Chapter 64 Grace Shines
As soon as Liam saw it was Emily, his delicate brows furrowed, and he clung to Alexander's neck, refusing to even glance at her.
Emily's smile froze on her face.
She turned to Alexander and said, "Let's go in."
"Mm." Alexander glanced at Grace, then carried Liam into the school.
Emily followed closely beside him, as if she, Alexander, and Liam were the family unit.
Liam rested against Alexander's shoulder, gazing longingly at Grace with reluctant eyes.
Max tugged at Grace's hand. "Mommy, let's go in too."
Grace snapped back to attention and nodded. "Yes."
The family carnival was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. The morning schedule included the anniversary celebration with student performances, followed by parents touring the academic buildings with their homeroom teachers to view student art exhibitions and displays.
The afternoon would feature unique competitions in the gymnasium—fencing and archery contests—followed by a grand banquet in the auditorium.
The Grand Auditorium
Grace and Max found their seats among the arriving parents.
As luck would have it, Grace's neighboring seats were already occupied by none other than Amelia and her family.
Max's face immediately soured upon seeing Mason.
Amelia initially didn't notice Max, but when she saw him holding Grace's hand, her gaze fell upon Grace, and she froze slightly.
It was her?
Amelia remembered Grace vividly—this woman was her employee, and they had even worn matching outfits that day she'd visited the office for inspection.
Her son was in the same class as this woman's son?
Amelia looked incredulous.
She was accustomed to her superior position, looking down on others, and she and Grace had a clear boss-subordinate relationship. She never expected they would both be here today as parent representatives!
What exactly was this woman's background?
Amelia had made inquiries about this new hire at the company—with a $500,000 annual salary, could she really afford to send her son to Windsor Academy?
Amelia looked behind Grace but saw no one else with her. Where was her husband?
"What are you looking at?" Joshua noticed Amelia's constant side-glances.
"This woman is my subordinate," Amelia said. "I had no idea her son was in the same class as ours!"
Joshua looked at Max and recognized him immediately. "Max—she's Max's mother."
Hearing that name, Amelia immediately remembered. This child was the boy who had hit Mason in class that day.
How perfect.
Wasn't this a case of enemies crossing paths?
Her subordinate's son dared to bully her son?
Wasn't this completely stepping out of line?
Amelia said to Joshua with displeasure, "Her son bullied our son, and you have nothing to say about it?"
Joshua lowered his voice. "I've had enough headaches these past two days dealing with that Liam situation. You think that matter is over? Alexander cares so much about that disabled son of his—if that kid suddenly remembers one day that it was Mason who pushed him into the water, the Thomas family will be in serious trouble. Give me a few days of peace!"
Joshua was already overwhelmed trying to cover for Mason.
"The Hayes family business is the Hayes family business—that's a separate matter!" Amelia retorted. "No matter what, this damn Max cannot bully my son!"
"Her son got into Windsor Academy through Alexander's connections," Joshua said. "This woman has a close relationship with Alexander. You'd better not mess with her."
Hearing this, Amelia was stunned. She looked at Grace again, squinting as she recognized the Givenchy dress and the Himalaya bag Grace was carrying.
Amelia looked at her own Himalaya bag, then at Grace's, and finally noticed the difference!
Grace's Himalaya bag was made of superior white crocodile leather with diamond hardware.
Amelia's facial muscles twitched violently. She felt thoroughly outclassed, and her arrogant demeanor instantly deflated.
Grace's bag was clearly not a fake, and if it was authentic, then it was better and more expensive than hers.
Amelia suddenly felt inferior, completely unable to figure out Grace's true identity.
Carrying such an expensive bag meant she was either wealthy or well-connected.
But if she was truly wealthy or well-connected, why would she work under Amelia?
After Grace and Max were seated, Grace glanced at Amelia and pretended not to recognize her, assuming Amelia hadn't recognized her either.
Little did she know that Amelia had not only recognized her but was now filled with resentment.
On stage, three principals stepped up to deliver anniversary speeches.
Among them was an Aquilonian principal who was also Windsor Academy's founder, Nicolas Dubois.
He addressed the audience, "Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning! First, allow me to thank God for granting us life and health, and for bringing us together on this day. Please allow me, on behalf of Windsor Academy, to invite all our guests to participate in Windsor Academy's 60th anniversary celebration..."
Joshua had no interest in listening to the speeches. His eyes swept across the seating area until his face turned pale. "Mr. Hayes is here too."
Amelia followed his gaze.
Alexander and Liam were seated in the second row.
She said with some trepidation, "Is Liam really disabled or just pretending? Will he remember someday that it was Mason who pushed him?"
Joshua glared at her. "If we admit to something like that, the Thomas family will be finished."
Amelia nodded, repeatedly and fearfully instructing Mason, "You absolutely cannot admit to pushing Liam into the water, no matter what. Do you understand?"
Mason nodded nervously.
He was scared too. After Amelia's repeated warnings, he understood the gravity of the situation.
After the ceremony
Parents gradually filed out, heading toward the classrooms.
"Lion Class parents, please gather here!" Lily raised the Lion Class banner.
Grace took Max's hand and walked over.
In the crowd, Grace's snow-white dress and eye-catching Hermès bag drew countless stares.
Some people made snide remarks, "Is that the real mother or stepmother? She doesn't look like someone who's given birth."
"Dressed so provocatively—must be a stepmother, right?"
"Why doesn't she just show off her chest and butt while she's at it?"
Grace's ensemble was absolutely red-carpet worthy, more dazzling than any TV celebrity.
Unfortunately, she was too striking, arousing others' jealousy.
The other parents were also dressed in formal wear, but none dared to show off their figures—either they had excess weight around the waist or thick arms and legs. This made Grace stand out dramatically in the crowd.
Max suddenly turned to a heavy-set woman standing in the group who was jealously eyeing Grace, and said proudly, "My mommy has a great figure and she's beautiful. A dress like this only looks good on her. Don't you think so, ma'am?"
He looked completely boastful—his mommy was the most beautiful woman in the world!