Dump My Ex, Dive into Love with His Billionaire Uncle

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Learning to Fight Back, No Longer the Weak Bella Woods

As Bella Woods left the principal’s office, her mind was still on the suspended study abroad program.

The principal’s words were clear; the suspension of the program was due to issues with her spot from the investors.

It was hard not to think that Cyan Marshall stopped the program after finding out she wanted to study abroad.

But despite the logic, Bella felt Cyan wasn’t that kind of person.

The most effective way to find out was to directly ask Cyan herself.

However, asking directly might make Bella worried that Cyan could feel hurt, thinking she treated Bella so well, yet Bella still doubted her.

As Bella walked down the school path, pondering over the matter, someone suddenly rushed over and slapped her right in the face!

The slap was so unexpected that Bella was taken aback.

She looked up at the slim, tall girl in front of her, feeling bewildered. “Why did you hit me?”

“Why do you think I hit you?” The girl sneered viciously. “This year’s exchange student program was already troublesome, changing suddenly again and again, and now it’s directly suspended.

And it’s all because of you. Why do you think I hit you?”

“Are you Senior Joy?” Bella recognized her.

When signing up for the exchange program, all participant information was on the same page, with photos.

Joy was listed before Bella, a sophomore in the arts department.

“Just because of you, how many people’s futures have you ruined, do you know!” The more Joy thought about it, the angrier she got, rushing in to slap Bella again.

But this time Bella reacted quickly, firmly grasping Joy’s hand, and as she paused to struggle, Bella raised her hand and slapped Joy back.

The slap was soft, and Bella’s hit was light.

Still, it enough shocked Joy. “You did wrong and hit me back?”

“You just slapped me, so I returned it. We’re even now, plus letting you know that my face isn’t a dishware you can casually strike.”

Bella expressed with a stern face. “Secondly, you said I caused many exchange students to lose their spots. Firstly, I can directly tell you, this spot was for one out of ten people, you all never really got it.

Secondly, it’s the investors who paused the funding that led to this project halting. Instead of showing off before me, you should seek the investors, convincing them to fund this program!”

Having spoken her mind firmly, Bella released Joy’s hand, pushing her back a little.

Joy was left speechless by Bella, glaring at her for a while, unable to retort, leaving only anger.

Joy cursed as she was about to approach Bella again when Calvin Marshall’s voice came from behind. “Joy, if you dare strike again, not only will you lose the exchange program spot, but I’ll also ensure you get a major demerit in your academic record!”

The words had a strong deterrent effect, immediately halting Joy’s actions.

Calvin strode forward, standing before Bella, facing Joy head-on. “You know very well who I am, Bella is my friend. Upsetting her means offending me. Offend me and you offend the Marshall Family, and you know the consequences.”

Joy glared hatefully at Calvin, then at Bella behind him, seething but helpless.

“I won’t let this go!”

Finally, Joy spat with venom and turned to leave.

Calvin turned back to check Bella’s face. “Little Bella, are you alright?”

Bella shook her head, placing a hand on Calvin’s shoulder. “Help me sit down for a bit.”

Her legs felt a bit weak.

Mainly due to the slap earlier, she was herself a little dazed.

But when Joy came at her a second time, she remembered Ashton Marshall’s words: If you don’t fight back the first time someone bullies you, you’ll be waiting for the second, third.

Bella didn’t want to be the Bella of the past anymore; she only wanted to become a brand new Bella.

Not want to be bullied or ridiculed anymore.

She wanted to become a Bella who others would respect and revere.

Bella sat down to rest beside a chair, while Calvin returned with a bottle of water for her.

“Take it easy,” Calvin said, unscrewing the cap and handing it to Bella.

“Thanks,” Bella took it, tilted her head back, and drank more than half, finally feeling a bit better.

Calvin sat beside Bella, after a while, he asked, “What are you planning to do about the exchange student matter?”

“I don’t know,” Bella answered truthfully.

She needed to ask Cyan, but doing so might offend her, and not asking meant letting it stall, losing her chance to leave.

“I have a suggestion,” Calvin said.

“What is it?”

“Didn’t they say the investors won’t fund it? My third brother has plenty of money, why not directly ask him to invest?” Calvin tilted his head, believing his suggestion was good.

But Bella blinked before immediately shaking her head. “I can’t.”

“Did you discuss this with your third brother?” Bella asked as a follow-up.

Calvin shook his head. “I haven’t told anyone. Although my third brother introduced me to you, we’re friends, and I won’t tell anyone what you tell me.”

“Then please don’t tell your third brother about this,” Bella said earnestly.

Calvin nodded, guessing, “So are you planning to wait until you’re sure you have the exchange student spot before telling him?”

“I plan to tell him once I’m overseas.”

Even if the spot is confirmed or the departure date set, it’ll still be uncertain.

Bella couldn’t be sure if Ashton would let her go, so she intended not to inform him about the plan, just directly go abroad instead.

“My third brother will be so mad he’ll fly abroad to get you,” Calvin advised sincerely, “You should still properly talk to him because he can get scary mad.”

“Now’s not the time to worry about these things, the exchange spot itself is the issue,” Bella wasn’t troubled by this matter.

What worried her now was the study abroad issue.

“Ask your oldest sister,” Calvin suggested, “Ask directly, and you get a direct answer. You won’t have to agonize over it, nor speculate.”

“Wouldn’t it appear…”

“Bella Woods!”

Before Bella finished speaking, someone called her name.

“Tessa Sutton?” Calvin blurted out.

Tessa had already trotted over to Bella, handing her an invitation. “My birthday is tonight, wanna come celebrate?”

“We don’t really know each other, do we?” Bella was puzzled.

“That day at Paradise World, we interacted in the restroom. Later, you argued with Oliver Hughes at the entrance; I was there. I thought we already knew each other.”

Tessa smiled, dimples showing, with an innocent sweetness.

“If you don’t remember, let tonight be the start of us knowing each other. Come join, after all, it’s my birthday, we’re all from the same school, and there’ll be lots of seniors from your department there, coming?”