The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 62

Lysander knew that Mr. James was brought in by Vivienne, but these parents were totally in the dark.

They were absolutely flabbergasted to see Mr. James being so chummy with Vivienne.

After a long silence, someone finally piped up, “What the hell’s going on? How does Mr. James know

Vivienne?”

“I’m just as shocked. Isn’t Vivienne from some backwater town? Mr. James has been teaching at Elite

University and rarely leaves Rivenwood. How could he know a country girl like her?”

“Looks like Mr. James and Vivienne go way back!”

Everyone started buzzing about it.

Their voices were loud enough for Vivienne to overhear.

With a sly lift of her eye, Vivienne shot them a glance then turned to Mr. James and said with a chuckle,

“I think I’ve put on some weight.”

She had been indulging in strawberry cakes lately and had gained a couple of pounds.

Mr. James pinched her cheek, “A little weight suits you. You’re too skinny. You need to eat more and

get a bit plump. That’s much more appealing.”

Vivienne was speechless.

She thought, “So, am I supposed to puff up like a pig?”

After a bit of small talk, Mr. James asked, “Where’s that class you mentioned? Take me there. We need

to assess their level to plan a study program.”

Mr. James shot Vivienne a reproachful glance, “You’re really stirring up trouble for me. At my age, I

didn’t expect such a big challenge.”

Vivienne laughed, “You’ve guided plenty of Ph.D. students. This should be a piece of cake for you.”

“Humph!” Mr. James snorted, “I haven’t seen you in years, but you’ve certainly becorne more

eloquent.”

She had a way with words that warmed one’s heart.

At his age, he enjoyed a bit of flattery.

Of course, he wouldn’t just take any sweet talker’s bait.

Vivienne

Eighteen.”

gave a small smile and turned to Lysander, “Principal, I’ll take Mr. James to Class

After saying this, she led Mr. James towards the office exit.

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Her words took the parents aback.

“What! Mr. James is going to teach Class Eighteen? Are you kidding me?”

“Principal, what are you playing at? First, you bring in Vivienne who knows nothing to teach, and now

you’re bringing Mr. James’s team to teach Class Eighteen. Aren’t you going

overboard?”

“Who even are the students in Class Eighteen? They were a bunch of rich brats with no talent.

Do they even have a future? Mr. James and his team should be teaching the elite students.

Isn’t this a waste of educational resources?”

Lysander had long been fed up with their complaints. He coldly retorted, “Do you think anyone can

invite Mr. James? Don’t you know I’ve invited him over a dozen times, and he’s always declined?”

“But you did invite him this time, didn’t you? You’re giving this golden opportunity to Class Eighteen? If

you really do this, I’ll report you to the Department of Education!”

Lysander couldn’t help but laugh, “Mr. James was invited by Ms. Vivienne, and since she’s the teacher

of Class Eighteen, naturally, Mr. James is here to teach that class. If you want to report me, go ahead. I

have nothing to fear because my conscience is clear!”

He had had enough of these parents.

Hearing this, the parents were gobsmacked. Their eyes widened.

“Mr. James was invited by Vivienne? Are you joking? She’s just a country girl!”

“Lysander, are you lying? Look at Vivienne. Does she have the capacity to invite Mr. James?”

“Are you hiding something with Vivienne? Is that why you’re always protecting her?”

The parents were extremely agitated, and their words were becoming more vicious.

Lysander’s face turned ghostly white with rage.

He couldn’t believe how nasty these people were. Vivienne was only nineteen, and he was in his

forties. She was like a daughter to him.

And they even dared to slander them like this.

It was absolutely disgusting!

Mr. James thought these people were teachers discussing school matters with the principal. But when

he heard what they were saying, he realized it wasn’t as he thought.

He even heard someone insulting Vivienne as a country girl!

His face instantly turned grim, and he turned to Vivienne, “What’s going on?”

Seeing Mr. James speak up, the parents rushed to speak before Vivienne, “Mr. James, you’re

a highly respected professor at Elite University. We’re all thrilled that you’re here at

Cloudcrest High School. But why would you teach Class Eighteen?”

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“That class has a terrible reputation. None of the students show any potential. They don’t even

understand basic knowledge. Teaching them would be a waste of educational

resources.”

“Mr. James, please don’t waste your time on them. Teach our elite students instead. They have

excellent grades and with your guidance, and they’ll definitely get into top universities.”

“Vivienne is just a country girl. We don’t know how she managed to trick you. Be careful.”

“We don’t know what’s gotten into Lysander either. He insisted on having Vivienne teach Class

Eighteen. She doesn’t even have an education. On what basis is she a teacher? Moreover, that class is

dangerous. It’s uncertain whether you and your team can avoid the danger.”

Mr. James looked visibly pissed off as he listened to the parents’ complaints.

He was fuming, his eyes wide and furious. He yelled, “What a load of crap!”

At Mr. James’s outburst, the parents instantly shut up.

Lysander stood off to the side, silently observing. Mr. James’s words carried even more weight than his

own.

These parents were just ganging up on people.

“Who called Vivienne a country bumpkin? Stand up!” Mr. James’s tone was icy as he roared, “You

bunch of uncultured lot. How dare you look down on country folks? Aren’t the food you eat grown by

them? What makes you better than them? And who said Vivienne never went to school, stand up too! I

want to see who got their brains kicked out by a donkey!” Mr. James had many students, but Vivienne

was his favorite.

Seeing Vivienne insulted, and so rudely at that, pissed him off to no end!

“Mr. James, I think you’re being a bit biased. Vivienne comes from a rural background, and she hasn’t

had a formal education, but you can’t defend her just because she’s close to Lysander,” a parent

expressed displeasure.

“What did you say?” The usually polite Mr. James was provoked to the point of cursing, evidently, he

was livid, “You bunch of troublemakers, spouting nonsense and blaming Vivienne, Collin, get a lawyer.

I’m going to sue them and make them pay for their words! If they don’t apologize to Vivienne, it’s on

you!”

The other members of Mr. James’s team were equally infuriated.

Collin immediately responded, “Right away, I’ll contact a lawyer.”

“Mr. James, you’re a renowned professor at Elite University. How can you be fooled by Vivienne,

unable to distinguish right from wrong?” The parents instantly retorted upon hearing Mr. James’s

intention to sue.

Normally, his team members would remain quiet in Mr. James’s presence.

But at this moment, Collin couldn’t hold back anymore, “Vivienne is Mr. James’s student. She

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topped the Eldoria City exams at fourteen and earned a dual PhD in Medicine and

Biochemistry from Elite University at sixteen. And you say she never went to school? And are you even

accusing her of improper relations with the principal? With these two points alone, our team could sue

you into oblivion!”