Chapter 241
The iodine solution felt cool on the wound, with a slight stinging sensation.
Milly's little hand trembled slightly in my palm.
But she pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes red but refusing to let a single tear fall.
The more she held it in, the more my heart felt like it was being pricked by needles, a sharp, suffocating ache.
After cleaning the wound and smoothing the little star-shaped band-aid into place, I finally let out a soft breath. I cupped Milly's small face, looked into her frightened eyes, and softened my voice as much as possible, "Milly, tell Mommy what happened. Did Jack hit you first?"
Milly lifted her small face, looked at me, and shook her head very seriously, "No, Mommy, I hit him first."
My heart tightened.
But Milly continued, still breathless and carrying the remnants of her anger, "But he insulted you first, Mommy! Today the teacher asked us to share about our favorite person. I said I love Mommy the most, and he started making noise, insulting you loudly..."
She bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes again, "He said Mommy is a bad person, said Mommy doesn't want me anymore, and he called Mommy a slut."
Each word hit my heart like a little hammer.
My arms around Milly unconsciously tightened.
"I got so mad, I rushed down and hit him." Milly's voice dropped, carrying a hint of fear, but more of a stubborn determination. "Then he pulled my clothes and pushed me. I grabbed his hair too. Anyway, nobody can say bad things about my mommy!"
After she finished, she lowered her head, her little hands nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, not daring to look at me, as if waiting for my scolding.
I stayed silent, my chest feeling stuffy and tight.
Last time at the archery range, I had warned Jack not to bully Milly.
Clearly, he hadn't listened at all.
He still believed that I was the one who hurt his birth mother Sarah, so he transferred all that hatred, with interest, onto me and Milly.
Six years.
I raised him for six years.
From swaddled newborn to the little boy who now ran, argued, glared, and cursed.
I fed him, changed his diapers, stayed with him through every sick night, taught him his first word, helped him draw his first picture.
And in the end, he repaid me with nothing but resentment, taking Sarah and George’s side and hurting my daughter even more viciously.
Seeing me silent for so long, Milly thought I was angry. She panicked even more, explaining through tears, "Mommy, he also grabbed the picture you and I drew together and tore it up right in front of me... I was so angry I cried, and that's when... when I hit him harder..."
Her voice got smaller and smaller, her head almost buried in her chest.
I took a deep breath, suppressing the lump in my throat and the sting in my eyes, and pulled her tightly into my arms, my chin gently rubbing against her soft hair.
"Milly," my voice was a bit hoarse but very clear, "Mommy thinks you were very brave."
Milly's body stiffened. She lifted her head from my embrace, her wet eyes full of confusion.
"Your judgment was right this time." I looked at her, saying each word clearly. "He insulted you first and destroyed your things. He was wrong. You were protecting Mommy and protecting your own things. It was right to fight back. Mommy doesn't blame you."
Milly's eyes suddenly widened, the moisture in them quickly gathering, and finally she burst into tears.
Not the quiet, held-in tears from before, but a full, heartbreaking cry filled with relief and release.
She threw her arms around my neck, buried her face against my collarbone, and sobbed uncontrollably.
"Mommy... Mommy..."
I rubbed her back gently, letting her cry.
It was good that she cried. Let all the grievances out.
When her crying gradually subsided into hiccups, I wiped the tear tracks from her face with my fingertips and asked, "Milly, these past few days, you really didn't want to come to kindergarten, right? Has Jack been bullying you like this all along?"
Milly nodded through her sniffles, her little nose twitching, "He told other kids not to play with me, stole my snacks, and threw my colored pencils in the trash."
"I told the teacher, and the teacher scolded him, but the next day he was even worse. I didn't want to worry Mommy. Mommy works so hard."
My heart felt like it was being grabbed by an invisible hand, twisted into a knot, hurting so much I could barely breathe.
Rage surged up, hot and violent, burning behind my eyes until my eyes turned red.
I wanted to storm out, grab that spoiled brat, and show him what it means to be bullied, cornered, humiliated!
But I couldn't.
I'm a mother.
I closed my eyes hard, and when I opened them again, I forced that violent emotion down.
Then I kissed Milly’s damp cheek and said gently but firmly, “Milly, listen. From now on, no matter what happens, you must tell Mommy immediately.”
"Don't be afraid of troubling Mommy. Mommy isn't afraid of trouble. Mommy is not only your mother but also your best friend, your strongest support. Understand?"
Milly nodded hard, her voice nasal, "I understand, Mommy. I'll tell you everything from now on."
"Good girl." I kissed her again. "Now, are you still angry?"
Milly thought about it and honestly nodded, her little fists clenched, "Yes, he's so annoying. I couldn't beat him."
After saying this, she looked at me nervously, her eyes carrying a hope she'd never shown before, "Mommy, can you help me teach him a lesson? Just once."
She knew this request might be unreasonable. She’d never made this kind of request.
She was afraid I would refuse, would criticize her.
Looking at the grievance in my daughter's eyes and that little bit of hope she didn't dare voice, I didn't hesitate for a second. I nodded.
"Okay."
Milly's eyes instantly lit up, like they were filled with stars.
I took Milly's hand and walked toward the Principal's office.
Her hand was small, soft, and a bit sweaty, but she gripped my fingers tightly.
My other hand quietly clenched into a fist at my side.
Just as we reached the office door, we ran into George and Sarah, who had rushed over.
George must have come straight from the office. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, his shirt sleeves rolled up, his face stern.
Sarah followed beside him, her makeup perfect, just a slight furrow in her brow showing the right amount of concern.
George's gaze immediately fell on me, then moved down to Milly, whom I was holding. He saw the prominent band-aid on the back of her hand, her slightly reddened eyes, and her still somewhat messy hair.
His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, his eyes suddenly turning cold, like instantly frozen ice.
Milly was very afraid of him. She instinctively shrank behind me, hugging my leg tightly and burying her small face in my clothes, avoiding his gaze.
Sarah's gaze swept over Milly too. She seemed a bit surprised, "Ms. Brown, how did Milly get hurt so badly? Her face looks a bit red too? Kids really don't know their own strength when they fight."
I ignored her, didn't even give her a glance, and directly led Milly past them, pushing open the Principal's office door.
Inside the office, Jack was being comforted by a teacher. When he saw us come in, especially when he saw me, he flinched and burrowed into the teacher's arms.
Sarah rushed in after us. The moment she saw Jack’s scratched face and dirty clothes, her expression twisted with heartbreak and fury.
"Jack!" She cried out, rushing over and crouching down to carefully examine the scratches on Jack's face, her voice changing pitch. "Oh my God! How did this happen? Who did this? Who hurt you like this?"
She suddenly looked up, her gaze cutting like a knife across me and Milly before finally landing on the Principal, her tone agitated, "Principal! What is going on here? My son was bullied like this at kindergarten, how were your teachers supervising? You must give us an explanation today! I won't let whoever bullied my son get away with this!"
As she spoke, she pulled Jack into her arms, her eyes immediately reddening. She looked at George, whose face was dark, her voice tearful, "George, look at Jack. He's never suffered like this in his whole life. You must stand up for Jack! We can't let him be beaten for nothing!"