Chapter 49 Got Together Early
"The school just called," Axel continued. "They want to settle this privately. Asked us to stop posting about it online."
Scarlett's response was immediate. "No. We're not settling privately. If we let them sweep this under the rug, other kids will suffer the same abuse."
"The school needs to issue a public apology and compensation. The teachers involved need to be punished—no, punishment isn't enough. They need to face legal consequences. We're taking them to court."
These people were repeat offenders. No second chances. They needed to face the full weight of the law.
As for the other parents who'd suddenly come forward to expose Rainbow Kindergarten's teacher abuse, Scarlett suspected this wasn't a coincidence. Someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.
Probably Ambrose's handiwork.
Last time, he'd promised to get Yara back into school. He was likely using this scandal to force the school's hand.
But even if the school caved, who'd dare send their kid back there?
Whether anyone dared send their kids back was one question. Whether Rainbow Kindergarten could even stay open was another.
The Rainbow Kindergarten scandal erupted online like wildfire, trending immediately and catching the attention of regulatory authorities. Investigators were dispatched.
Within hours, Rainbow Kindergarten stood at the center of a media firestorm, its operating license hanging by a thread.
When Briar heard the news, she raced to Scarlett's place straight after work. She'd barely opened her mouth to speak when she spotted an adorable little boy. The words died on her lips. After kicking off her shoes, she made a beeline for Hayden.
"Oh my God, who's this gorgeous little man?"
Hayden's eyes went wide at Briar's enthusiasm. Just as she reached for him, he scrambled backward.
"Briar, don't scare him!" Scarlett emerged from the kitchen to find Briar chasing Hayden around like a heat-seeking missile.
Briar froze mid-pursuit. "Whose kid is this?"
Scarlett almost said "Ambrose's son" but caught herself—Briar would lose it right there and traumatize the poor kid. She crooked a finger instead.
"Come here. I need to tell you something."
Briar glanced at Scarlett's mysterious expression, then followed, casting backward glances as she went. Something about that face seemed familiar.
Hayden exhaled in relief, settling back into his spot to resume his video game.
Once Briar was safely enclosed in the study with the door shut, Scarlett spilled everything.
Right on cue, Briar let out a shriek.
Scarlett's expression screamed I knew it.
"So he's Ambrose's son! The resemblance is uncanny," Briar gushed.
"And wow, he's gorgeous—gives Yara a run for her money. Actually, he kind of looks like Yara too."
Scarlett rolled her eyes. "All kids look similar at that age. Don't go spreading that around and starting rumors."
Briar pranced over with a mischievous grin, throwing her arms around Scarlett and tilting her head with exaggerated conspiracy.
"Ambrose trusted you with his kid. Either he doesn't care what people think, or—plot twist—he wants them to think things."
Scarlett's mind flashed to Ambrose's behavior today, triggering an instant headache. But she couldn't tell Briar about that. She patted Briar's hands loose.
"Your imagination's running wild. Hayden has signs of autism. At school, he only connects with Yara, so Ambrose asked if he could stay here. He wants Yara to bring Hayden out of his shell. Otherwise, Ambrose never would've revealed he had a son."
She moved toward the couch as she spoke, Briar trailing behind. They sank into the cushions together.
"So after what those teachers did to Yara, what's the school saying?" Briar pivoted to the real issue.
"At first, they stonewalled completely. Now that the scandal's broken, they want to make it go away quietly. But I'm not having it. Schools like that can't be enabled."
"Damn right. We can't let these monsters keep hurting kids or let the abusers walk free." Briar's voice shook with anger.
They were deep in conversation when a knock interrupted them. The door swung open—Yara bounded in, clutching Scarlett's ringing phone.
"Mommy, you have a call." She handed over the phone, then spotted Briar and lit up in that sweet, childlike voice.
"Briar! You're here!"
After delivering the phone, Yara launched herself at Briar.
Briar scooped her up. "Did you miss me, sweetie?"
While the two chattered away, Scarlett stared at the number on her screen for several seconds before hitting accept.
"Scarlett, it's Tatum." Brielle's mother's voice came through the line.
Scarlett's grip tightened on the phone, her tone turning arctic. "What do you want?"
"Brielle's been detained, and they still haven't released her. I know she said some awful things this morning. I'm apologizing on her behalf. Please let this go—I promise she'll never say another word about you."
Tatum's voice remained calm but carried a note of sincerity.
But Scarlett had experienced Tatum's tactics before. However sincere she sounded now, she was capable of ruthless acts later.
"She caused a scene at the police station. There's nothing I can do." Scarlett deflected, walking out of the study toward her bedroom.
"Scarlett, we both know the truth here. Brielle paid the money. I don't want to get into everything else—I'm just asking you, one time, to let her go."
Scarlett entered her room and shut the door, her voice sharpening.
"I let her go? Who's going to let me go? Do you know what she's been saying about me out there? She deliberately hit me with her car, and when that didn't kill me, she decided to spread vicious lies to make my life in Silverlight City impossible. Why should I let someone like that off the hook?"
Tatum fell silent for a moment before lowering her voice. "I know she was wrong. But she's learned her lesson. Do you have any idea what's being done to her in there?"
Scarlett didn't know. Didn't want to know.
"I don't want to know."
"Other inmates cut off her hair. Forced her to drink urine. She's so traumatized right now she's barely coherent." Tatum's words hit like hammer blows.
Scarlett felt a jolt of shock. Wasn't it supposed to be a simple few days' detention?
But thinking of Brielle's actions, she decided the woman had it coming. You reap what you sow.
"If she's still acting like a spoiled princess in lockup, those women aren't going to coddle her. She brought this on herself. Can't blame anyone else."
"Oh, and didn't she say Wesley wouldn't abandon her? Have Wesley bail her out. Why are you calling me?"
Tatum jumped in immediately. "There's nothing between her and Wesley, don't overthink it. She just said that to upset you. They have no relationship whatsoever."
"Brielle told me everything about them down to the last detail. I was the only idiot who didn't realize they'd been together behind my back this whole time. Go find Wesley!"