Rebirth: A Second chance at life-Chapter 93: This behavior cannot be tolerated....

A slow, deliberate knock echoed against the office door, cutting through the tense silence like a blade. Everyone inside paused, their gazes shifting warily toward the entrance.

Principal Harris wiped his damp forehead with a trembling handkerchief, already feeling a bad premonition crawling up his spine.

The door creaked open, and in stepped a tall man dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit, a sleek leather briefcase in hand.

His sharp features and piercing eyes commanded the room without saying a word.

Gasps rippled through the teachers.

"Mr. Grifford...?" Principal Harris’s voice faltered, his face draining of color. His knees nearly buckled beneath him as he stepped forward, forcing a weak smile.

"W-what a surprise, Mr. Richard Grifford. Please, please have a seat." He hastily pulled out a chair, wiping his forehead again, unable to hide his nervousness.

Richard Grifford, the country’s top corporate and criminal defense lawyer, glanced at the chair but remained standing. His presence alone was suffocating, as though the air had thickened inside the office.

Principal Harris cleared his throat, subtly darting his gaze toward the teachers, his eyes sharp with a silent warning: "Stop this nonsense and leave, now."

The teachers exchanged glances, their earlier bravado fading. They didn’t need to be told twice. Slowly, reluctantly, they filed out of the office, whispering among themselves.

What is someone like Richard Grifford doing here?

Who called him?

Could it be... did Raya’s husband send him to support her?

Raya’s chest swelled with hope. Her lips curled into a triumphant smirk as she thought excitedly, "Ah! So my husband sent Mr. Grifford to back me up? I knew it. I’m untouchable."

But her fantasy shattered the moment Richard Grifford walked past Principal Harris and... stood directly beside Aurora.

"I’m here," Richard announced, his deep voice unwavering, "as the legal representative of Ms. Aurora Smith."

The entire office fell into a stunned, eerie silence.

Raya’s smile froze, her face paling.

Principal Harris stumbled back into his chair, mouth agape. The teachers lingering near the door stopped mid-step, gawking.

Richard didn’t care for the gasps or the disbelief swirling around him. He simply adjusted his tie and placed a file on the principal’s desk.

"It appears Ms. Aurora Smith has filed a lawsuit against Ms. Raya Williams," Richard stated, flipping the file open.

"Charges include defamation, slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and obstructing her right to education."

Raya’s breath caught in her throat. Cold dread seeped into her bones.

"No... no way..." she whispered. Her knees wobbled. Her hopeful pride cracked.

"How—how could this be? How does this country bumpkin know someone like Richard Grifford?!"

Even as fear coiled inside her, Raya clenched her fists. Her ego refused to crumble.

"No!" she burst out, her voice laced with defiance. "I don’t agree to this! This lawsuit is baseless! I never slandered her. I never coerced her not to sit the exam!"

She glared at Richard, her tone accusatory. "Mr. Grifford, surely you know better than to entertain false claims without evidence! Show me the proof! Without proof, this is meaningless!"

Richard arched an eyebrow, amused by her bravado. He opened his mouth to respond—but Aurora beat him to it.

With a serene smile, Aurora stepped forward, pulling out her phone from her pocket. She pressed a button.

A clear recording began to play, filling the office with Raya’s unmistakable voice and video from the day before:

"...a dropout like you has no place taking this exam. Do yourself a favor and disappear. If you embarrass the school, don’t blame me for making your life miserable..."

The recording seamlessly transitioned into today’s confrontation, capturing Raya’s sneers, insults, and coercion in vivid clarity.

Aurora calmly turned the screen toward Raya. "Do you need to hear it again, Ms. Williams?"

Raya’s face contorted with horror. Her knees buckled, and she slumped onto the floor, trembling uncontrollably.

"H-how... when...?" she stammered.

Aurora didn’t bother to answer. She merely smirked and handed the phone to Richard. He swiftly took it, slipping it into his pocket with practiced ease.

Before entering the room, Aurora had tapped a hidden button sewn into her collar, activating a miniature recording device.

It was a discreet piece of tech she had designed herself—perfect for absurd situations like this, when people’s shamelessness reached unimaginable heights.

Raya felt the last shred of strength drain from her body. She gripped the floor, her nails digging into the tiles.

"I... I’m finished..." she thought despairingly.

Richard closed the file, looking down at her as if she were already a defeated case.

"Ms. Williams," he said coldly, "with this evidence, you will be detained by authorities for violating multiple statutes.

You are also liable for damages totaling fifty million. Additionally, per the terms of the complaint, you will be barred from employment in any educational institution."

Raya’s lips quivered. "No... no, please... please, Mr. Grifford... I-I didn’t mean... I-I beg you, don’t ruin me... please..."

Richard’s gaze remained unmoved. "I am not the one you should be begging."

Raya’s eyes darted desperately toward Aurora.

Aurora remained silent for a long moment. Then, she gave a faint, mocking smile.

"Didn’t you make a bet with me, Ms. Williams?" Aurora’s voice was soft, yet carried a lethal edge. "I believe you promised something if I proved my innocence."

Raya’s heart dropped.

"No!" she shouted frantically, shaking her head. "There was no bet! I don’t recall any such thing!"

Aurora’s voice was low, but the threat in her words was undeniable. A dark chuckle escaped her lips as she stared at Raya, the glint of triumph in her eyes.

"Oh?" she began, her tone mocking. "Shall we check the recording again? Or maybe I should upload it to the internet for everyone to see?

I’m sure the whole school—hell, the entire district—would love a front-row seat to your little performance."

The words hung in the air like a guillotine’s blade, ready to fall.

Raya’s body went rigid at the sheer audacity of Aurora’s threat. She could feel the heat rise in her chest—fear mixed with humiliation—as she realized just how powerless she was.

Her pride, which had stood tall for so long, crumbled beneath the weight of Aurora’s unrelenting gaze. The cold, merciless look in Aurora’s eyes made her realize that no matter how much she tried to hold onto her dignity, it was slipping away, piece by piece.

Richard Grifford, standing just behind Aurora, cleared his throat before speaking, his voice measured but firm.

"Given the recorded evidence and your admission, Ms. Williams," he said, his gaze piercing through Raya with a cold indifference, "I believe it’s clear what needs to be done.

Ms. Williams will be escorted outside immediately."

He didn’t wait for any protest. The legal ramifications were clear now, and there was no way out for Raya. Her actions, her words, everything was exposed.

Richard’s expression remained unwavering as he continued, "Furthermore, she is required to publicly apologize for her actions.

There will be no more delays. This behavior cannot be tolerated."

The finality in his words was chilling, and Raya’s heart sank. She wanted to scream, to shout that this wasn’t fair, but there was nothing left for her to say. She had no ground to stand on anymore.