The Woods family was a group of individuals whom the people in San Joto would stay away from, as messing with them was inviting trouble.
 
Norah saw this and said boldly, “Grandpa... I didn’t mean it. She had just arrived at school and did not know who Austin was.”
 
It sounded like she was defending Nicole, but it actually was to say that Nicole was the one who first used violence.
 
Nicole was not too happy. Just when she was about to rebut, Daniel spoke. “Dad, Nicole is not to blame. I have looked into the ins and outs of the matter. Austin openly tried to grab Nicole. Do we still have to put up with that?”
 
Seeing the righteous indignation of Daniel and Nicole, Karen said sarcastically, “Daniel, Austin is Mr. Woods Sr.’s grandson. We are in trouble by offending him. I heard Snow say that Austin threatened to get Nicole expelled from the school.” Karen threw a bombshell.
 
“Expulsion

Nicole subtly shook her head to signal Mr. Riddle Sr. He then shook his head and said, “She is fine. She didn’t take it to heart.”
 
“Glad to hear. I will tell that kid from the Woods family to behave. No one will bully Nicole at school from now on. I assured you that.”
 
“Thank you so much.” Mr. Riddle Sr. was elated and immediately thanked Mr. Ellison.
 
“No problem. Let us have a cup of tea together if you have time next time,” Mr. Ellison said politely.
 
“Any time, Mr. Ellison. Call me when you have time.” Mr. Riddle Sr. was flattered. Not anyone could meet Mr. Ellison, and it was unimaginable that Mr. Ellison would ask to meet him. So, he agreed immediately.
 
“Sure.” After that, Mr. Ellison hung up.
 
The air felt standstill as everyone who heard the conversation looked at Nicole in disbelief.
 
Norah was most surprised. She had not believed it at all that Mr. Ellison would still 

Nicole glanced at Raine and said unhurriedly, “No, I just taught an unruly classmate a lesson.”
 
If she had really wanted to fight, Austin would have been in the hospital now.
 
“Unruly?” Daniel’s face turned a little graver. “Were they bullying you? If true, they should be taught a lesson.”
 
Norah did not expect her parents to spoil Nicole so much. She was jealous and acted as if she was worried. “Dad, that being said, fighting is wrong. Besides, the kid she taught a lesson to today is from the Woods family.”
 
Raine also agreed. “Yeah, she has offended the Woods family. I am afraid that it will not be just her but the entire Riddle family that has to bear the consequences.”
 
“The Woods family?” Daniel and Gloria’s faces turned a little pale upon hearing the name. The Woods family was San Joto’s most prominent new rich, very wealthy, and they were all rogues.
 
No one in San Joto wanted to mess with them, yet Nicole had offended one of them on her first day of school.
 
“Nicole, is what they say true?” Daniel sensed the tricky situation. Intending to protect her daughter, he had to figure out the actual situation and think of a way to protect Nicole.
 
Nicole looked at Norah and Raine; they were all annoying squawkers. But she did not want to lie when she saw her parents’ concerned look. “It is true.”
 
Those three words caused Daniel's and Gloria’s expressions to change.
 
“What should we do about this, Daniel? Should we tell Dad?” The Woods family had always been nasty. The Riddle family had better be prepared in case the Woods came after them.
 
“Well, I am not sure.” Daniel felt it was better not to alarm his father, but the Woods family was difficult to deal with.
 
Norah saw the situation and took the opportunity to speak. “Dad, Mom, it will not alarm Grandpa.”
 
Turning their eyes to Norah, Daniel and Gloria seemed to have found their key to the problem. “Why do you say that?”
 
Norah hurriedly said, “It was Nicole’s first day in school today, and Austin does not seem to know that Nicole is from the Riddle family. That is why the school forum post only says that Nicole will be expelled and does not mention the Riddle family at all.”
 
Her expression seemed anxious, but deep down inside, she was gloating over it. This brat was about to be expelled on the first day at school. How she wished Austin would kick her out of school now.
 
“Expel?” Gloria’s expression looked even paler upon hearing the word "expel." They had beaten their brain out to get Nicole into Royal Creek Institute High School, and today she is about to be expelled.
 
Nicole could not sit still at seeing Norah and Snow use the issue to smash her down. She said, “Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I will not be expelled.”
 
Seeing that Nicole was still so conceited, Raine said sarcastically, “It is not up to you. Everyone knows that Mr. Woods is the trustee of the Royal Creek Institute. Expulsion is the best thing you could hope for when you offend the grandson of the Woods family.”
 
“Raine, don’t say that.” Snow reproached Raine and took a step closer to Nicole. “Raine has always been straight-talking. Please don’t mind. But she is telling the truth. It is best not to get the Riddle family involved. You shouldn’t get upset if you are expelled.”
 
Raine sounded like she was comforting her, but Nicole could sense Raine's pretentious concern.
 
“Don’t worry; I will not get upset because I will not be expelled.” Nicole still had a determined look on her face, which upset Snow and Raine.
 
It got to Norah, too. Yet, she continued pretending to be concerned. “I know you and Mr. Ellison have met once. But the Woods family is powerful; Mr. Ellison probably will not want to get himself involved. Your chances of staying are slim.”
 
Nicole stared at Norah. “Do you really hope that I will be expelled?”
 
Daniel and Gloria looked at Norah upon hearing what Nicole said.
 
“No-No. Why would I?” Norah quickly shook her head. “I am worried about you.”
 
Nicole just looked at her nonchalantly. “Since you are not of help, keep your worries to yourself.”
 
After Norah got trashed, her eyes welled up as she pretended to be innocent.
 
Raine could not take it anymore. They had never given a d*mn about interacting with their fourth uncle’s family, but Norah was polite to them every time she met them. Just Nicole was arrogant.
 
“Norah cares about you. Don’t be so ungrateful.” Raine frowned and stood up for Norah.
 
Snow frowned as she felt Raine had been used.
 
“Well, Raine, we are not in a position to speak about it. After all, it is Nicole’s own business,” Snow said at the right time. “Aunt, we have delivered the gift. So, we have got to leave. We will come to see you another day.”
 
“Absolutely.” Gloria sent the two away with disconsolation.
 
Without support now, Norah looked at Daniel and Gloria with her eyes reddened. “Mom, since Nicole doesn’t like me to talk about this, I will go upstairs now.”
 
“Norah.” Gloria looked at her sad look and felt bad.
 
Daniel had calmed down. “Don’t worry about Norah. Think about how to solve Nicole’s problem.”
 
Gloria snapped back and then looked back at Nicole.
 
Feeling sorry for Nicole, Gloria took a deep breath and tried to comfort Nicole. “It is okay. Even if you leave Royal Creek Institute, Mom and Dad will get you into an equally good school. Don’t worry.”
 
It was heartwarming for Nicole. Compared with those outsiders who kicked her when she was down, her parents’ genuine feelings for her had allowed her to find a sense of belonging.
 
“Thank you, Mom.” She really did not need her mother to worry about her, but she was still grateful for their concern.
 
“It is all right. Don’t take this matter to heart.” Gloria and Daniel stopped asking further because they did not want to pressure her.
 
But it seemed that they still hoped that Nicole could stay at Royal Creek Institute.
 
So, after dinner, they brought Nicole to grandpa's house. This time, Norah also tagged along on the pretext of concern about Nicole.
 
Surprisingly , Dillon and his wife, Karen, were also there when they arrived.
 
When Mr. Riddle Sr. saw Daniel and Gloria, he could not help but wonder. “Didn’t you two just come yesterday? What are you two doing here?”
 
Seeing that, Karen said directly, “I heard Nicole had gotten into trouble at school today, and I had just wanted to tell you. I didn’t expect that Daniel and Gloria would come today.”
 
She had opposed this country girl studying at Royal Creek Institute yesterday. Now that Nicole had gotten into trouble at school and brought trouble to the Riddle family, she, of course, had all the incentives to bring the matter up.
 
Gloria hated and was upset by Karen’s tattling behavior. “Nicole didn’t cause trouble. It was the kid from the Woods family trying to grab her.”
 
“The Woods family?” Mr. Riddle Sr. frowned. “Nicole clashed with the boy from the Woods family today?”




The Woods family was a group of individuals whom the people in San Joto would stay away from, as messing with them was inviting trouble.
 
Norah saw this and said boldly, “Grandpa... I didn’t mean it. She had just arrived at school and did not know who Austin was.”
 
It sounded like she was defending Nicole, but it actually was to say that Nicole was the one who first used violence.
 
Nicole was not too happy. Just when she was about to rebut, Daniel spoke. “Dad, Nicole is not to blame. I have looked into the ins and outs of the matter. Austin openly tried to grab Nicole. Do we still have to put up with that?”
 
Seeing the righteous indignation of Daniel and Nicole, Karen said sarcastically, “Daniel, Austin is Mr. Woods Sr.’s grandson. We are in trouble by offending him. I heard Snow say that Austin threatened to get Nicole expelled from the school.” Karen threw a bombshell.
 
“Expulsion?” Mr. Riddle Sr. frowned immediately. It was only last night that Mr. Ellison invited Nicole into t

Chapter 21