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Seeing Lily,my heart shattered.
She huddled in a storage room corner,refusing touch,her uniform was filthy and had clear footprints on it.
Her hair was a mess,surrounded with scattered notes around her:
“Homewrecker’s bastard!”
“Tramp!”
The vile words made me feel stung.
Lily bit a boy’s arm,refusing to let go and he screamed,swinging his backpack at her.
I charged, shoved the boy aside and cradled her.
“Mom’s here,don’t be scared!”
Teachers pulled the thrashing boy away,but he kept cursing,“Homewrecker’s kid is trash!I’ll beat her every time!”
“Shut up!”
I spun,glaring,my rage pinning him.
He flinched and fell silent.
“Who’s this kid’s family?Get them here!This isn’t over!”
Margaret pushed through,rushed to the boy and shoved teachers aside.
“Oh,my son!What happened?Who bit you?”
The boy,seeing her,shed his fear and pointed at us.“Mom,it’s that homewrecker’s daughter!”
Students and teachers crowded around.Realizing this had escalated beyond simple compensation,I stood,locking eyes with the mother and son.
Facing the principal,I said,“Lily was beaten badly and fought back in self-defense.You owe me an explanation!”
In the principal’s office,the plant manager arrived,visibly reluctant.
The principal,glancing at Margaret,fawned,“Mrs.Walsh,your son started it, and those notes prove it.How about he apologizes,and we call it even?”
I frowned.“Call it even?I don’t agree.”
Margaret scoffed,slumping onto the principal’s leather couch, and tapped it casually.
“Principal,you’re confused.We apologize?For what?A homewrecker is ruining my family—everyone should take her down.My son’s a hero.Her daughter?She’ll just wreck homes too.”
“You!”
I shot up,pointing.“You’re slandering me!Frank already said we’re nothing.I could sue you!”
She smirked.“Sue me?Go ahead—I’m not scared.”
Turning to the principal,she added,“This couch looks worn.I’ll have my dad send a new one—how’s that?”
I was stunned by her brazenness but realized her family’s influence fueled her arrogance.
