The principal’s office was chaos.

Mrs. Petrov was practically foaming at the mouth. “Your daughter is violent! Look at Sofia’s face! She could’ve been disfigured!”

Sofia sat there with an ice pack on her cheek, glaring at me like I’d ruined her modeling career. I had a small cut on my lip. That was it.

The principal looked disappointed. “I expected better from you. Your parents are never around and now this—”

“Oh please,” Mr. Petrov snapped. “When her guardians get here, we’ll settle this properly. We are one of the most powerful families in this school.”

The door opened.

Silence.

Caesar walked in first — dark coat, unreadable expression. Lee Won followed, calm but sharp-eyed. The air shifted instantly.

Lee Won came straight to me. “Are you hurt?” Soft. Quiet.

I shook my head.

Caesar didn’t look at anyone else. “Did you start it.”

“No.”

He nodded once.

Mrs. Petrov scoffed. “Your daughter attacked mine. We demand consequences.”

That’s when Caesar finally looked at them.

Slowly.

“You raised your voice at my child,” he said evenly.

Mrs. Petrov folded her arms. “We have every right—”

“No. You don’t.”

The room felt colder.

“You think you’re powerful here?” Caesar continued, voice calm. “You run bake sales and donate to the library. That is not power.”

Mr. Petrov stiffened. “Excuse me?”

“If your daughter touches mine again,” Caesar said, stepping closer, “I won’t be speaking to you in a school office.”

The principal went pale.

Lee Won rested a steady hand on my shoulder. “We will be withdrawing her for the day.”

Caesar’s gaze never left the Petrovs.

“Pray this remains a school matter,” he finished quietly.

Then to me, softer:

“Get your bag.”