Chapter 12 Halt!

• The sleek black Maserati navigated the city streets, coming to a smooth halt before the gates of Adania University.
• Alighting from Mr. Kolson's vehicle, Cherise barely had a moment to express her gratitude before she darted towards the medical research building.
• The building was teeming with activity that morning, with a throng of people gathered around the elevator.
• As Cherise waited for the elevator, her phone rang. It was Lucy.
• "Cherry, when will you get here? Who are these guys? They're crossing the line!"
• Lucy's voice, choked with tears, echoed through the phone, causing Cherise's heart to clench.
• Taking a deep breath, she decided not to wait for the elevator and instead dashed into the adjacent stairwell.
• It's only eight floors up. I can handle it!
• Having skipped breakfast, her legs felt shaky by the time she reached the eighth floor.
• But she couldn't afford to waste time. As soon as she arrived on the eighth floor, she sprinted towards the laboratory.
• The entire floor was under surveillance, with the sound of heated arguments spilling out from the lab.
• In the corridor, Lucy stood, anxiety etched on her face.
• Before Cherise could step into the lab, she heard a man's accusatory voice, "What makes Cherise worthy of the scholarship? Her reputation is scandalous!"
• "I caught her in the act, look at this picture! She got into an old man's car! As far as I'm concerned…"
• "What are you talking about!" Cherise burst through the door, her eyes blazing with anger at the rumor-mongering student.
• He looked vaguely familiar, but she didn't know his name. Lucy had referred to him as the 'Eternal Runner-up' since he always ranked just behind Cherise in every exam.
• In the stunned silence that followed, Cherise snatched the phone from the man's hand, only to find it was a picture from yesterday when Mr. Kolson dropped her off, a scene of her expressing gratitude.
• "Do you have any evidence of my misconduct? Did you witness it firsthand?" She challenged.
• Turning to her classmates, she noticed a few men with light bruises on their faces. They had likely gotten into a scuffle defending her.
• "Do you realize that spreading rumors is illegal!" Her anger was palpable.
• In a fit of rage, Cherise slapped the man across the face, igniting a scuffle that was quickly broken up by others.
• "Hmph, I've caught countless photos of you with other men, dare you deny it?" The man leered at Cherise insolently.
• "Look at you, a country girl, unexpectedly bold, putting on an innocent act at school," he taunted.
• "Yo, what's going on here, quite the spectacle," a casual voice echoed from outside. It was Tristan, who had recently been ousted from his position at the company, now idly visiting Cherise's school for amusement.
• "Cherry, how did you feel last night? Did it hurt when I hammered your clam?" Tristian spoke ambiguously, startling everyone present.
• Cherise clenched her teeth, shooting a venomous glare at Tristian, realizing that he was the puppet master behind all this.
• "It was you!"
• "You spread these rumors, didn't you! I'm going to tell Grandpa!"
• "Don't make baseless accusations, I was just passing by to pay a visit and happened upon this scene." Tristian retorted, exuding an air of authority.
• He took a seat and crossed his legs with a smirk, "Your classmates are pushing it, how can they spread such rumors? Don't worry, I'll have them all arrested and thrown in jail, that'll teach them a lesson!"
• As he spoke, his bodyguards rounded up everyone in the lab, including the men who had defended her.
• Cherise was stunned. It became clear that Tristan was targeting her!
• He was using her classmates' future as leverage against her, and she wasn't going to stand for it!
• "What do you want exactly!" She demanded through gritted teeth.
• "I'm pretty sure you know what I want," Tristan leaned into her ear and whispered, "honestly, I wonder what it feels like to make love to you in a university lab."
• Cherise blanched at his words.
• "In your dreams!" She rejected him without a second thought. The audacity he had to come to her school with such intentions.
• "I wouldn't mind having a go with your friend." Tristan sneered, pointing at Lucy.
• At his gesture, the lab was cleared, leaving only Cherise, Lucy, himself, and four bodyguards.
• "Either you sleep with me, or you'll watch me assault your friend right here."
• "Stop pushing it! I am warning you!"
• Tristan laughed, "This is nothing compared to what Damien did to me yesterday at the Lenoir Residence."
• With a wave of his hand, his bodyguards seized Cherise and Lucy, the latter too frightened to speak.
• "It's your own doing, don't blame me."
• Tristian coldly sized up Cherise, "Besides, I'm quite attractive, aren't I? It's your gain to get a taste of me."
• He glanced at the trembling Lucy. "Honestly, your friend is pretty cute too. What a dilemma. I want you both."
• Despite Raymond Lenoir's reprimanding for him to behave earlier, Tristan couldn't swallow being outplayed by Damien for the first time.
• Unable to confront Damien directly, he chose to target Cherise instead.
• "If you hadn't done these things, would the Belcourt family come knocking?"
• Cherise gritted her teeth and glared at him. Her round face seemed even rounder because of her rage. "You deserved it because you couldn't control your desires!"
• It was he who had impregnated Miss Belcourt. Not only did he try to evade responsibility, but he also publicly clashed with the Belcourt family!
• What right did he have to blame all this on Damien? Besides, he had betrayed her last night!
• What Cherise said angered Tristan again.
• His eyes narrowed dangerously as he approached Lucy, brutally gripping her jaw with such force it seemed her bones might shatter. "How about this, let me show you what I can do with your dear friend."
• "Who would have thought, a country girl like you could have such a beautiful friend… this must be quite a delightful experience."
• His gaze roved over Lucy's figure. "Nice body, and quite well-endowed." As he spoke, he began lifting the hem of Lucy's T-shirt.
• "Cherry, I'm scared!" Lucy's voice trembled, wondering to herself how Cherise had crossed paths with such a lunatic.
• Panic surged in Cherise's heart as she struggled against the grip of the bodyguards. "Take your anger out on me, leave my friend alone."
• Tristan tightened his grip around Lucy's waist, eliciting a cry of pain from her. "I've always had a penchant for someone else's woman."
• "Especially one that belongs to Damien Lenoir. He is crippled, I don't suppose he can satisfy you."
• "I can spare your friend, but you'll have to do whatever I say."
• Tristan's lecherous hand moved over Lucy's body, his cold laugh echoing. "Your friend's skin is so fine, her curves so enticing."
• His voice was as nauseating as his words.
• Lucy's fear morphed into anger as she regained her senses amidst the chaos, "You! You monster!"
• Tristan paid no heed to her, his interest now solely fixed on Cherise.
• Approaching Cherise, he reached out to pinch her cheek, a twisted smile on his face, "I do enjoy seeing you angry, by all means, keep this up."
• Cherise bit her lips until they turned white.
• Tristan enjoyed seeing Cherise struggle. He started tearing her clothes apart before the onlookers in the room!
• "Wait!"
• Cherise gritted her teeth. Her intelligent mind worked quickly. "As long as you let my friend go, you can do whatever you want to me."
• Tristan let out a cold chuckle, asking, "Does that include making love on the bed you share with Damien?" He was determined to humiliate Damien, and he wanted to show Damien how Tristan had conquered his wife.
• Cherise, suppressing her revulsion, nodded, "Only if you promise to leave all my friends alone."
• "We can do whatever you want, wherever you want." Cherise knew she had no one to protect her at this moment, and she had no choice but to comply with Tristan's demands.