Chapter 327: The Blackwood Way

Classic's POV

Classic had barely made it to his car after school before his phone buzzed.

Elena.

He sighed, already knowing what this was about.

"What?" he answered, leaning back against the leather seat.

Her voice was sharp. "Do you know what your sister did?"

Classic rubbed his temple. "Christiana does a lot of things. You'll have to be more specific."

"She humiliated me in front of everyone."

Classic didn't respond immediately.

Because what did she expect?

"You should've seen that coming," he said finally.

"Excuse me?"

Classic sighed, glancing out the tinted window. "Elena, you walked into the gala without understanding what it meant. You sat at my father's table without being ready for it. And now you're mad that Christiana reminded you of it?"

Elena's breathing was shaky. "I thought you cared."

Classic closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"I do," he admitted.

Silence.

"Then say something to her," Elena demanded. "Tell her to back off."

Classic almost laughed. She really didn't get it.

"Elena," he said calmly, "that's not how this works."

"Then how does it work?" she snapped.

Classic opened his eyes, his voice deadly quiet. "Christiana wasn't acting on her own. She was teaching you a lesson."

Elena scoffed. "A lesson? In what?"

Classic's expression turned cold. "In power."

More silence.

"You're unbelievable," she whispered.

Classic exhaled. He wasn't cruel—not like his father. But he wasn't naïve either.

"Look," he said, "I told you before—if you want to be part of my world, you have to be strong enough. My sister only said out loud what everyone else was already thinking."

Elena didn't reply.

He knew why.

Because deep down, she understood.

This was the Blackwood way.