Chapter 30
Jessica was the class prevident, to she had admin rights in the livestream.
After she spoke, Ivan, who had been sitting with his head down, suddenly free and slowly looked up
Jessica and Else’s parents were in politics. The two girls rarely interacted with kids like him, whose parents were in business. This was the first l someone like her had stood up for him.
“wan’s tuter is Ms. Henderson. She’s the one who teaches me and Jessica writing. She also deserves credit for us winning the writing competition this time,” Elise chimed in as her mic got turned on, backing the claim.
The other students didn’t trust Ivan, but they did trust Jessica and Elise–both were top of the class
They figured if this tutor was good enough to coach the smartest students in writing, then it made perfect sense that she could help van raise his scores
too.
Soon, the teacher’s attitude shifted. Students started getting curious about which tutoring agency this tutor was from
Brooke stepped up behind her son. Ivan thought the moment she started talking, she’d speak up against him. So he instinctively tried to push her away.
However, Brooke dodged his hand and spoke into the mic, “Ma’am, now that it’s been proven my son didn’t cheat, shouldn’t the classmates who accused him apologize?”
Ivan was too stunned to say anything. He thought, “Is this really my mom?!
She was always felling people how he’d never been good at school, always full of tricks but never used them in the right way. If he ever ranked second- to–last on a test, she’d say the kid in last place must’ve been out sick.
He never imagined Brooke would actually take his side and demand an apology from his classmates.
The teacher, clearly embarrassed, ended up calling out a few of the kids who’d been the most worked up just moments ago to apologize to han. Riley
was one of them.
When Riley heard that Elise and Jessica had won first place in the writing competition thanks to Audrey, and that ivan’s improved grades were also because of her, she felt both jealous and unimpressed.
She wanted to say that Audrey was her aunt–in–law, and that anyone who wanted tutoring from Audrey could come through her.
But Riley
by was scared Elise and Jessica might bring up how miserably she’d gotten slapped by Audrey. So after holding it in for a long while, she finally gave van a half–hearted, reluctant apology.
After the livestream class ended, Ivan went up to Brooke, “Mom, you promised you’d give Ms. Henderson a bonus if I improved my grades.”
“I will,” Brooke said firmly. “Of course I will.”
She was actually planning to double it Audrey had always told her to pay more attention to Ivan’s strengths, even if they seemed insignificant, and to praise him so he could gain confidence.
At first, Brooke really had thought Ivan had cheated. But when even his classmates were willing to step up and speak on his behalf, her first instinct as a mom had still been to criticize him. She felt both guilty and ashamed.
“Felicity’s smothered pork chops are amazing fil have her make you some,” Brooke said after finding Felicity Kaur, the new housekeeper, and gave her the order. As she was leaving, she added, “And no onions–van doesn’t like them.”
Ivan was on his way back to his room when he heard that. He suddenly felt a sting in his nose, like tears were about to come.
Later, when Audrey came over to tutor Ivan and found out about it, Brooke asked her to help get in touch with Jessica and Elise for a meal
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Chapter 30
And that was how everyone ended up witting around the table togather
“Ms. Henderson, my parents have been super busy with work lately. Can I do my homework it your place!” Issica oked at Audrey with mids, pui eyes, promise I won’t get in your way while you work.”“
“kts. Henderson still has to tutor van. Maybe han can just go to her place. And if Ms. Henderson’s for busy, we could help twin with writing finans Ivan a quick glance, then lowered her head and kept eating.
Ivan looked at Brooke. Of course Brooke was willing, but she still had some concerns. “Ms. Henderson, would that be okay with you?” Brooke asked.
Audrey gave it some thought. This way, she wouldn’t have to keep going back and forth. She said, “But it’s not really safe for you girls to be heading home at night”
“It’s fine. Elise and I live close by. Mr. Jenkins can give us a ride,” Jessica repliesi,
And just like that, the plan was happily set.
After dinner, the three kids headed out together. Brooke went to settle the bill, and Audrey came out last–only to get stopped by Carson.
“Audrey, what are you doing with them?” Carson demanded.
“What’s the problem?” Audrey looked confused.
Carson glanced toward the three students who had just exited through the front doors. He then finally spoke, “Clay’s father, John, is running for office. And Jessica’s father is one of his main opponents.”
Audrey nodded. “So?”
“So you need to keep your distance from the Bell family, if they get any dirt on John through you, it could mess with Clay’s career, Carson said.
Audrey got the message. She let out a dry laugh. “You’re worried the Bell family might find out Clay used his job to get me locked up in Ashwood Mental Hospital, then go spread it around and ruin John’s reputation, right?“.
Carson didn’t say anything. His silence said it
If John won this election, he’d move up a level and gain more pow
Carson thought, ‘Dirty laundry shouldn’t be aired in public. Clayton’did Audrey wrong, sure. But he can apologize and make it right.
‘There’s no need to make this a whole public scandal, especially in front of John’s rival. If John gets dragged down, it won’t do Audrey any good, either”
“But if Clayton really cared about his father’s career, he wouldn’t have treated me that way in the first place. If he’s not afraid, why should I care about saving face for the Patel family?” Audrey stepped around Carson and walked off.
-Carson hurried after her ying to explain, “Clayton really has been putting too much energy into Valerie Lately I’ll talk to him. Just don’t do anything impulsive that’ll ruin your relationship with him.”
“There is no relationship left between me and Clayton, Audrey said as she kept walking down the stairs.
Carson remarked, “You two are married. You can’t just try to get back at him over one mistake.”
Audrey stopped in her tracks.
Carson thought she was finally listening, so he softened his tone. “I know you don’t like Valerie-I don’t either. But the Patel family owes her family much. Clayton can’t just turn his back on her.
“You worked so hard to marry Clayton—you should treasure your marriage. He’ll come to understand how much you love him eventually”
Audrey looked at Carson with a calm, cold stare. A chill crept up Carson’s spine as a bad feeling settled in his gut.
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Chapter 30
Audrey said. “First of all, I’m not trying to get back at Clayton. Second, have every right to choose who I spend time with And third, Clayton and won’t be married much longer”
Carson went
nt quiet, thrown off by the last part. He thought, ‘What does the mean, they won’t be marned much longer? For someone like Audrey to marry into a family like Clayton’s, that’s already more than she could’ve asked for
“Even if their marriage hit a rough patch, she should be trying to fix it. How could she give up so easily? Or is it Clayton who wants a divorce?”
“Clayton asked you for a divorce?” Carson let out a long sigh. “As long as you stop associating with the Bell family and keep quiet about the Ashwood Mental Hospital thing, I swear I’ll convince Clayton to come back to you.”
Audrey gave a cold laugh and walked down the stairs. “Dr. Wilson, why should I be the one to just suck it up? i’m the one who brought up the divorce.
“If you’re really his friend, then do me a favor and tell him to hurry up and sign the damn papers”
“What? You brought up the divorce?” Carson missed a step and almost fell, catching the railing just in time.
He thought. “She’s the one asking for the divorce? Does she really think she can do better than Clayton? She seriously has no clue?”
He rushed to follow her, reaching out to stop her–only to be blocked by another man.
E
