucas couldn’t hold back his laughter and even gave Arabella a discreet thumbs–up.

Matthew watched the exchange, a faint, almost imperceptible flicker of amusement in his eyes.

Finally realizing she was being mocked, Ruby roared in anger, “You’re making a fool out of me!”

Arabella replied with utter seriousness, “No. I was simply providing a clear explanation.”

“You…” Ruby was so furious her face turned ashen, looking as if she wished she could rush forward and tear Arabella apart.

“Enough. Apologize. Now.” Lucas‘ expression grew stern. “Arabella and I are friends. Nothing more. There’s none of the disgusting nonsense you made up. If I ever hear rumors like that spreading, I won’t be as forgiving.”

Lucas spoke loudly and clearly, intending for everyone present to hear.

Arabella glanced at him, understanding his intention perfectly.

Even though Ruby was just spewing nonsense, gossip like this had a way of taking on a life of its own, with people adding their own. salacious details.

He was being proactive, cutting off the rumor at its source.

“Miss, what happened today was unequivocally your fault. Offer a sincere apology, and the academy will handle this with an internal disciplinary notice. However, if your attitude remains insincere, then expulsion will be the only appropriate course of action.” Hank, having finally recovered from the shock of the altercation, criticized Ruby sternly.

Ruby shot Arabella one last venomous glare. Just you wait.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Ruby had no choice. She declared loudly, “The things I said earlier were completely unfounded. I now offer my sincere apology to Lucas. I’m sorry. I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I should not have made such baseless statements, and I promise I will never slander you like that again.”

“What about Arabella?” Lucas pressed sternly. “She’s the one your words hurt the most.”

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Chapter 396 Matthew Intervenes

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Ruby lowered her eyes, her body stiff as she turned mechanically toward Arabella. “I was wrong. I apologize.”

“Arabella, Ruby has apologized. I should take her to the campus clinic to get that knee looked at,” Naomi said cautiously, her eyes darting between Arabella and the angry crowd.