Chapter 175 The Fight
Charles instantly collected all traces of intimacy from his expression, releasing Emily as he answered for her, "Ms. Johnson is not available."
"Understood." The secretary responded, and her footsteps gradually faded away.
The office returned to quiet. Emily watched Charles's instant transformation and couldn't help but laugh, "Mr. Windsor, that's quite the quick change of expression you've got there."
"Can't help it. My mind is completely occupied with you right now. I just want to be alone with you. As for Daphne, I know you don't want to see her, so I turned her down. But don't you think you should make things clear with Daphne? Tell her to stop pursuing you?"
"No need. When my mother escaped from the Campbell family back then, I naturally don't want any entanglement with them either."
Meanwhile, Elodie had just removed her sweat-dampened surgical cap, her fingertips still carrying the coolness of surgical instruments, when her phone began vibrating urgently.
The name "Zella" flashed on the screen, and her heart immediately clenched.
Zella Murphy was Jasper's teacher at Stellar Conservatory of Music.
At this time, Jasper should have been practicing piano in the music room. For Zella to call suddenly, something must have gone wrong.
"Zella, what happened to Jasper? Is he hurt?" Elodie's voice carried the hoarseness from just finishing three surgeries. She rushed toward the changing room while grabbing her jacket from the chair back, her white coat's hem sweeping through the hallway, leaving a trail of frantic wind.
"Ms. Garcia, Jasper got into a fight with a classmate! The other parent is already here. You need to come too!"
Zella's voice was full of panic, and through the phone, Elodie could clearly hear a woman's shrill screaming, "Get that bastard child with no parents out here! He dared to hit my son. I'm going to teach him a lesson today!"
Elodie's heart felt like it had been struck by a heavy hammer. She hung up and ran toward the parking lot.
She had worked for eight straight hours, with dark circles under her eyes, her hair hastily pinned up with several loose strands sticking to her sweaty neck, wearing faded jeans and an old T-shirt.
This was her usual work attire.
Twenty minutes later, Elodie burst into the conference room. As soon as she pushed open the door, a Chanel handbag flew toward her feet, its metal chain scraping against the floor with a harsh sound.
"Are you Jasper's guardian?" Lila Murray, dressed in a designer suit, stood in the center with her hands on her hips, her diamond ring glinting blindingly under the lights. She looked Elodie up and down, her mouth twisting into a mocking smile. "Dressed like a homeless person, no wonder the child you're raising has no manners! My son came in second place in the piano competition, and Jasper just got lucky winning first place, yet he dared to hit someone? Does he really think our family is easy to bully?"
Elodie's anger flared instantly, but she first suppressed her fury and walked over to Jasper's side.
Jasper stood in the corner, his sleeve torn and disheveled, a red mark clearly visible on his wrist. But he wasn't crying or making a scene—he just clenched his fists, his eyes cold beyond what any five-year-old should possess.
Elodie crouched down, gently touching his head, her voice incredibly soft, "Jasper, tell me what really happened."
"He was jealous that I play piano better than him. I won first place in last week's competition, so he's been cornering me every day. Today, he said 'your parents never dare come to school—they must be ashamed you're a bastard,' and he tore up my sheet music and threw it on the ground, saying, 'fatherless kids like you are still bastards no matter how talented.' I asked him to apologize, but he pushed me and stepped on my hand, so I fought back."
As soon as these words came out, Lila exploded, rushing forward to grab Jasper's arm, "You dare lie! My son tore up your sheet music? I think you're jealous of my son's good family background and deliberately picking fights!"
Elodie moved quickly, pulling Jasper behind her and blocking Lila's movement with her hand.
Lila's sharp nails scraped across the back of Elodie's hand, leaving a red mark, but she didn't care. Her gaze was cold enough to freeze, "Try touching Jasper again and see what happens."
"Try me then! You're just some poor servant—what right do you have to stop me?" Lila raised her hand to slap Elodie's face.
Zella quickly rushed forward to stop her, but was shoved away roughly, "Zella, don't stop me! Today I'm going to teach both of them a lesson. My husband is in real estate and has quite a bit of influence in Emerald City. Believe me, one word from me and you won't be able to survive in this city!"
She became more arrogant as she spoke, pointing at Jasper's nose, "You little bastard, if your parents really had any power, why don't they dare come see me? It's because they're afraid I'll expose your family's shameful secrets! Let me tell you, in this school, everyone has to give way to my son. You dare compete with him—you're asking for death!"
"Shut up!" Elodie's voice suddenly rose, shocking the entire conference room into momentary silence.
She stared fiercely at Lila, speaking word by word, "What Jasper's parents are like is none of your business. But I'll tell you this—in Emerald City, no one really dares to mess with them. Your son is jealous of his classmate, tears up sheet music, verbally abuses others, and even physically hurts someone—is this the child you've raised? Today, either your son apologizes to Jasper and compensates for his sheet music, or we call the police right now and expose your husband's company and everything you just said to the media. Let's see who gets destroyed first!"
Lila was momentarily startled by Elodie's momentum, then laughed, doubling over, "Who are you trying to scare? No one dares mess with them in Emerald City? I think you're just a liar! If they really had that kind of power, why would you be dressed so shabbily? I think you're just scared and making up stories!"
She reached out to grab Jasper, still cursing, "If you don't get your parents to pay me a hundred thousand dollars today, I won't let you go!"
"Don't you dare touch him!" Elodie suddenly grabbed Lila's wrist. To steady her hands for surgery, she made time to work out at the gym whenever possible!
Now, just grabbing a woman's wrist was nothing!
Lila was in so much pain she was nearly in tears, but still kept shouting, "Let go of me! I'm calling the police! You crazy woman!"
Just then, the conference room door was pushed open, and Daniel walked in wearing a well-pressed dark gray suit, his expression calm and composed.
He happened to be at the school today, preparing lesson plans. When he heard there was a disturbance in the conference room, he came to check it out, not expecting to encounter Elodie and Jasper.
Zella rushed toward him like she'd seen a savior, "Daniel, thank goodness you're here! Please help sort this out. Lila says Jasper hit her son, but Jasper says..."
"Let's check the security footage first." Daniel interrupted Zella, walking over to the two women. He placed a tablet on the table and opened a video: "This is today's surveillance footage from the hallway outside the piano rooms. Everything is captured very clearly from beginning to end."