Chapter 28
“Who wants to see me?“!
I looked up to see a woman draped in luxury brands step into the office, her heels clicking against the floor.
Trailing behind her were the twin boys, their faces twisted into mocking grins.§
“You’re Margot Hathaway’s mother?“&
Dakota gave me a slow once–over, her eyes pausing on my simple dress and flat shoes.
A smirk curled at the corner of her lips.§
“So you’re the one making demands?“}
I rose to my feet and met her gaze without flinching. “Did you know your sons tied my daughter to a tree and poured paint on her?“}
Dakota threw her head back and laughed, loud and theatrical.
“Kids will be kids. Is that really worth causing a scene over?“}
She turned to the boys. “Babies, tell Mommy, why were you playing with that little girl?”
“Because she wouldn’t let us see her panties!“}
“Mommy said all girls should listen to us! Why wouldn’t she let us?“}
“That’s right!”
The other boy chimed in, his tone smug, “When we grow up, all the women in the world will be ours! What’s one little Margot? If she doesn’t listen next time, I’ll tie her to the tree again!“}
What stunned me was that Dakota actually clapped and cheered at such a vile remark.
“Well said! You really are my sons!“}
I clenched my fists, barely holding back my fury. “Dakota, is this how you raise your children?“}
Her expression turned cold.
“Stop pretending to be some noble lady! I looked into you. Just an ordinary office worker with a husband who’s barely around. What are you putting on airs for?”
She yanked a thick stack of cash from her Hermès bag. “Isn’t this all about money?“}
“This is for your daughter’s emotional damage.“}
A wad of bills slapped against my face.
“Oh, and this is for when my son cut off a lock of her hair last week. Should be enough, even if we count by the strand.“}
By now, several teachers had gathered outside the office. Some gasped. Others looked away in discomfort.§
Dakota grew more and more excited.
“Last month, my son tore up her sketchbook. Here’s compensation. And the month before that, they dumped her lunch on the floor. Your precious daughter starved the whole afternoon.”
With every incident she listed, she threw out more cash, as if parading her twisted sense of justice.
But my heart ached.
So Margot had been bullied all along, and not a single teacher had said a word.
At last, Dakota flung her empty wallet onto the desk.§
“Is that enough? If not, I’ve got cards too.”
She leaned in close, her voice low and sharp. “If you’re smart, you’ll take your daughter and disappear. Next time she crosses my sons, money won’t be enough.”
I bent down, gathering the scattered bills one by one, slowly, deliberately, with dignity.”
Dakota mistook my silence for surrender. Her smile curled with satisfaction.}
“Well, if that’s all, I’ll be going. I’ve got better things to do than waste my time on some country nobody likes you.“}
“Stop.”
I reached out to block her path, my voice calm yet firm enough for everyone to hear. “This isn’t over.“>
She turned back, amusement dancing in her eyes as if I’d just told a joke.
“What? Still not enough money for you?“}
“Ms. Hathaway, take what you’ve got and walk away while you still can. I already looked into you, a single mom with an average job, raising a kid on your own. What are you pretending to be tough for? Keep pushing, and I’ll have your daughter expelled by tomorrow. Try
me.”
As I stared at her smug face, it all began to feel absurd.
“Expelled?“}
I echoed the word slowly, like I needed to be sure I’d heard her right.
“Yes. Expelled.“}
