Chapter 174
The Principal's face looked as ugly as if she had just swallowed a live fly.
But she didn't dare lose her temper, or even show the slightest hint of dissatisfaction.
The last time Jack and Milly had that argument at the kindergarten, which ended up with the education department sending people to investigate and mediate, had clearly left a deep psychological scar on her.
Plus, now that Milly's achievement as a math olympiad champion had spread within parent and education circles, she had become a golden asset for the kindergarten.
She was afraid—afraid things would blow up, afraid it would damage the reputation the kindergarten had worked so hard to build, and even more afraid I would really report this to the education department.
So she chose to compromise and smooth things over almost immediately.
"Ms. Brown, please don't get upset, don't get upset," the Principal forced a smile, her voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor. "This is our fault for not handling it promptly and not supervising properly. Milly has been wronged, and I apologize to you and Milly on behalf of the kindergarten."
She turned toward the children in the activity room who were staring at us in fear and confusion, raising her voice with a serious tone, "Children, what Jack said just now was very wrong and very rude."
"Verbal attacks and isolating classmates are absolutely unacceptable behaviors. Now, all students who participated in verbally attacking Milly and throwing things at her, including Jack, must apologize to Milly!"
At her signal, the teacher in charge quickly stepped forward to organize them.
Those little boys who had joined Jack in throwing ocean balls stammered out apologies to Milly under the stern gazes of the teacher and Principal.
Milly leaned against me, her little face still somewhat pale, but her back straightened a bit.
She didn't speak, just pressed her lips together and nodded, accepting their apologies.
Finally, it was Jack's turn.
Everyone's eyes focused on him.
Jack stood there, his little face flushed red—half from being startled by my sudden appearance, and half from the humiliation and defiance of being forced to apologize in public.
He pressed his lips tightly together, his neck stiff, refusing to speak.
The Principal emphasized her tone, "Jack!"
Jack suddenly lifted his head and glared viciously at Milly and me, his eyes filled with a venom that didn't belong to someone his age.
As if throwing caution to the wind, he used all his strength to shout loudly, "I won't apologize! I didn't say anything wrong!"
His finger nearly touched Milly's nose, "Milly and her mom are shameless, clinging to my dad, trying to steal my dad away. What I said is all true—my mom told me so!"
His words were like dirty water, splashing onto Milly and me once again in front of everyone.
Though the surrounding children were confused, words like "stealing dad" were something they could somewhat understand as bad.
The way they looked at Milly and me instantly became more complex and strange, carrying the most direct rejection and scrutiny of the children's world.
Milly's body trembled violently in my arms.
She bit her lip hard, tears swirling in her eyes, but stubbornly refusing to fall.
And the string called reason in my heart finally snapped completely when I heard Jack being so reckless.
Fury rushed to my head. I didn't yell or argue.
Under the shocked gazes of the Principal and teachers, and the uniform stares of the children, I released my hold on Milly and stepped forward two paces, raising my arm.
A crisp slap landed on Jack's little face, written all over with malice and arrogance.
It wasn't hard—I controlled it, just enough for him to feel pain and shock, not to actually hurt a child.
But the effect of this slap was stunning.
Jack was completely stunned.
He covered his face, eyes wide open, staring at me in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe I would actually hit him.
After a brief daze, intense pain and unprecedented humiliation hit him.
He burst into loud tears, his crying filled with fright and grievance.
The Principal was also completely frozen in place, mouth open, unable to say a word.
She had probably never encountered a situation where a parent directly hit a child at the kindergarten, even if that child had been verbally vicious first.
The activity room instantly fell silent, leaving only Jack's loud crying.
The other children were all frightened by this sudden scene, each one silent as a cicada, looking at me with eyes full of fear.
I stood there, looking down at the crying Jack covering his face, my voice ice-cold, "Jack, you listen carefully. If you dare say one more word, slandering me and my daughter, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
My gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on his face, "Think carefully—who fed you all these years as you grew up? Who put you to sleep? Who stayed up all night watching over you when you were sick?"
"It was me—the shameless person you're talking about!"
"Besides giving birth to you, what has Sarah done for you in these six years?"
"Now she comes and teaches you these vicious words, turning you into this disgusting version of yourself?"
Jack's crying paused for a moment, as if my words had hit some hidden sore spot.
But then he cried even louder, as if using his crying to cover up the panic inside and some kind of exposed unease.
I didn't pay him any more attention and turned back to Milly's side.
Milly's little hand immediately grabbed tightly onto my clothes.
She looked up at me, big eyes still glistening with tears.
I bent down and gently stroked her hair, my voice returning to calm, "Milly, remember this—they're the ones who did wrong. They're the ones who hurt others with vicious words. They're the ones with no manners. We're honest and upright, with nothing to fear."
I looked into her eyes and made a solemn promise, "So you can go to school here in peace. Mommy promises you that anyone who wants to hurt you or slander you, Mommy will clear them away for you. Mommy won't let anyone bully my baby like this again."
Milly looked at me and nodded forcefully, her little hands clenched into fists, the fear on her face gradually replaced by trust and security.
I straightened up and took one last look at Jack, still sobbing, and at the pale-faced Principal and teachers.
"I hope today's incident is the first and last time. If anything similar happens again, if my daughter suffers any form of bullying or slander at this kindergarten again, I won't be as polite as I was today."
The Principal's face looked terrible.
Finally, under my cold stare, she nodded with difficulty, her voice hoarse, "Ms. Brown, please rest assured, I guarantee there absolutely won't be a next time. We will definitely strengthen management and education."
Having received her definite answer, I didn't stay any longer.
Finally, I touched Milly's head, gave her an encouraging look, and left the kindergarten.
On the drive to the hospital, my hands were still trembling slightly—not from fear, but from the physical reaction left over after anger.
But my mood had strangely calmed down.
Some boundaries must be made clear.
Some people must be given a warning.
For Milly's sake, I didn't mind being a mother who's not to be messed with.
At the hospital, Mom's condition was stable. The doctor said after two more days of IV fluids and observation, she could go home to rest.
That was good news.
I went to see Flora and told her about Mom's condition in detail.
Her tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed, showing a long-absent smile.
"You've worked so hard, Grace," Flora held my hand and said with concern.
I shook my head and smiled, "It's not hard. As long as Mom's okay."
Actually, how could it not be hard? Physical exhaustion was bearable, but the anger and disappointment weighing on my heart—that was the real hardship.
But I couldn't tell Mom or Flora any of this.
They had already endured too much. I couldn't add any more psychological burden to them.
After handling things at the hospital, I drove back to the company.