Chapter 3

“That’s not what I meant, Mrs. Stephens. Miss Lawson was just too stressed. She’s in charge of our school’s advanced track class, the one expected to produce this year’s top scorer on the high school entrance exams. The pressure is intense, so she’s been overly strict with the students and said things she shouldn’t have. She has acknowledged her mistake. I’ve already spoken to her about it. I promise she’ll never repeat this behavior, whether that means targeting Claire or saying anything inappropriate.”

Herbert paused and leaned in, lowering his voice further.

“Mrs. Stephens, the exams are less than two months away. Claire’s great performance is consistent in the advanced track class. If things escalate and make it so that she has to switch teachers or classes, it could seriously disrupt her preparation. That would do more harm than good. As parents, we just want what’s best for our children, don’t we?”

That final line struck my weak spot, and the anger within me slowly subsided.

Claire had fought her way into the advanced track class through sleepless nights and endless practice papers. If she had to switch classes because of this, or worse, have it affect her high school entrance exams, all her hard work would be ruined.

I stayed silent for a long while before finally looking up at Herbert.

“I’m willing to let this go, but under certain conditions. Lydia must apologize sincerely to my daughter in front of me. After that, she is never to mention this incident again in any setting or target Claire in any form. If she fails to comply, I’ll take immediate legal action and sue both her and the school, regardless of how close the exams are.”

Herbert immediately nodded and agreed.

“Sure, no problem. Both conditions are perfectly reasonable. I’ll bring Lydia over right away to apologize to you and Claire. She won’t dare do this again.”

Not long after, he led Lydia in. Her eyes were teary, and a faint handprint still marked her face. She kept her head down and muttered an apology.

I could tell she was not fully willing, but I did not pursue it further. I simply repeated my conditions while watching her closely. She bit her lip, nodded, and said she would not do it again.

When I returned home, I told Claire everything and informed her that Lydia had apologized and that no one would trouble her again. She could focus on her exams.

Claire said nothing. She merely nodded and clung to my arm for a long time.

I thought it would end there, but I had still underestimated Lydia’s cruelty.

Over the next month, life settled into a quiet rhythm.

Aside from Claire occasionally looking pale, she attended school and returned home as usual. At home, she would sit quietly at her desk and work through stacks of practice problems. On the surface, nothing seemed out of place.

I assumed she had not fully recovered from the procedure and considered improving her nutritional intake.

One morning, I drove past her school and heard the sound of running drills and shouted chants from the field. I instinctively slowed down, thinking that with her medical exemption, Claire would be in the classroom studying rather than running laps.

I was about to drive on when I heard Claire’s name amid a sharp burst of laughter.

“Hey, Claire, why are you still out of breath? Did you get pregnant again after the abortion? You can’t run a few steps without getting winded?”

“We’re out here running ourselves ragged every day for PE, while she gets to sit it all out with her special treatment and still gets a passing grade. Since when did life become so unfair?”