The Disolate Scion

Arrogant

Zak hesitated slightly, then softly replied after a while, "C." 

She sneered, "I know you were the top student in another school, but you're too arrogant. How could you choose option C for this question? Sit down." 

Mocking laughter filled the classroom. Zak sat down, rotated the pen in his hand, and looked at the answer B on his notebook. He started calculating the next question expressionlessly. 

"Juelz, you tell us, which option do you choose?" The teacher asked. 

The question was difficult, and Juelz couldn't find the answer among the given options. However, Zak had already ruled out option C for him. Though uncertain, Juelz smiled and took a guess, "B." 

"Very good, indeed the top of the grade. Sit down." She praised Juelz and then pointed at Zak, "Look at Juelz, the top student, and then look at you." 

Her words were filled with disdain. 

Zak heard the footsteps approaching him and decided to alter his course. 

When the teacher came closer and looked at his notebook, her expression went from disdain to shock, and then back to disdain. "I thought you were writing exercises in your notebook. Can't you listen carefully without always keeping your head down?" 

After her admonition, she turned back to the podium and started discussing another question. 

As soon as the class ended, the classroom became lively. However, Zak was isolated from everyone else, as if he belonged to a different world. 

He didn't mind and continued taking notes.

The cafeteria bustled with a crowd of people. 

Zak savored each bite of his meal. It didn't take long before he spotted Juelz holding his tray, scanning the area, probably searching for him. 

Zak enjoyed his meal at a leisurely pace. 

Soon enough, Juelz settled down in front of him, followed by a few others who quickly joined, attracting the attention of those nearby. 

"Meals are better when shared with more people," Juelz smiled and remarked, "What do you think, little brother?" 

"What's on your plate?" Adan Skinner looked at the three vegetable dishes with disdain, "You're from the Vanderose family, and this is what you eat?" 

A seemingly casual remark, but it caused a slight shift in Juelz's expression. 

Juelz glanced at Adan Skinner, forcing a smile, "Well, he's accustomed to eating at the orphanage. He just arrived, probably not used to it." 

His words were subtly laced with sarcasm. 

Zak appeared completely oblivious to the situation as he calmly finished his meal and got up from his seat, preparing to leave. 

As he walked past Juelz, he happened to notice Juelz's foot sticking out. 

Without skipping a beat, Zak continued walking, unintentionally stepping on Juelz's foot and applying some pressure before finally lifting it, leaving a lasting impression. 

The cafeteria erupted with pained cries, resembling startled animal sounds, capturing the attention of numerous onlookers. 

Juelz widened his eyes, his lips trembling in agony, as he helplessly watched Zak walk away. The urge to confront Zak surged within him, but the excruciating pain in his toes held him back, causing tears to well up. 

The incident happened so quickly that most people didn't even notice Zak stepping on Juelz. Besides, Zak had already left, making any retaliation impossible at that moment. 

Juelz's pranks with Zak paled in comparison to the much more sinister incidents he endured at the orphanage. He had grown accustomed to such treatment from a very young age, and even a minor disagreement could lead to a barrage of bruises on his body at the orphanage.

"Will your dad be attending the meeting for your brother?" Juelz's desk mate leaned over, suddenly sniffing.

Juelz clenched his teeth, contemplating alternative ways to deal with Zak, to make him lose face, feel ashamed, and willingly leave both the school and his own home.

His eyes narrowed with malice as he scoffed, "What does Zak think he is? My dad is too busy; there's no way he'd waste his time attending a parent-teacher conference for him."

...

Samantha Elliott went upstairs and knocked on Juelz's door. "Juelz, what happened? Would you like to talk to Mom about it?"

"Juelz, please open the door."

"Mom wants to chat with you."

Her gentle tone made people feel a bit dazed.

Zak's gaze lowered, and he stood motionless for a moment before stepping into the room and firmly locking the door. With a change in his demeanor, he pulled out a chair, sat at the desk, and began to focus on his homework.

After a while, Zak leaned against the wall, fixating his gaze for an extended period, as if anticipating something.

Finally, the sound of a forceful slap against the door resonated.

Zak smiled briefly before turning around and unlocking the door.

The next moment, a powerful slap landed directly on his face.

Unflinching, she took the full force of the slap, and a bright red palm print quickly appeared on his fair skin.

Overwhelmed with anger, Samantha Elliott froze upon hearing the crisp sound of the slap. Looking at Zak's swollen face, her fury dissipated instantly, and she couldn't find the words to rebuke him.

After a long while, she awkwardly asked, "What happened to Juelz at school today? Tell me."

Zak kept his head down, his expression obscured, but his fingers nervously clutched at his clothes, creating creases in the fabric.

Pausing for a moment, he cautiously said, "He stumbled and fell in the cafeteria in front of a crowd of people, and he has been upset about it. Also, he wanted..."

He didn't finish his sentence, and Samantha Elliott didn't push for more details. Moreover, Zak's trembling hand, still gripping his clothes, indicated his fear.

Recalling how he had appeared on his first day, Samantha Elliott thought that he must have been putting on an act back then. Now, it seemed that his true self was revealed.

Timid, weak, and helpless.

What kind of threat could such a person pose to Juelz?

Ever since she knew Zak, she had been subjected to constant ridicule and mockery whenever she appeared.

People said she didn't even know that her son had been humiliated. They called her the mother of an orphan raised in an orphanage and questioned her suitability as a mother. These words haunted her not only during the day but also in her dreams at night.

How could she possibly like Zak!

Samantha Elliott went back upstairs and asked Juelz for a detailed account of what had happened.

Once he was sure that the woman had left, the slightly hunched young boy released his grip on his clothes, straightened his back, slowly raised his head, and revealed a face of cold indifference.

A faint mocking smile played on his lips.

It was all an act, and he knew how to play the role.

The living room was dim and Zak opened the refrigerator, taking out some ice cubes and applying them to his face.

His cheeks no longer felt much pain, but the ice was too cold, and he couldn't help but remove it slightly.

The lights suddenly turned on, and Benton Vanderose, just returning from work, saw Zak and rushed over anxiously. "What happened to your face? Were you bullied at school? Who dared to bully my son?"

That worried expression caused Zak to pause, feeling somewhat nervous. He forced a smile and said, "Dad, I'm Zak, not Juelz. You got the wrong person."