Rejected and Pregnant Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince novel Chapter 540

Chapter 540: Your savior, Jake

"Your Highness, I beg for your apology on my son’s behalf," Jake’s father, Gideon, stepped up immediately, bowing low. "I swear I will discipline my son well." Since the other kids hadn’t physically raised a hand against Idris, they had already been dismissed from the school’s chairman’s office.

Jake glared sullenly at his father, but remained quiet, unwilling to apologize himself.

"What will disciplining Jake do?" Casaio stated, his tone flat. He had already seen how Jake was reacting toward his father’s apology, with resentment, not remorse.

"He may just learn to be sneakier and bully more kids. Instead, he must learn the empathy of how it feels when someone gets locked in a room for twelve years, completely alone," he pronounced, referring to Idris’s traumatic past.

"Of course, I—" Gideon began, ready to agree to any punishment, but Casaio held up his hand, cutting him off.

"I would like to talk to Jake in private now. Everyone shall dismiss," Casaio commanded.

The chairman and the others left the office one by one, closing the door and leaving Casaio and Jake alone.

"Take a seat, Jake," Casaio said in a humble, measured tone while he leaned casually against the mahogany desk.

"Your Highness can expel me from this school if he wants. I know I made a grave mistake," Jake said, keeping his head low, expecting the worst.

"Take a seat, Jake," Casaio repeated, not rising to the bait.

Jake took a deep breath and stepped forward before lowering himself into the chair. He fiddled anxiously with his fingers, showing his nervousness.

"Why did you do it?" Casaio asked directly. "What kind of pleasure did you find in it? You must be honest with me."

"I don’t know. I simply did not like Idris’s presence in the class," Jake truthfully answered, still avoiding Casaio’s direct gaze.

"Why? What did he do?" Casaio asked the next question calmly.

"He’s not from here. Maybe that’s why," Jake answered, finally looking up at the Alpha Prince. "He pretends to be too nice. I hate it. That gaze in his eyes seems deceptive."

Casaio was momentarily unable to understand the boy’s rationale. He then changed his approach to find out what was truly in Jake’s mind.

"I think you didn’t hear me earlier. I told you Idris was locked in a room for twelve years," Casaio began, his voice taking on a serious edge. "Have you ever been put into such a situation? Have you ever been threatened and had to fight to keep yourself alive? Have you ever encountered dangerous men who are ready to kill you because you’re deemed useless?"

"I will be your savior, Jake," Casaio declared, his voice firm but compassionate, looking past the bully to the hurting child underneath. "But you have to promise me you’ll never look down on the weak again. Of course, everyone wants to show themselves as a strong person. You want the same. There’s nothing wrong with that, except for the ways you choose to do it."

"I assure you that whatever you’ve undergone all these years, the feeling of inadequacy and the pain, will stop. Maybe you and I had to meet in this manner; maybe that’s why you raised your hand on Idris. But this will be the last time you’ve hurt any kid. Am I clear, Jake? Do you want to change your future? Or do you want to continue being a bad boy?"

Jake looked intently into the eyes of the Alpha Prince, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I don’t want anyone to be my savior. Mostly, elders are liars. I’ve seen it," he confessed bitterly.

"Maybe you simply haven’t had good elders like me," Casaio pronounced gently. He walked closer to Jake and placed his big, warm hand on his head, giving it soft, reassuring pats.

"Idris asked me repeatedly to let this go. His eyes don’t pretend; they are completely honest. He is an innocent boy, trying hard to fit into a world that was violently snatched from him a long time ago. He’s fighting his own battles, Jake. And trust me, he needs friends. Some truly good friends. You’ll be one of them, won’t you?" A hopeful, gentle smile carved onto Casaio’s lips.

Jake was quick to wipe the tears from his eyes, defensive even in his despair. "Don’t you want to beat me up? Elders always do that," he said, sobbing slightly.

"I told you I’m not that kind of elder who belongs in the category of evil," Casaio answered firmly. "I want to be your savior, Jake. You are a bright boy with a bright future ahead of you."

Jake cried more as he broke down completely in front of Casaio. He let the boy cry his heart out while keeping his hand over his head until he had calmed down.