Chapter 82: Fangirls

"Wait for me!" April yelled as she ran after Riley.

Riley quickened her steps as she went to find Ryner and Derek. She first went to their rooms, and when she failed to find them, she went to the Commons, a place within the dormitory most frequented by the elites during their leisure hours.

"-ahaha!"

"Who knew the bastard was a horny monster?!"

"Hahaha!"

As soon as she entered, Riley picked up laughter from the gathered boys, girls included. They seemed to relish in Adam’s misfortune. Looking around, she found the two she sought and approached, her expression cold.

"Look who’s here..."

"Isn’t she a friend of Adam now?"

"Yeah... I’ve seen her with the bastard a few times this past week."

"April was the first... and now Riley, too. Imagine being friends with a molester."

The laughter and commotion slowly died down as everyone felt the sudden change in the atmosphere. Ignoring the eyes and the comments flying around, Riley came to a stop before Ryner and his group of friends.

"Riley... Long time no see." Ryner turned to face her, his expression relaxed. "What brings you to the Commons?"

Riley held his gaze for several long seconds before shifting to Derek. Yet none of them showed any signs of nervousness or otherwise. They were not from powerful backgrounds for nothing.

"Did you set Adam up?"

Her direct question caused Ryner to raise his brows. He looked at the silver-haired girl and then at the anxious April. The whimsical look on his face disappeared.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked, his voice low.

"Did you set Adam up?" Riley restated her question, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I heard you the first time, dammit!" Ryner bellowed, his voice echoing.

With a thought, he flashed and stood right in front of Riley, looking her dead in the eyes. "But what do you think you’re doing accusing us? Are you a fan of that molester? Do you have a crush on him or something? Is that what this is?"

Ryner was fuming at this point, the rage in his eyes barely contained. "And what the hell do you take me for?! Do I look like someone who will spend every waking moment planning that molester’s downfall?!"

"Calm down, Ryner." Derek chipped in from the side, his voice calm and collected. "It’s understandable given the kind of history we have with that bastard."

Sliding off the table he sat on, he calmly approached the duo, his hands in his pockets. He stopped beside Ryner and smiled at Riley. "You might find it hard to believe, but we had nothing to do with it. But Ryner is right... Why are you here accusing us? You hardly know the kind of person Adam is. Yet here you are, ready to bash our heads in."

Riley held Derek’s gaze, gauging his expression and mannerisms. She knew they wouldn’t admit it even if they had a hand in it. Her eyes roamed over the others gathered around them. James Mardner was the only one absent.

"Riley," April called from behind. "I don’t think this will help Adam in any way."

She understood Riley’s reasons for approaching them. But confronting them like this would lead nowhere.

"Seriously. When did you two become that molester’s fangirls?" Ryner asked incredulously, his gaze shifting from Riley to April. "April, I understand. But you... You, Riley. You’re the real mystery."

Riley did not reply. She knew what they meant, but that was of no consequence. Her decision to befriend Adam after their scuffle was in respect to his strength and intellect. His background did not matter.

"You guys keep calling him a molester, but nothing has been proven yet." April did not like how they kept referring to Adam as a molester.

"Hehe. You’re a funny one, April." Derek snorted, looking at April. "We all know what you’re capable of and what your intentions might be toward your so-called friend."

April’s face darkened.

She hated it whenever they reminded her of her family’s reputation and what they’re capable of. They take one look at her, and they assume her intentions aren’t pure.

"Shut up."

April mouthed, the words barely reaching their ears.

"What? Did you say something, April?" Ryner mocked gleefully, gesturing with one of his ears like he was trying to hear what the pink-haired girl said.

"Shut up!"

April yelled at the top of her lungs, clenching her fists tightly. The guys were taken aback by her sudden outburst and took a few steps back.

"Easy there, April," Derek said with a nervous smile, his hands urging the pink-haired girl to calm down. "You don’t want to do something that will get your family in trouble, right?"

April gritted her teeth and stormed out of the Commons.

"The Student Council will be conducting an investigation into the case," Riley said, drawing their attention. "For your sake, you better have nothing to do with it."

Saying that, she turned around, walking to the exit. Although the academy favoured the heirs of the powerful and elites, they would not condone such actions. They would be expelled without hesitation if they were found to be involved.

"And what if your new friend is truly guilty?" Ryner asked after her. "What if he is exactly what we are calling him out to be?"

Riley stopped dead in her tracks.

A moment of silence settled over the Commons as everyone waited for her response. It would be a massive loss of face should Adam be found guilty.

"Then I’ll return to apologise." She replied, looking over her shoulder.

"..."

Her response left them speechless. Was she the same Riley they knew? They could not believe it. The Riley they knew was not the type to lower her head to anyone. Would she really go that far just for that unscrupulous and arrogant bastard?

They looked on in a daze as Riley left the Commons.

Ryner and Derek exchanged a look, seeing the shock in their eyes. They looked at the exit again, wondering. "Just what in the world did Adam do to her?"