Grace's opening statement was startling, directly elevating the matter to a criminal case.

  'Forcible indecency'?

  This was no trivial accusation!

  Eric's mum instantly flew into a rage, vehemently refuting: "You're talking nonsense! My son, he..."

  "Didn't you say you had the surveillance footage from when the incident happened?" Grace interrupted her calmly. "Then you should be very clear whether his act of hugging me was forced. I only resorted to defensive measures because my struggles and verbal warnings were futile. This matter, from start to finish, was solely Eric's fault. His injury and hospitalization are what he deserved!"

  "You and he were in a relationship! His hugging you, how could that..."

  Eric's mum tried to argue further, but Grace cut her off again. With a serious expression, Grace clarified her status: "The day I met with you, I broke up with Eric on the spot. That evening, back at school, I returned all his belongings to him. There are witnesses to these actions. We broke up long ago. He has been the one persistently harassing me. Would you like to see the messages he sent me that I still have on my phone?"

  "Taking a step back, even if we hadn't broken up, his forcibly hugging me without my consent would still be a crime. As long as it isn't consensual from both parties, it's illegal!"

  Principal Smith, a law graduate himself, subconsciously nodded upon hearing Grace's words. "What student Grace says is indeed correct. The crimes of 'rape' and 'forcible indecency' are not bound by relationships. Even within marriage, if the woman does not consent and the man forces himself, it can constitute 'rape'."

  "Principal Smith!" Eric's mum glared angrily, indignant. "My son is lying in the hospital right now! And you... you just shield her like this?"

  Principal Smith looked troubled. If things were truly as Grace described, then she herself was not at fault.

  And judging by Mrs. Dylan's reaction, it seemed Grace wasn't lying and was stating facts.

  Grace calmly took two steps forward, stopping only with the Dean between her and Eric's mum, before speaking composedly: "There's no need for you to pressure the school, nor trouble the Principal. All accusations must be based on facts, not on who is in the hospital claiming the moral high ground."

  "Originally, this incident happened off-campus, and I didn't want to entangle myself further with Eric, so I thought to let it go."

  "But since you insist on pursuing it, I suggest you call the police. Because if you pressure the school into subjecting me to unfair treatment, then I will definitely pursue criminal liability against Eric."

  Grace's speech was fluent, her reasoning clear, leaving Eric's mum almost no room for manoeuvre or retreat.

  Eric's mum stared fixedly at Grace. She knew she had little choice, but she was, after all, Mrs. Dylan of the Dylan family, never short of confidence.

  She reined in her fury and said with venomous malice, "Do you really think you can threaten me? Do you know who you are offending?"

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  The shift in aura made Eric's mum's presence particularly intimidating at that moment. The Dean standing in front of her didn't dare even breathe heavily.

  Yet Grace merely smiled faintly, showing not a trace of fear. "It's not a threat. How could a female college student with no background threaten anyone? I am simply communicating with you, stating my position in plain and direct terms."

  Then, Grace's tone also shifted abruptly, tinged with a layer of chill. "But if someone threatens me, I will definitely retaliate without reserve."

  But it lasted only a moment before Grace's demeanor returned to normal. She straightened up and looked politely at the Principal. "Principal, since the facts are clear, I believe the school understands who is at fault. However, I will be the bigger person. In consideration of the year-long relationship Eric and I genuinely shared, I will let it go for now. But I reserve the right to pursue his liability."

  "If the other party's parent also chooses not to involve the police, then I will take my leave."

  After saying this, regardless of the others' expressions, Grace, unwilling to linger, turned and left.

  Advisor Lee, seeing this, quickly said to the Principal, "Principal, I'll have a separate talk with Grace."

  With that, he also left the principal's office.

  The Dean secretly breathed a sigh of relief, subtly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He turned back with an apologetic smile. "Mrs Dylan, you see how this situation is... It's embarrassing for everyone, isn't it? How about this? I'll arrange to move Eric and Grace into different classes? That would significantly reduce their chances of meeting."

  The outcome was far from the perfect resolution she had envisioned. How could Eric's mum be satisfied?

  This was a university. What good would changing classes do? It was a superficial solution, merely fooling oneself!

  She snorted coldly, picked up her purse, and stormed out.

  "Mrs. Dylan, won't you stay for more tea?" Principal Smith offered perfunctorily. Seeing Eric's mum leave without looking back, he finally let out a deep breath.

  He sank into his chair as if a weight had been lifted, yet his face remained clouded with worry.

  The Dean moved closer and asked, "Principal, thankfully, Grace is clever and didn't let Mrs Dylan pressure our school. Otherwise, this really would have been hard to settle."

  Principal Smith responded with a cold laugh. "This incident might be settled, but what about the four high-magnification, high-power astronomical telescopes the Dylan Group promised to donate to the Astronomy Department? That's probably down the drain now too, isn't it?"

  The Dean, realizing belatedly, slapped own thigh. "Right! How could I forget! Those four telescopes add up to nearly one thousend dollars! They are crucial for our Astronomy Department!"

  The University's Astronomy Department was relatively unknown among national university programs in the same field. But the equipment required for this department was a bottomless pit—everything was expensive. While the department wasn't lacking in basic infrastructure, the sophisticated high-end and top-tier equipment were burdens the school couldn't easily afford and was reluctant to invest heavily in, given it wasn't its strength.

  However, ever since Eric Dylan of the Dylan Group enrolled into the Astronomy Department last year, the Group has donated nearly one thousand dollars within a year to upgrade the department's equipment. They had even promised to donate four top-tier astronomical telescopes to the school this National Day.

  Principal Smith had been eagerly awaiting National Day. With those four telescopes, UST's Astronomy Department, even if it couldn't catch up with the University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, would certainly rank among the top in universities. After all, the economic base determines the superstructure.

  But after today's incident, the telescopes were likely doomed before birth. The more Principal Smith thought about it, the more agonized he felt, forcing himself to cling to the slim hope that Mrs Dylan wouldn't interfere with this matter.

  Meanwhile, Grace ducked into the campus convenience store, intending to buy some snacks and drinks for Scarlett.

  Advisor Lee followed her, preaching earnestly. "I've always thought you were level-headed, but today's situation was so risky. Thankfully, Eric's medical report showed no major issues, otherwise, what would you have done?"