Chapter 352
Chapter 352:
Someone leaned in and whispered, “Who on earth is she? Mr. Cooper bowed to her, and now Gallagher’s firing a teacher and practically begging her brother to stay? Am I dreaming p>
“And she didn’t even accept yet! She said she’d think about it p>
“My goodness, what planet am I on p>
Once the uproar had settled, Maia gently led Ethan back to his classroom.
The moment they crossed the threshold, a heavy silence fell over the room. Every student froze like statues, scarcely daring to breathe. Those already seated snapped their backs straight, their faces stiff with fear.
Ethan still felt awkward, but Maia’s steady grip on his hand gave him a warmth he hadn’t known in a long time. He looked up at her and whispered, “Maia… thank you p>
He wanted to thank her for believing in him, for standing by him when no one else would.
Maia tousled Ethan’s hair with a gentle smile. “I made them apologize in front of everyone today for a reason. So that the whole school knows that no one lays a finger on my brother. If anyone dares, I’ll make sure they live to regret it p>
Though spoken softly, her words sliced through the room like a cold wind. Every student lowered their head, not even daring to meet Ethan’s eyes. From that moment on, no one would dare mess with him.
Maia gave Ethan’s shoulder a light pat. “Go on, focus on your studies. Tonight, I’ll cook something delicious for you.” With that, she turned and walked away.
Ethan stood there, watching her retreating figure, a tight knot forming in his chest. No one had ever stood before him like a shield. No one had fought for him when he was under fire.
“I never knew that being protected could feel this good,” Ethan muttered to himself.
Finish reading at ⲅ𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅⧼⩽𝗰𝗈𝗺
He felt incredibly fortunate — as if he had stumbled upon a rare treasure in a barren land. He was deeply, irrevocably grateful that Maia was his real sister. He was glad that she had come back into his life.
With Maia by his side, all the wounds he had once carried seemed to fade like shadows chased away by the dawn. For at long last, the sun had broken through.
Ethan clenched his fists by his sides, making a silent vow to himself: He would study hard, rise to greatness, and one day, protect Maia just as fiercely as she had protected him.
The classroom remained steeped in an eerie silence. Maia’s tall, confident figure disappeared down the sun-drenched hallway, her silhouette glowing as if the sunlight itself bowed to her strength. Bathed in that golden light, she seemed to blaze with a quiet, unshakable certainty.
Suddenly, a gasp broke the stillness. “Wait… isn’t she that mysterious composer, K p>
“I just realized! She’s my favorite composer! Oh my goodness, it’s really her! How did I not recognize her sooner p>
“And she’s also Eileen, the lead designer at MCN p>
“What in the world?! Who said Ethan was some poor kid from the slums? His sister’s a living legend p>
All the students swung around to stare at Ethan, their gazes filled with awe — and no small measure of regret. Those who had once mocked him now looked as though they wished the ground would open up and swallow them whole.
One timid student edged closer to Ethan, nervously holding out a notebook, and stammered, “C-could you maybe ask your sister for an autograph p>
At the classroom door, Marisa leaned lazily against the frame, her grin wide and knowing. She twirled her lollipop between her fingers, pulled a few crumpled bills from her pocket, and handed them to her lackey casually. “Here. Take it p>
The lackey stared at her, wide-eyed. “You’re really paying up p>