Chapter 158: Crumbled Authority

Chapter 158: Crumbled Authority
Zade’s Father POV

“What???” I shouted, dropping my phone on the table with a sound that echoed through the room. Everything had been going smoothly, or so Zade had told me. Just a minor issue, he had said. Mrs. Tricia didn’t want to give in to their demands. That was it, nothing more.
And now she was free?
How did this happen?
Who had intervened?
 And more importantly, where was Zade?
“Honey, what’s going on? You just screamed. Is everything okay?” My wife’s voice was calm, almost suspicious, as she stepped into the room, her eyes staring at my shocked face.
“Everything is okay,” I said, though my voice was far from convincing. “But it won’t be okay if we don’t get to Archlight Academy right now.”
Without another word, I grabbed my car keys and ran down the stairs. My wife followed behind me. Within minutes, we were speeding toward Archlight Academy.

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When we arrived, students stood outside in their numbers, and then I saw her, Mrs. Tricia walking majestically into her office, as if she had won an aware, completely unbothered by my presence.
We walked into her office, behind her.
“Mrs. Tricia, you cannot do this to my son. Do you even realize how much of an asset I have been to Archlight Academy? How much I’ve given to this school?” I snapped, my voice echoing through her office.
Mrs. Tricia looked at me, her eyes filled with courage and calmness. “Yes, sir, I am fully aware. In fact, I’m grateful for all you’ve done for Archlight Academy, truly. But you and your son, crossed the line this time.” She leaned back in her chair, as she spoke.
“But you know Zade is still a child.” I shot back, desperation creeping into my voice. “He doesn’t understand the consequences fully."
“Exactly,” she said with finality, her voice firm. “Which is why you should have cautioned him. But you didn’t, you stood by him, supported him, and now he must face the consequences of his actions.”
I felt my boldness dropped. I wanted to argue, to yell, to make her see that he was my son, and my only son. That meant something after all, didn’t it?
“Please excuse me,” she said, standing and brushing off her hands on her skirt. “I have work to do.”
And just like that, she left the office.
My wife, standing silently beside me, gave a soft sigh. “Didn’t I tell you?” she said, her voice low but sharp. “You think I always side with Damian. You think I see him as the favourite. But no, I’ve always seen this coming. This is exactly what happens when you ignore advice.”
“Shut up, woman.” I barked.
“Don’t you dare tell me to shut up.” she snapped back at me. “If you had just listened, maybe you wouldn’t be standing here, panicking over your son’s mess. But no, your stubbornness has brought us here.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but no words came out. I wasn’t sure what to say. I wasn’t sure I could even say anything that would fix this. The fear I tried to hide, it all screamed at me that I had no control anymore.
“I’ll sort this out,” I said finally, my voice low, almost like a whisper, but with enough force to remind myself I was still in charge, or at least I'm still trying to be.
“You had better do it quickly,” she said, straightening up and walked past me.
“And where do you think you’re going?” I called after her, though my voice lacked its usual authority.
“Where does it look like I’m going?” she shot back, laughing lightly, a sound that made my blood boil. “I’m going home, or does Archlight Academy look like my home?" She said angrily
Hmmm, my heart beating. You know you’re a woman, maybe you can talk some sense into Mrs Tricia, Maybe she’ll listen. I tried to convince myself, trying to see if hope can come from my wife.
“What did you just say?” she asked sharply, turning her gaze on me.
“Maybe you can handle it yourself,” she said cautiously. “Beside, you’ve been making the family decisions for years, haven’t you? Maybe you can, or better still maybe you should try fixing this one too.” she said mockingly to me storming out, leaving me alone in the office with my fists clenched together and my heart panting.
I was on my own now, my nemeses were closing in from every side, my carefully crafted plans crumbling faster than I could comprehend. And all of it because I had failed to guide my own son.
What would I do now?
Who could I even call to save me from this mess? My mind went through faces, names, potential allies, but none of them seemed capable of undoing the chaos we had unleashed.
 I had underestimated Mrs. Tricia.
I had underestimated my wife.
 I had underestimated the consequences of Zade’s actions.
Zade my son, my pride, my responsibility. I had led him in the wrong path.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My hands shook as I held the edge of the desk, trying to steady myself.
 Fear was one thing, but panic would solve nothing. I needed a plan, I needed control, I needed a miracle.
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I came out of the office, and I sighted my wife talking to Damian. I sigh as i saw them. I should have known that she didn't come here for Zade, but for her favourite Alpha son. She only used Zade as a yard stick for coming here ..
Immediately she saw me, she disengaged from the hug with Damian..
"No, I didn't say you should stop," I said to her walking away, "You can continue to hug him, but don't forget we are here for Zade and not some bastard son." I said grinning.
"Watch it old man." Damian snapped at me...
"Wow, showing me your Alpha wolf strength." I said laughing...
"Come off it boy, you can't do anything." I said smirking...
"Stop it." My wife said angrily. "I've told you several times to stop calling him a bastard, Damian is my son, and he has a Father." She shot at me furiously...
"Oh my bad," I said touching her hand. "I never knew he has a Father." I said laughing...
My wife released her hands from mind angrily, "Stop it, you do know that Damian has a Father." She said as she turned to Damian to try reassuring him not to listen to anything I was saying.
Well, I don't care if he dies listen or not, at least I have managed to put him where he truly belongs for now.