Chapter 46

Brad, though lacking Liam's peak prowess, had undeniably surpassed him in influence. Brad now steered the Hall family. Sean's bold declaration that Brad was a "lapdog" silenced the room. Speculation swirled; was Sean overconfident, or simply fiercely protective of Emma?

Kate quickly attempted to shift blame to Emma, but Sean countered, "Really? You claim plagiarism. Where's your proof?" Caught off guard, Kate stammered, "I… I don't have any! But I'm sure it's beyond her capabilities. I'm her teacher. Shouldn't I know?"

Emma stepped forward, holding a voice recorder. "You may lack proof of my cheating, but I have proof of your corruption." She played a recording of Kate's earlier conversation.

"You're compromising fairness and ethics for personal dislike? People like you shouldn't be in charge of anything at Vark College," Emma's voice played.

"Hold on. If you want your grade changed, I can give you a chance. Just give me your ticket to Starry's concert," Kate's sly voice responded.

Gasps filled the room. Kate's face flushed crimson. The recording continued:

"You think I'd trade the ticket for my grade? You're delusional," Emma's voice retorted.

"A zero means a call to your parents; I know you dread dealing with your family most," Kate countered. "Fine, keep your ticket. But remember, you defied your teacher and scored zero—don't expect mercy if you're expelled."

"Stop it! Turn it off!" Kate cried. "This recording is fake, Emma, you're framing me!"

"Is that so?" Emma smirked. "Miss Johnson, I also have a video."

Kate, usually composed, stood exposed. Concerned glances from the office staff underscored her misconduct.

"Miss Johnson, your actions were clearly out of line," a teacher stated, shaking his head.

"It's ridiculous!" the dean declared sternly. "We don't need to discuss this further. If Emma hadn't kept evidence, we could have misjudged her. Miss Johnson, you need to leave now."

"You can't fire me!" Kate exclaimed. "I'm Brad's girlfriend! He'll have your school shut down!"

Sean chuckled. "Stop making a fool of yourself. Brad can hardly take care of his own issues, let alone shut down a school for you."

Kate's face darkened. She recalled Brad's indifferent response to her earlier confession, realizing his lack of support.

Emma, poised and collected, waited for Sean before presenting her evidence, sealing Kate's fate. Afterwards, school officials approached Sean regarding collaborations, which he directed to his manager, then turned his attention to Emma.

"Emma, you're so smart, just like your mother," Sean said warmly.

Emma's smile faltered. She missed her mother, Stella, whom she'd never met.

Sean quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Was my mom… smart too?" Emma asked.

"Yes," Sean nodded, his voice tinged with sadness. "She was the brightest of us all, brilliant from a young age. Many believed she could have been a leading economist, but…" He sighed.

Awe mingled with Emma's surprise. She'd never known about her mother's genius. Her own sharp intellect seemed a family trait.

"Let's put that aside. How do you like the concert ticket?" Sean asked, smiling.

"I love it! I'll definitely be there on time!" Emma replied, her eyes shining.

"Great! I've secured the best spot and even arranged a little surprise," Sean assured her.

"Thank you, Uncle Sean!" Emma smiled.

"Don't mention it," Sean said, patting her head affectionately. "You're my precious little princess, Emma."

Later, Emma told Liam about Sean and the concert. Liam's first question was Sean's age.

"He's my uncle. I think he's in his thirties, maybe late twenties? He's definitely younger than my mom…" Emma hesitated. "He's really handsome and looks so young!"

Liam's expression darkened. "He likes to pat your head, right?"

Emma blushed. "Yeah… Are you jealous?"

"I'm coming with you to that concert," Liam declared.

Emma felt awkward. "But you probably can't get tickets now, right?" Even Kate's wealth hadn't secured them.

Liam's eyes narrowed. "Are you doubting my capabilities?"

"No, of course not. Well, I'm going to take a shower first!" Emma excused herself. Sean's mention of Brad's rise reminded her of Liam's own formidable past—a past she wasn't ready to explore.

As the day of Starry's concert in Troln City approached, the area around the venue bustled. Traffic restrictions and tight security managed the expected crowd of over one hundred thousand. While chaos reigned at the entrance, Emma sat comfortably backstage with Sean, enjoying the company of a global idol, and the variety of snacks Sean provided. He saw her simply as a young, extraordinary college girl.