Chapter 49 Drawing Lines?
Alexander's face turned ashen with rage.
Was this woman actually trying to draw lines between them?
Taking the subway to pick up the kids—what kind of impression did that make?
Alexander said, "Arrange a car. Take me to Windsor Academy."
"Right away, sir." The housekeeper immediately made the call.
...
At the subway station.
Grace swiped her card and emerged from the subway, walking toward Windsor Academy.
Windsor Academy was conveniently located right next to the subway station, so it was just a few steps from the exit.
It was still early.
The area in front of Windsor Academy was quiet, with only a few chauffeur-driven cars parked outside. She stood alone, looking rather isolated.
A security guard glanced at her, frowned, and walked over. "Who are you?"
Grace replied, "I'm a parent here to pick up my child from school."
The guard became even more suspicious.
Every student at Windsor Academy came from families with luxury cars, and having chauffeurs and nannies was standard. Why was she standing here alone?
The guard asked, "What's your child's name? Which class?"
Grace looked around.
Though it was still early, several luxury cars were already parked outside for pickup, yet the guard wasn't questioning anyone else—just her, like she was some kind of threat!
The guard suddenly had an epiphany. "Oh! You're the child's nanny, right? Which car is yours?"
Grace said, "I didn't drive here. I'm not a nanny, I'm..."
Grace was startled by the sound behind her.
She turned to see a Porsche pulling up, its window rolling down to reveal a woman's refined face. "Who are you? Why are you blocking the school entrance?"
Grace immediately recognized her—Amelia, the wife of a Windsor Academy board member.
Her son also attended Windsor Academy.
Amelia looked at Grace, finding her vaguely familiar but unable to place her, and didn't recognize her. "Who is this person?"
The guard walked over. "Just a nanny for one of the students."
"She's blocking my way," Amelia said with displeasure.
The chauffeur immediately approached Grace dismissively. "Move over there to wait. This is the main vehicular thoroughfare—don't block traffic."
Grace clearly sensed his poor attitude but said nothing. She stepped aside as the gate lifted and the Porsche entered the campus.
She stood in the wind waiting for a while when she caught sight of a luxury chauffeur-driven car approaching the school entrance.
Grace recognized the vehicle—this was Alexander's five-million-dollar car service used to transport Liam, with a license plate of five 9's that was particularly memorable.
The guard recognized it instantly too. "Mr. Hayes's car! Why is Mr. Hayes here so early today?"
His attitude immediately became respectful as he bowed toward Alexander's car.
Grace noticed the stark difference in his treatment, though she found it perfectly normal—people had always bowed to wealth and power.
In the car.
The chauffeur reported to Alexander, "Mr. Hayes, we've arrived. I can see Ms. Foster."
Alexander said, "Ask her to get in."
The chauffeur opened the door, stepped out, and walked toward Grace.
The driver said to Grace, "Ms. Foster, Mr. Hayes requests that you join him in the car."
Grace turned her face away and refused. "No!"
Just thinking about Alexander planting that listening device on her made her feel uncomfortable.
Today it was a listening device—tomorrow would he install twenty-four-hour HD surveillance in her bedroom? The day after that, would he hire private investigators to track her movements?
The chauffeur felt awkward and returned to the car, reporting to Alexander, "Mr. Hayes, Ms. Foster seems quite angry and refuses to get in."
Alexander raised an eyebrow and looked out the window to see her standing with her back to the car, head held high, indeed looking like she was sulking.
She was actually angry?
Just because she felt he wasn't showing her enough respect?
The chauffeur asked, "Mr. Hayes, what should we do?"
"Let her be," Alexander said coldly. "Am I supposed to coddle her now?"
With that, Alexander propped his chin on his hand and gazed out the window with a brooding expression.
The chauffeur fell silent. Why were these two adults acting like elementary school kids having a fight?
Moreover, this was the first time he'd ever seen even a trace of petulant hurt on Alexander's face.
Just a trace, really!
But he'd worked for Alexander for so many years, and no one had ever been able to make Alexander angry or give him attitude.
As pickup time approached, more vehicles began arriving at the entrance.
Windsor Academy had designated separate waiting areas for vehicles and pedestrians.
But virtually every student family had chauffeurs and nannies, so every dismissal time turned into a luxury car showcase, each more expensive than the last, as if any car under a million dollars would be too embarrassing to drive there.
Once, a parent drove a nine-hundred-thousand-dollar Mercedes, but because the car was considered too cheap, the next day their child was ostracized by classmates due to the family's apparent financial disparity. The parent gritted their teeth, bought a Porsche, and only then did their child regain acceptance in the social circle.
Windsor Academy was constantly saturated with lavish comparisons.
The children competed over grades and family backgrounds at school.
The parents competed over luxury cars, mansions, and connections outside school. The parent chat groups had become wealthy elite clubs averaging billions in net worth, and a simple list of parents from any few classes would read like a who's who of global billionaires.
Windsor Academy even assigned classes based on student backgrounds.
Max's Lion Class was particularly elite, bringing together the dozen or so students with the most prestigious backgrounds at Windsor Academy—all children of celebrities and moguls, including international business leaders.
Therefore, Grace truly stood out as an anomaly.
Though she was well-dressed, many parents assumed she was a pickup nanny.
School dismissal was organized by class schedule.
Soon, it was Lion Class's turn.
The teachers encouraged the children to pack their bags and line up outside the classroom.
"Everyone hold hands and walk to the school entrance together. Class monitor, you're in charge of maintaining order."
"Okay!" The little class monitor raised the Lion Class flag and led the hand-holding children as they filed out.
At the school entrance, Liam immediately spotted Alexander's car and walked obediently toward the luxury vehicle after exiting the school.
"Liam, school's out!" The chauffeur lifted him into his car seat.
Max was about to get in the car when he spotted Grace with his sharp eyes.
"Mommy?"
With so many students around, Max was lost in the crowd.
Grace heard his voice and looked around. "Max?"
Max glanced at Alexander's luxury car but immediately headed toward Grace instead, throwing himself into her arms.
Today was the first day of school, and Max had become the most popular kid in class. He was so intelligent that he excelled in every subject and extracurricular activity. Combined with his connection to Alexander, their homeroom teacher gave both him and Liam special attention. Plus, with his handsome and adorable appearance, he'd made many friends in class.
The other classmates were quite curious about him, and seeing Grace, their young voices chimed in, "Is this Max's mommy?"
"She looks so young and beautiful!"
"Huh, doesn't Max have a chauffeur and nanny to pick him up?"