Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO-Chapter 780 - 497: Leaving Yourself a Way Out

Marcus Shaw and Oliver Scott stood under the teaching building.

Usually, Paula Loughton would be right at the classroom door on time, but after class this time, she was nowhere to be seen, so they decided to head downstairs and wait. Yet, no matter where they looked, there was no sign of her.

Messages were sent, but no one replied.

"Where did Miss Loughton go?"

Playing with his phone, Oliver Scott asked curiously. The teachers passing by saw his phone and pretended not to notice, turning a blind eye.

Marcus Shaw squinted his eyes slightly.

At this moment, a commotion arose in front of them. Following the noise, they saw a group of students running in the same direction, and in the center of the crowd, there was a faintly familiar figure.

Oliver Scott was slightly startled. Just as he was about to ask if it was Paula Loughton, he turned his head and saw Marcus Shaw rushing over.

Without thinking, Oliver Scott quickly followed.

*

The onlookers intended to break up the fight but were startled by Paula Loughton and didn’t know what to do. Each book-smart student was scared stiff.

It wasn’t until Marcus Shaw walked over and grabbed Paula Loughton’s hand.

When Paula Loughton turned her head, there was still a fierce look in her eyes, but upon seeing Marcus Shaw, she was slightly stunned. She pursed her lips, withdrew her hand, and all her arrogance dissipated as she lowered her head and stood before Marcus Shaw.

Looking at the freckled girl she had beaten up, who was holding her swollen face and crying loudly, with fresh blood even trickling down her mouth.

It made people gasp in surprise.

The situation had escalated to such an extent that school teachers had to step in. However, since Paula Loughton wasn’t from their school, was young, and had no guardians present, the teachers couldn’t do anything about her.

Although the freckled girl was beaten badly, there were no substantial injuries, just a face too swollen to show.

Nora Scott arrived at the office after finishing filming.

The teachers’ scalps tingled as soon as they saw her.

"Give me your parent’s phone number."

After listening to Oliver Scott explain the situation over the phone, Nora Scott walked straight at the hiccupping and pitifully crying freckled girl as soon as she entered the room.

The freckled girl shrank her neck in fright when she saw her.

Daring not to speak, Nora Scott asked the teacher for her parents’ phone number and then had a lawyer call them to hold them accountable for the rumors the freckled girl spread.

The two parents, who had been fuming on their way there, were terrified after talking to the lawyer and quickly called the office saying they wanted to resolve the matter privately, and they wouldn’t hold Paula Loughton responsible anymore.

The freckled girl looked incredulously at such a resolution.

???

She got beaten up for nothing!

"Let’s go."

After greeting the teachers, Nora Scott spoke to Oliver Scott, Marcus Shaw, and Paula Loughton, who were standing side by side.

Oliver Scott smiled at her.

Marcus Shaw said nothing.

Paula Loughton lowered her head.

Nora Scott took all three of them away.

As they walked out of the teaching building, Nora Scott directly instructed Marcus Shaw, "She’s leaving tomorrow, not going back to the hotel with me; you take her home."

Marcus Shaw nodded, agreeing to it.

Paula Loughton looked up at Nora Scott, lips pressed together, as if wanting to say something but unsure of what.

Nora Scott, however, called her first, "Anzhi."

Paula Loughton instinctively straightened her back, as if getting ready to receive Nora Scott’s criticism.

However, not a word of reproach came from Nora Scott. She just raised her hand to pat her on the head and said, "Make sure to leave yourself an out in the future."

Paula Loughton looked at her dumbfounded, confusion and bewilderment in her eyes.

Nora Scott didn’t say more, waved her hand, and left first. She had a scene to film at dawn.

"Miss Loughton’s leaving tomorrow?" Oliver Scott tilted his head to ask.

"Yeah."

Paula Loughton nodded, yet her peripheral gaze lifted slightly, instinctively peering at Marcus Shaw.

"You might feel a bit out of place when you first go to the South. Remember to contact us if anything happens," Oliver Scott smiled and patiently reminded her, "Don’t mind what happened tonight. With my sister around, it won’t affect you in the future."

"Thank you."

Looking at Oliver Scott’s warm smile, Paula Loughton smiled faintly.

Oliver Scott waved his hand, "I’ll take my leave first."

Paula Loughton nodded, raising her right hand to give a small wave.

After Oliver Scott left, Marcus Shaw gave Paula Loughton a glance, pinched her sleeve, gave it a gentle tug, and when Paula looked at him confused, he took the lead and walked forward.

Paula tilted her head in thought, realizing he wanted her to follow along.

She jogged to catch up, and as she reached Marcus Shaw’s side, she looked up at him briefly, then quietly followed beside him.

...

First Affiliated High School was large, and the road out of the campus was long, yet Paula Loughton felt the journey was too short, as if in a blink, the two of them had walked out of the school gate.

"Wait a few minutes."

Marcus Shaw’s voice floated above her head.

"Okay."

Paula Loughton nodded.

Marcus Shaw turned and walked away, quickly rounding a corner, disappearing to somewhere. Paula watched his back leave, bowed her head slightly, and lightly frowned, kicking at the gravel on the ground with her toe.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Finally, Paula Loughton heard familiar footsteps. Seemingly aware, she instinctively raised her eyes to see a boy in a blue and white school uniform approaching with a firm figure and upright posture, carrying a plastic bag in his hand.

Paula Loughton’s gaze glanced downward at the bag, spotting it was from a pharmacy with several items inside.

She reflexively glanced at her arms.

The beating had been so intense; she didn’t know how it happened, discovering additional scratches on her arms only when leaving the office.

"Let’s go."

Marcus Shaw approached her, lowered his gaze, and spoke softly.

"Hmm!"

Paula Loughton nodded heavily.

She followed Marcus Shaw’s footsteps.

It’s not far to walk back from here, about a twenty-minute journey, but Marcus Shaw flagged a car. Sitting in the car, Paula Loughton felt a faint disappointment, but once seated beside Marcus Shaw, she felt relieved.

The vehicle went directly to the neighborhood, Marcus Shaw and Paula Loughton got out and he escorted Paula Loughton upstairs.

However, he did not enter.

As Paula Loughton opened the door, Marcus Shaw handed her a plastic bag.

Marcus Shaw said, "Read the instructions when using the medicine."

"Oh."

Paula Loughton nodded.

She looked at Marcus Shaw several times. Marcus Shaw was quietly standing there, not a bit of emotion spilling out, serene and calm.

She withdrew her gaze, walked into the entryway, and at the moment she was about to change her shoes, she heard the footsteps leaving, suddenly tightening her grip on the plastic bag, she turned around and rushed to the door.

"Marcus Shaw!"

She leaned into the doorway, shouting out.

Marcus Shaw turned his head back after just stepping down a stair.

Lips pressed, Paula Loughton’s voice lowered slightly, "Marcus Shaw, I have to leave tomorrow."

"I know."

The young man remained very calm, always in the same manner.

Paula Loughton asked again, "Can I still message you?"

Doubt flashed in the young man’s eyes, then he nodded, "You can."

"Can—"

Paula Loughton opened her mouth, but her voice suddenly halted.

"Hmm?"

Marcus Shaw was puzzled.

"It’s nothing." Paula Loughton took a deep breath, smiled at him, then raised her hand to wave him goodbye, "Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

The young man’s cool voice rang out in the night, mingled with a faint warmth.

After closing the door, Paula Loughton leaned against it, listening to the young man’s footsteps fading away step by step, until finally disappearing, no sound to be heard.

—Can we meet again?

The words that slipped out were ultimately swallowed down.

Just an encounter.

She had no future.

Turning on the living room lights, Paula Loughton looked at the empty room, exhaled deeply, and simply sat cross-legged on the floor.

The plastic bag was placed to one side, she had no intention to use the medicine, but when her gaze glanced across, she suddenly caught sight of a piece of white, immediately flipping it open.

It was a folded note, folded twice.

Unfolding it revealed the young man’s bold and powerful handwriting, handwritten instructions for medication use.

A quarter hour earlier—

Marcus Shaw selected a few medicines and while checking out at the counter, fiddled with the instruction leaflets of each item.

He suddenly asked, "Do you have paper and a pen?"

The pharmacist, finding him pleasing to the eye, smiled and agreed, quickly finding paper and a pen for him.

The pharmacy’s lights leaned towards cold white, the young man slightly bent over the counter writing usage instructions and sequential steps, his brow slightly cool, yet serious in demeanor.

Each stroke was meticulously drawn.

A young man known for his messy handwriting, his writing at that moment was neat and clear.

The pharmacist, amid replying to friends’ messages, looked up and glanced at the young man, only thinking how gentle he must be to his core.

*

After midnight.

Nora Scott finished filming, stifling a yawn, she hopped into the car the crew arranged for her and Henry Chapman.

The phone kept buzzing, but Nora Scott leaned against the seat and closed her eyes to sleep, too lazy to lift an eyelid.

"Phone."

Henry Chapman reminded her.

Nora Scott didn’t open her eyes, extending a hand towards him.

Henry Chapman was slightly sullen, but said nothing and instead fetched her phone that she had casually tossed aside and handed it to her.

He glanced at the contact name: Miguel Smith.

"Hello."

Connecting the call, Nora Scott brought the phone to her ear.

Miguel Smith said, "The issue is resolved."

"Hmm?"

"Ten minutes ago, the production team of ’Puzzle in Puzzle’ issued a statement of apology, admitting they plagiarized ’Maze 2’, engaging in unfair competition. Today ’Puzzle in Puzzle’ will be taken offline on all platforms." Miguel Smith explained directly.

"And you?" Nora Scott opened her eyes, suddenly a bit more spirited, "Is there any juicy drama about family wealth?"

Henry Chapman looked at Nora Scott silently.

—The woman forever feared the world not in chaos.

"....."

Sitting in the study looking at a pile of company materials, Miguel Smith let out a deep sigh.

He would rather face an intense family drama.