"Sweep things under the rug?" Anthony placed the documents on the table.
"You've been making a big fuss online just to seek us out. Saying that it's water under the bridge truly isn't worth all the effort you've put in to gain our attention, don't you think? Furthermore, if the Crawford family were to gloss things over without properly clarifying the incident... | have reason to suspect that my company's stock will drop a few points tomorrow, resulting in a loss of several billion in a single day." The parents’ expressions changed as they stammered, "H-How could that be? Mr. Crawford, you have to be joking!" Anthony pushed the documents forward. "You may not be aware of this. However, a venture capital group from Miralaea has arrived. They naturally specialize in acquiring specific domestic enterprises. It's just that they have the nasty habit of resorting to underhanded means if they are unable to acquire them. For example, they will attempt to tarnish the company's reputation, causing their stocks to fall before proceeding with the acquisition.” The parents couldn't help but wonder dubiously, How could things be so serious? The Crawford family is the world's richest family! Who would dare to offend them? Nonetheless, they still looked through the documents. When they read the files, they saw the name of a certain family. It was a prominent family of financial tycoons in Europe that had been passed down for eight generations.
This family was so powerful that it had been controlling the entire economy of Miralaea for years. They had gotten their fingers in so many pies that they could cause years of war in some countries with just a wave of their hand.
They had certainly heard of such a financial group. If they were targeting the Crawford family, then Anthony wasn't exaggerating at all. He was right to say that even the slightest incident could trigger a butterfly effect.
The parents felt a chill run down their spines. The Crawfords family's massive business empire could lose tens or even hundreds of billions in just a few days.
They couldn't afford to compensate for such a loss! At this moment, they all wished they could go home and give their useless sons a good beating!! Anthony's expression was cold as he intoned gravely, "So, rest assured. We would have handled this matter properly even if you hadn't come to us.” The parents who had come to confront Anthony with such bluster were now filled with regret in their hearts! That was because it didn't just end with Anthony, as the Owen family was suing their families.
Cameron was seriously injured and was still being rescued. Now, the Crawford family was representing his family in the lawsuit for free.
One parent, driven to desperation, said, "Mr. Crawford, | mean no disrespect! Aren't you afraid that we'll drag your daughter down with us if you push us too hard?!" Another parent also chimed in, "Right! Our children did hit someone. Still, that doesn't change the fact that your daughter also retaliated! If our children can't get away with it, neither should yours." This was a desperate move.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAnthony's face was calm as he said, "If our child has hit someone, she will bear whatever responsibility she should. We will not protect her blindly. Hannah did beat your children until they couldn't get out of bed... However, correct me if I'm wrong. The most severe injury among your children is a minor fracture. I'm afraid to burst your bubble. It's just that | decided to call the police when | found out that Hannah had sent your children to the hospital.” The unspoken ‘unlike you’ rang in everyone's ears.
Then, he continued lightly, "So, the officers have already recorded the injuries your children are currently recuperating from.
Don't bother looking for loopholes because they've also cross-checked the evidence with several doctors." Frankly, Anthony had to admire Hannah when it came to her fighting prowess. She had beaten people severely. Yet, the final injury assessment was minor at best.
It was different for Cameron because his injuries were severe. The boy was in critical condition, for crying out loud! When the parents saw the injury assessments for both sides, their hearts sank to the abyss.
Minor injuries... did not constitute a criminal offense.
Plus, Hannah was underage. The fact that she wasn't doing it out of malice and out of defense of another student would only lighten whatever verdict that would come her way.
In the end, the most likely outcome would be... community service.
There would also be no criminal record, especially after considering the circumstances. Plus, Hannah had the Crawford family's legal department backing her. So, there was a chance she might just get a slap on the wrist by listening to a lecture and paying a fine of 500 dollars.
For God's sake, a fine of 500 dollars was nothing to the Crawford family.
They didn't think the haranguing Hannah would be facing would do much. They had heard that Hannah's homeroom teacher was a formidable woman. Alas, even the woman herself was utterly out of wits when it came to her most difficult student.
Their sons would be receiving a completely different treatment as they had committed a criminal offense! A criminal record was definitely in the cards, and juvenile detention was inevitable.
To make matters worse, the Crawford family's legal department was more than ready to fire the gun. So, they would have to pay an unknown amount of compensation.
In the end, the parents left Crawford Holding feeling utterly defeated.
When they got home, they couldn't help but lament loudly behind closed doors.
In the past, their sons had bullied plenty of students.
They had even once forced a poverty-stricken child who had a mentally ill mother to eat feces.
Of course, they had smoothed things over by coaxing the child's parents into signing a letter of understanding and giving them a few tens of thousands of dollars as compensation.
At that time, they thought it was some prank gone wild. Besides, it wasn't as if their sons had hurt anyone.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMoreover, that child wasn't from the same social circles as they were. So, they didn't feel any guilt when they used their money to get them to drop charges.
As for the condemnation of others? Internet headlines come and go. Soon, any sensational event would inevitably calm down after a few days.
They weren't the least bit worried.
Unfortunately, the situation was vastly different now.
The male students, who had been beaten by Hannah, were now lying in bed and whining about their circumstances.
When their parents returned, they ignored all the complaints as they stormed through the door. Their parents’ faces were red with rage as they promptly slapped their children several times.
For a moment, there was a cacophony of cries and chaos.
Crawford Holding explained the whole situation to the masses. Of course, they had blurred out the faces of the children in the video before releasing a short clip of them attacking Cameron.
The situation took a tic turn. Now, no one was talking about Hannah hitting anyone. Instead, they were saying that Hannah should have beaten them harder. In fact, she might as well have taken a bat at their legs so they would be bedridden for life! In the end, Hannah did receive a punishment from the cops. Funnily enough, it was just as the parents had guessed. She had gotten a verbal warning and was required to pay a fine of 500 dollars.
Naturally, she was inevitably criticized when she returned to the school. Nevertheless, she didn't care in the slightest.
"| beat them so hard they can't even get out of bed. | deserve to be scolded!" Her attitude was incredibly nonchalant.
After all, she always adhered to the principle of not committing anything illegal. Thus, she shouldn't bully others and shouldn't be involved in any crimes. She was a hardcore fan of no prostitution without consent and was never much of a fan of excessive PDAs, especially when the couple had the tendency to slow down her gait. Was it so hard to keep it behind closed doors where people didn't need to shove you aside just to walk? She had a clear conscience and didn't feel aggrieved after being reprimanded. After all, she was living in a society governed by law. Thus, it would be unreasonable not to receive some form of punishment. That's how principled Hannah was.
Regrettably, Lilly and Hannah's identities were also exposed as a consequence of this incident.