Ghost Billionaire
Chapter 44: Pride Doesn’t Matter

Chapter 44: Pride Doesn’t Matter

"What the heck is this man up to now?" Matthew thought as he eyed Lenox stepping in front of him again.

"Thanks, but I can handle it," Matthew said.

Lenox didn’t move. "Matthew, having pride is fine, but letting it mess with your studies? That’s just careless."

Matthew blinked. "What are you talking about?" He eyed the paper and couldn’t help but suspect that Lenox is trying to frame him or something.

"I mean, come on," Lenox said, waving the paper slightly. "You’re clearly upset. That much is obvious. But this whole thing—ignoring your friends, skipping lunch, staying out of sight is not helping anyone. Especially not you."

Matthew remained still.

"Look," Lenox continued, "I know you’re angry about what happened the other night, about me sending Catherine home. Do you think I was trying to interfere or something? But come on, man. That’s not what it was. She had a headache. She asked. What was I supposed to do—say no?"

Matthew gave him a look but said nothing. He didn’t even know Lenox sent Catherine home. But even if he did, he wouldn’t have cared, anyway.

Lenox took that as a sign to keep going. "And now you’re just... avoiding everyone. You didn’t sit with us during lunch, you disappeared for hours. And now you’re turning down help for an exam that’s clearly important."

He lifted the paper again, just slightly.

"I’m saying this because I care," Lenox added. "Don’t let something petty like this ruin your momentum. Pride doesn’t matter if you end up failing."

Matthew stared at him, then slowly exhaled. "You think I’m doing this because I’m angry about you giving her a ride home?"

"Well," Lenox said. "Aren’t you?"

Matthew narrowed his eyes. "You’re delusional."

"I’m just saying, stop pretending like you’re fine and just take the help," Lenox said. "You need it."

Matthew glanced at the other students standing a few steps away, still watching but pretending not to. He looked back at Lenox.

"I don’t need it," Matthew said. "But thanks for the lecture."

He stepped to the side again, pushing past Lenox, brushing him with more force than intended.

Matthew immediately turned when he heard a thud behind him.

To his surprise, Lenox was on the ground, flat on his back, legs awkwardly sprawled out like he’d lost his balance completely. For a second, neither of them moved. Their eyes met, both were caught off guard. Matthew didn’t say anything, but inwardly, he frowned.

Lenox wasn’t weak. He was annoying, smug, and painfully self-righteous, but not clumsy. There was no way a light shove should have dropped him like that.

Matthew looked down at his own hand. The same hand he’d used to push Lenox. The same hand that had absorbed multiple ghosts earlier. He actually forgot to control his strength!

This had already happened once before, and yet Matthew hadn’t been careful. He’d completely forgotten that he’d just replenished his strength.

Before he could think further, someone barreled toward him from the side.

He stepped away on reflex and watched as Catherine ran toward Lenox. However, since he moved to the side, Catherine nearly lost her footing as she stumbled forward. She caught herself and immediately dropped to her knees beside Lenox.

"Are you okay?" she asked, glaring up at Matthew as she helped Lenox sit up.

"I’m fine," Lenox muttered, brushing dust off his sleeve. "Really, don’t make a big deal out of it."

Catherine ignored him. She stood up quickly and marched toward Matthew. Her hand raised.

Matthew didn’t move at first. He just watched her as she swung.

However, why the heck would he let this woman slap him?

Matthew was quick. He stepped back, letting her hand slice through empty air.

Her hand missed entirely, and she even nearly lost her balance again.

"You—!" she started.

"Are you trying to assault me?" Matthew asked. "Because if you are, I’d love to hear what the school has to say about that."

Catherine’s mouth opened. "You’re seriously threatening me right now? After you hurt Lenox because of me? And now, you dare threaten me!? Matthew Lindberg, have you lost your goddamn mind!?"

Matthew stared at her. "Which part of me looks like I’ve lost my mind?"

Catherine gritted her teeth. "If you want me to even consider forgiving you, you need to apologize to Lenox."

Matthew raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Was this woman addicted to something? He thought inwardly.

Before the silence stretched too long, Lenox stood up and quickly stepped between them. "Catherine, don’t bother. I’m not hurt. He didn’t mean to. It’s fine."

Catherine turned to Lenox. "Fine? How is it fine? He pushed you. You fell. And now he’s just standing there like he did nothing wrong?"

Lenox tried to ease the tension, holding up his hands. "It’s really not a big deal. Let’s just drop it."

But she wouldn’t let it go.

"He actually dared to push you, and you’re still defending him?" she said. "Stop being so kind. You always do this, letting people get away with things. He’s at fault this time, Lenox."

Matthew rolled his eyes inwardly. Hypocritical as ever.

She turned back to him. "Matthew, I’m not asking for much. If you want to fix this—if you want me to forgive you—you need to apologize to Lenox. Right now."

She crossed her arms as she had just laid down some final, reasonable demand.

Matthew let the silence stretch just long enough to make it awkward.

Then he blinked slowly, glanced at Lenox, and looked right back at her.

"You think I care whether you forgive me?"

However, before Catherine could give him an answer, a voice interrupted them.

"What’s going on here?" a voice cut in.

Matthew turned his head. Mrs. Johnson, one of the teaching staff, stood a few steps away, expression already tense as she looked between them.

Catherine didn’t miss a beat. "Mrs. Johnson, thank goodness. Matthew just pushed Lenox. I saw it myself. Lenox fell, and now he’s saying it’s nothing, but this isn’t okay."

Mrs. Johnson’s eyes shifted to Lenox, then back to Matthew.

"Is that true?" she asked. "Did you push him?"

Matthew opened his mouth, but Catherine cut in again.

"Please talk to Lenox," she said quickly. "He won’t say anything, but he’s clearly trying to keep the peace. This isn’t the first time Matthew acted like this."

Mrs. Johnson’s attention returned to Lenox.

Seeing this, Lenox hesitated, then looked at the ground. "It’s fine," he said. "He didn’t mean it. I’m fine."

Mrs. Johnson turned sharply to Matthew. "Apologize. Now. And then come with me to the principal’s office."

Matthew stared at her. "I didn’t push him. Shouldn’t you at least look into what happened before deciding who’s at fault?"