Chapter 4

I turned to see Leo Stone, Mark’s son, running from the school gate. He was wearing a designer school uniform, with an arrogant expression on his face.

Mark Stone ruffled his son's hair. "Leo, perfect timing. Someone here says our car is his. What do you think?"

Leo sneered, saying in a precocious tone, "Dad, I've seen too many people like this. There's a kid in my class who always brags about how rich his family is, but he can't even afford a decent toy."

He glanced at me. "Mister, do you know how much this car costs? My mom said it's enough to buy a house. Look at yourself, do you look like someone who could afford it?"

Then he pointed at my clothes. "Your entire outfit probably costs less than one of my shoes, and you dare to say our car is yours?"

"Just a pauper!" Leo made a face. "My mom said, people like you, poor as dirt, should just disappear. You're a blight on our eyes!"

Mark Stone burst out laughing. "My son's right! You'd better know your place and get out of here before you embarrass yourself!"

I looked at this father and son, my anger intensifying.

What kind of upbringing did this child have?

Just then, my daughter, Lily, also stepped out of the car. She ran worriedly to my side. "Daddy, why aren't you leaving yet?"

Leo Stone’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Lily.

"Well, well, if it isn't the poor little girl!"

He walked in front of Lily, deliberately blocking her path. "I heard your dad said our car is his? Like father, like daughter, both of you love to lie!"

"Poor kids should know their place!"

Saying that, he pulled out a craft knife from his backpack.

"If you don't apologize, I'll show you what happens when you mess with me!"

Lily recoiled in terror, tripped over her feet, and fell to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

I didn't hesitate. I rushed forward, grabbed Leo Stone's wrist, and snatched the craft knife away.

"Ah! Ow! Let go of me!" Leo Stone shrieked loudly.

I pocketed the knife and released his hand.

Leo Stone immediately sat on the ground, wailing. "Dad! He took my stuff! He squeezed my hand!"

Mark Stone immediately rushed over, pointing at me furiously. "You dared to lay hands on him? Do you know how precious my son is?"

"He just threatened my daughter with a knife!" I said, pointing to the craft knife in my hand.

Mark Stone glanced at the craft knife and scoffed, "That's just school art supplies, kids play with them! Do you have to be so dramatic?"

The surrounding parents also chimed in:

"It's normal for kids to roughhouse, adults shouldn't interfere!"

"And if your daughter were a bit nicer, Leo wouldn't have pulled out a knife!"

"Ultimately, you two started it, that's why Leo got angry!"

"Look at your daughter, crying like that, she must be spoiled rotten, can't handle anything!"

"At the end of the day, it's your father-daughter problem!"

Mark Stone sneered,

"Poor people are just poor people, they don't even know how to raise kids. No wonder others bully them!"

I watched these people twist the truth, a cynical smile playing on my lips.

No matter what Leo Stone did, in their eyes, the fault would always be ours.