Chapter 5

“Judging from the extent of the wound rupture, she must have engaged in strenuous physical activity recently. Didn’t we tell you she needed strict rest? This is practically risking her life!”

I felt a mix of shock and distress.

Why was Claire still participating in intense physical training when she did not even need to take the physical portion of the high school entrance exams?

While confusion still lingered in my mind, my phone buzzed twice. Several anonymous text messages came through.

The sender claimed to be one of Claire’s classmates and said that Lydia had been targeting and bullying Claire ever since she returned to school after surgery. They also said that Lydia had repeatedly brought up the surgery and insinuated that Claire was using it as an excuse to evade the entrance exams and slack off.

Desperate to prove otherwise, Claire went against medical advice and continued participating in running drills and physical training behind my back.

My hands shook uncontrollably as I read those shocking messages.

Claire’s father had passed away long ago, and I had raised her alone ever since. I treasured her and treated her like the most precious thing in my life.

Yet, the daughter I held so dearly had suffered such cruelty without my knowing.

Just as grief and fury overwhelmed me, my assistant called.

“Mrs. Stephens, something terrible has happened. The internet exploded with negative posts about you. Numerous clickbait accounts are stirring things up, accusing you of abusing your wealth and influence to storm into a school, intentionally ramming a teacher’s car, and even assaulting a teacher, all to defend your ill-behaved daughter.”

She sent me several links filled with slanderous posts while speaking. Each one had already gained over ten million views, and the comment sections were overflowing with insults directed at me.

“Also, Lydia did a livestream. She cried on camera and said that she came from a poor rural village and that she only wanted to teach students sincerely. She then claimed that you bullied her for simply disciplining her student. She also said that you threatened her safety and that she was presently too terrified to return to work. She’s begging you to spare her. Public opinion online is overwhelmingly against you right now. Everyone’s accusing you of abusing your power. Even our company’s official account is flooded with hate comments, and it’s already affecting business operations.”

Every word my assistant said made a chill spread deeper through me.

I never imagined Lydia could be this vicious. Even after clearly being in the wrong, she twisted the story, cast herself as the victim, and weaponized public opinion against Claire and me.

But even in my rage, I stayed rational and issued immediate instructions.

“Contact the legal department now. First, sue Lydia for fabricating facts and defaming my daughter and me. Second, preserve all evidence against the clickbait accounts and social media outlets that maliciously spread rumors and manipulate public opinion. Sue every single one of them. Third, hold the school accountable for management failure, for enabling a teacher to slander and insult a student on school grounds, and for obstructing parental access during an emergency. Pursue full responsibility immediately. I want everyone to know what happens when they touch my daughter!”