Chapter 2

Adrian was silent for two seconds.

Then his steady voice came through.

“All right.”

“Where are you? I’m coming.”

Vanessa froze at my words, then doubled over laughing.

“Oh my God! Your husband’s subordinate? What do you think this is, a TV drama?”

She pointed at my face, laughing so hard her eyes watered.

“Where does your husband work? Tell me. Maybe my uncle can look out for him.”

The principal gave me a pitying look and sighed.

“Mrs. Bennett, don’t say things out of anger. You have no idea how much influence the Prestons have.”

“Just sign the agreement. Take the money and focus on getting your son treated.”

I ended the call and looked at them coldly.

“I told you. I’m not signing.”

“You will remove that disciplinary mark. Tyler will apologize publicly, and then he’ll get the hell out of this school.”

Each word landed in the silent office.

Vanessa’s laughter stopped. Her face darkened.

“You really don’t know when to quit, do you?”

“So three hundred thousand isn’t enough? Fine. I’ll add another hundred. Four hundred thousand. Happy?”

Her eyes brimmed with disgust.

“Don’t push your luck. If you piss me off, you won’t get a cent, and I’ll have your son expelled today!”

Sweat beaded on the principal’s forehead as he grabbed my arm.

“Mrs. Bennett, why do this to yourself? You can’t fight them! Think of your son. Just back down!”

I shook off his hand and stared straight at Vanessa.

“Keep your money. Buy your son a coffin.”

“You!” Her chest heaved. The finger she pointed at me trembled.

“Fine. Just fine! Let me show you what real power looks like!”

She immediately made a call and put it on speaker.

“Uncle Richard, I’m at the school. Some idiot parent is causing trouble. Tell the principal to kick her son out!”

A man’s smug voice came through the speaker. It belonged to the superintendent in the photo.

“Vanessa, why do you need me for something this small? Just have the principal handle it.”

“Who’s stupid enough to mess with my favorite niece?”

Vanessa raised her chin triumphantly and held the phone out to the principal.

He instantly put on a flattering smile, nodding and bowing toward the phone.

“Superintendent Wallace! Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. Your niece will be completely satisfied!”

When the call ended, Vanessa looked almost drunk on her own arrogance.

“Did you hear that? It’s too late now, even if you get on your knees and beg.”

She turned to the principal and barked, “Process Noah’s expulsion. Right now!”

The principal wiped his forehead and gave me an uncomfortable glance. In the end, he gave in.

“Mrs. Bennett, I’m afraid… there’s nothing I can do. You—”

I ignored him and watched the office door.

Adrian had said he was coming.

He never made empty promises.

Under Vanessa’s impatient prodding, the principal picked up his desk phone with a shaking hand to call the registrar.

My heart rose into my throat along with the receiver.

Then Vanessa’s phone rang.

She checked the caller ID, and a doting smile spread across her face. It was Tyler.

“Sweetheart, what is it? Miss your mom?”

The voice on the other end was loud and nasty.

“Mom, is that loser’s mother there yet? You’re not wasting time talking to her, are you? Just get rid of her. I’m sick of this.”

“Oh, and that new game console is out. The limited edition. Remember to get me one!”

Vanessa beamed. “Of course, sweetheart. I’ll get it as soon as I’m done here. Go back to class for now.”

After hanging up, she shot me a contemptuous glance.

“See? That’s the difference between us.”

“My son has always had everything he wants. Yours? He gets his parents humiliated and himself kicked out of school.”

“I suppose some people are just born unlucky.”

Her words drove straight into my heart.

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

The principal’s secretary poked her head inside, her face white.

“S-sir, we have a problem!”

“Several of the school’s major investors are here. And… and Mr. Whitmore, the board chairman!”

“They’re in the conference room. They’ve called an emergency board meeting!”

The receiver slipped from the principal’s hand and hit the floor.

“What? Mr. Whitmore? Why is he here? Why wasn’t I told?”