Chapter 5

Emboldened by Julian's backing, the surrounding parents grew downright hostile.

Some of them even stepped forward to shove me.

"You homewrecking bitch! Trying to tear apart such a lovely couple! Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are too polite to handle you, but we aren't! We'll teach you a lesson for them!"

Pencils, heavy textbooks, and board erasers flew through the air, raining down on me.

I didn't care about the bruises. I curled my body tightly around my daughter, shielding her with everything I had.

"Mr. Hayes is far too kind! How did a woman like this even get her kid into this elite academy? How are we supposed to feel safe with her around?"

"When the homeroom teacher gets here, we're demanding both of them get kicked off campus! Expel the girl immediately! Such morally bankrupt trash doesn't belong in our school!"

The parents reached an instant, self-righteous consensus.

Someone shoved again, and their attacks started shifting directly toward my daughter.

"Enough!" I screamed, my voice raw with fury.

"Attack me all you want! But Julian—are you really going to stand there and watch your own daughter get beaten to death?"