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Before Shani could even finish her lunch, Iris contacted her, instructing her to report to the Headmaster’s office.

Her earlier bad feeling proved justified the moment she caught sight of Dominic Ashbourne’s familiar face inside the Headmaster’s office.

”Shani, this is your biological uncle, Family Head Dominic Ashbourne,” the Headmaster said with a warm smile.

Having met Shani several times and knowing how much she had helped Jeryon as his partner, the Headmaster had unconsciously grown fond of the girl.

Shani gave the Headmaster a polite nod but offered no response to Dominic.

This was clearly not the reaction the Headmaster had anticipated, yet he wasn’t particularly surprised, quickly piecing together what was happening.

”Have a seat first,” the Headmaster offered, prompting Shani to sit at the far end of the couch, as far away from the silver-haired, middle-aged man as possible.

Dominic knew all too well that Shani was blatantly disrespecting him. Had the Headmaster not been present, he likely would have whipped the girl then and there.

The Headmaster then gestured for Dominic to state the purpose of his visit.

”House Ashbourne’s lawyer is currently handling the official transfer of Shani’s residency to Aurelis as a member of the Ashbourne family. Her surname will also be changed.”

”My lawyer here has brought several preliminary documents, and the rest will follow once her relocation is finalized,” Dominic explained to the Headmaster, without so much as casting a glance in Shani’s direction.

The other man in a suit projected the documents in holographic form after sending the files over to the Headmaster’s assistant.

Naturally, Shani’s brow furrowed. ”Who gave you permission?” she asked in an icy tone.

Dominic turned slowly, throwing her a sharp glare. He hadn’t expected Shani to remain so defiant even after he, the Family Head, had personally come in person.

”You are an Ashbourne, so naturally you will become part of the family,” Dominic replied, his tone just as cold.

”’Ashbourne this, Ashbourne that.’ I have no desire to be a part of that family. Was my previous refusal not clear enough?” Shani countered sharply, no longer pretending to play ignorant.

”Why, you—!” Dominic barked, rising from his seat and raising his hand to strike Shani across the face.

However, his hand froze in midair as the Headmaster’s deep, pressure-laden voice rang out, ”Family Head Ashbourne, this is the Grand Academy.”

Dominic eventually sank back into his seat, his chest boiling with rage.

”Shani, are you certain about your decision?” the Headmaster asked calmly.

Shani nodded. ”I am Shani Rowan, an orphan raised by Director Cedric Rowan. Nothing more.”

The Headmaster looked between Dominic’s flushed, angry face and Shani’s resolute expression. He knew this meeting would yield nothing but a stalemate.

”Family Head Ashbourne, you have heard Shani’s answer. This meeting is at an end,” the Headmaster stated.

Dominic couldn’t accept this outcome, yet he was in no position to argue with the Headmaster. In the end, he remained silent.

Shani had no desire to linger in the same room as Dominic a moment longer. She stood up from her seat.

”I’ll be taking my leave, Headmaster,” Shani said politely.

Dominic stared at Shani’s retreating back, feeling as though a massive boulder were lodged in his throat, begging to be freed.

Finally, he spat out in a sharp tone, ”If you are not officially registered as an Ashbourne, the inheritance you’re hoping for will never belong to you.”

Shani froze in her tracks. ’Inheritance again! All of this is because of that inheritance!’

Memories of her past life, which had been submerged by the fulfilling nature of her second life, came flooding back.

Back when she had still hoped to find a family that would accept her. Yet the very people who shared her blood, who possessed the exact same silver hair and physical traits, were the ones who heartlessly destroyed her piece by piece.

From her early days at the Ashbourne Mansion, Vivienne had shown open hostility, and Emilia had always looked down at her with utter disgust.

Shani had known right then and there that they were not the family she had dreamed of.

Dominic, on the other hand, had never physically abused her, nor had he hurled insults or cast disgusted looks her way. He was simply expressionless.

He was busy, and back then, Shani had thought that if she were patient enough, she might eventually be able to confide in this uncle about the hardships she was facing.

Unfortunately, Dominic wasn’t busy. He simply did not care. Whatever happened to Shani, as long as she remained inside the Ashbourne Mansion, it made no difference to him.

Shani looked long and hard at Dominic’s defiant expression. Today, she had seen more varied expressions on her uncle’s face than in the entire two years she had spent living in the Ashbourne Mansion in her past life.

”The inheritance I’m hoping for?” Shani scoffed bitterly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ”It’s not me who’s coveting it! It’s you, Honorable Family Head Ashbourne!”

Dominic’s flushed face turned an even deeper shade of red, now burning with humiliation. ”Watch your tongue!”

”You know I’m right,” Shani retorted, turning on her heel and walking away.

Dominic’s chest heaved as he drew a heavy, rage-filled breath. He wouldn’t sink to petty bickering with an eighteen-year-old girl in front of the Headmaster, but he would certainly remember this day.

...

Shani leaned against the wall as she stumbled into the lobby of Panther Building.

Fortunately, a security guard patrolling nearby on a hovercart had offered her a ride. Otherwise, her trembling legs never would have carried her all the way back.

Despite the brave and fierce facade she had maintained in the Headmaster’s office, the weight of her past memories still haunted her, leaving her body feeling weak and drained.

She immediately contacted Rowena to inform that Nova City’s instructor about what had just transpired.

”Yes, they won’t stop harassing you so easily. But don’t worry, I’ll handle it. You just focus on your studies,” Rowena replied, her gentle voice instantly soothing Shani’s frayed nerves.

After receiving a few more instructions from Rowena, Shani remained on the ground floor.

She sat on a lobby couch to collect herself, ignoring the receptionist who kept casting curious glances in her direction.

”Shani, what are you doing over there?”

Shani turned toward the elevator as the doors slid open. Kiran, Noella, Sonny, and Jeryon stepped out.

”Are you alright?” Noella asked, stepping closer and noticing how pale Shani looked.

”Isn’t House Ashbourne crossing the line, constantly pressuring Shani like this?” Kiran sat beside Shani, her hands fluttering anxiously all over her, checking for any injuries.

Shani was rendered speechless by Kiran’s frantic reaction, especially after hearing Sonny’s outburst.

”Are the Ashbournes really not afraid of backlash after harassing a Grand Academy student? I’m telling my father to cancel every deal we have with them!”

When Shani glanced at Noella and Jeryon, she caught the sharp, calculating glints in their eyes as well. Who knew what schemes their brilliant minds were already cooking up.

A sharp sting hit the back of her nose, and before she could blink it away, her vision blurred with warmth.

”Shani, are you sick? Where does it hurt? Come on, let’s go to the medical facility!” Kiran asked frantically upon seeing Shani’s tear-filled eyes.

Her three other friends instantly snapped to alert, ready to carry Shani off on the spot.

Shani sniffed sharply before reassuring them. ”I’m fine. The air conditioning draft is just a bit colder than usual.”

The four students exchanged bewildered glances at her ridiculous excuse.

In the fully climate-controlled environment of Grand Academy, it was practically impossible for one spot to suddenly be colder than the rest.

But they were tactful enough not to call her out on it—except for...

”Aww, you’re touched, aren’t you?” Sonny pointed a playful finger at her, instantly shattering the gloomy atmosphere.

Shani desperately wanted to bury her head in the sand, and bury Sonny right alongside her.

Fortunately, her three other friends merely turned their heads away, suppressing their smirks.

Shani cleared her throat to brush off her embarrassment, her expression turning serious. ”There’s something I need to tell you all.”

The playful mood vanished, replaced by an attentive silence.

The four of them followed Shani up to her room. When the electronic lock clicked open and Shani swung the door wide for them, Kiran froze in her tracks.

”Are we... really allowed inside?”

She had been dying of curiosity to see Nyx, whose adorable meows she had heard before, but Shani had always kept the clingy baby beast hidden away.

Seeing Shani nod, Kiran’s heart fluttered as if she were about to meet a blind date.

”Meow~”

Greeted by the adorable squeak, the three guests instantly located Nyx.

All three of them froze in unison, their eyes widening at the sight of a tiny panther cub attempting to scale a stationary exercise wheel.

Shani had intentionally jammed the wheel so Nyx wouldn’t work out without her supervision, never expecting the cub to climb the outside of it instead.

While Shani and Jeryon worried about Nyx being overly hyperactive, their three guests paid no mind to her antics.

They only saw a little black furball, and immediately connected its presence to the Ashbournes’ visit today.

...