Chapter 257
“It’s on me for not keeping a tighter rein on my kids, which led to them acting out on the field and being downright nasty to their opponents. On behalf of my son, I apologize.” George stood in front of Dane, bowing deeply, his words dripping with sincerity.
Dane was taken aback. George, a deputy director, actually apologizing to them?
“Dad! What are you doing?” Jack couldn’t believe his eyes. The father he admired and respected was now bowing and apologizing to Dane and his team?
“Get over here and apologize too!” George yanked Jack over, forcing him to apologize.
Jack, full of teenage defiance, glared angrily. “Dad, have you lost it today? Why are you scared of Dane? His family runs a diner, right? Even if I did more than just mess up the game, even if I seriously hurt him, they wouldn’t dare say a word!”
George was petrified by Jack’s reckless words, fearing he’d say something even worse and upset that important figure. He kicked Jack’s shin with all his strength. Caught off guard, Jack’s legs buckled, and he ended up kneeling right in front of Dane!
Humiliated and furious, he tried to get up, but a strong hand pushed down on his shoulders. George’s voice was urgent and tinged with fear, “Apologize to the Westbrook High School team right now!”
Jack’s eyes, red and swollen, were tightly shut as he gritted his teeth. He refused to speak. No way was he apologizing to Dane!
Facing Jack’s stubbornness, George became both anxious and angry. He pulled out his last threat, “If you don’t apologize, you can kiss basketball goodbye for the rest of your life!”
Jack’s expression changed instantly. He didn’t doubt his father’s words for a second.
His fists clenched at his sides, and he forced out, “I’m sorry!”
The boy’s voice was defiant, filled with reluctance and bitterness.
As Jack finally apologized, George breathed a sigh of relief. He watched Dane, his tone unexpectedly conciliatory, “Dane, everything that happened was Jack’s fault, and I sincerely apologize on his behalf. He went against the spirit of sportsmanship and disrespected the rules of the game. Comett High School will be disqualified from this competition. I hope this solution is satisfactory to you?”
George was sweating bullets, fearing that even after all this, Dane would still be upset.
Just half an hour ago, two powerful figures had called the director, seriously discussing the competition’s matters. The head office made it clear: if he couldn’t appease Dane, his role as deputy director was over.
Even the Maple Grove Sports Council got involved, showing just how serious the situation was.
When George talked about disqualifying their team, Jack and the rest of the Cornett High School team went pale, losing all their earlier
swagger.
They couldn’t understand why George was being so submissive to Dane, whose background seemed so ordinary. What could possibly make the deputy director so fearful?
Dane was just as confused. He swallowed hard before saying, “We only ask for fairness and justice. The sports field should be sacred, not tainted with disgrace.”
“Yes, yes, absolutely.” George nodded vigorously, then cautiously asked, “So, you’re not angry anymore?”
Dane, “Uh, yeah.*
Finally, George felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders. He had brought new referees from the sports authority to ensure the fairness of the competition.
With Cornett High School disqualified, Westbrook High School was declared the winner by default.
Westbrook High had already won two matches, and with one more victory, they would advance to the finals in Maple Grove.
“Dane, seriously, are you some kind of secret big shot?”
The Westbrook High School teammates stared at Dane with intense curiosity.