Chapter 3

When we got home, I didn't rush to confront Callum. Instead, he shamelessly tried to smooth things over. "Honey, this can't possibly be my fault, right? That teacher was out of line, but how can you blame me for her lack of judgment?"

I ignored him. It wouldn't be long before I found out if there was more to this than met the eye anyway.

"This villa feels boring after living here so long. I've arranged for it to be renovated and refreshed with a new design. In the meantime, we'll move to the apartment on Fernland Road. It's closer to the kindergarten."

For some reason, the villa gave me an eerie feeling since I'd returned. Or perhaps it was Caroline's casual, almost proprietary attitude that made me uncomfortable. But a change of style would fix it, I reassured myself.

Callum hesitated before asking, "But, honey, will you really be comfortable living there?"

"Why? Are you too attached to this villa? Or is there some other reason? If so, feel free to stay here," I replied sharply.

"No, no, I'll take care of the move right away!" he said quickly.

After all that, I spent some time playing with Eloise, trying to rebuild our bond. Though she didn't outright reject me, it was clear we couldn't return to the closeness we once had, at least not immediately.

The realization hit me hard. So I decided to take an extended leave from work to stay home and focus on her.

That evening, we snuggled on the bed together. She clutched her doll and told me with a voice full of sorrow, "Mommy, Ms. Carol said I don't have a mom. She said my mommy is dead… So, are you really my mommy?"

My heart clenched painfully as I pulled her into my arms. "Sweetie, of course, I'm your mommy. I just went on a business trip for a little while. How could I be dead? Don't listen to your teacher's nonsense."

But her confused expression didn't ease, and I silently vowed to confront Caroline about this. I mean, how could she say something so cruel to a child?

"Mommy, I really like Ms. Carol, and she really likes me too. She said she wants to be my mommy," my daughter added softly.

"And… Did you agree?" I asked carefully.

She shook her head. "I was thinking I feel like I already have a mommy, but I couldn't quite remember, so I haven't said yes yet."

Her words threw me. Was her memory failing because of the teacher's manipulation or because of some medical issue? If two months of exposure could cause this level of influence, Caroline truly had a talent—for the wrong reasons.

Suppressing my frustration, I smiled and asked, "So, sweetie, when will you give her an answer?"

"Tomorrow," she said confidently. "I'll tell her I already have a mommy, and I just want her to stay my teacher."

Hearing this, I felt slightly reassured. At least my daughter still held me in her heart. Nonetheless, I wasted no time taking her to see a doctor, but all the tests came back normal. That only deepened my confusion.

The next day, I personally took her to kindergarten. Caroline was already at the entrance, clearly waiting, though she pretended not to see me. Without a word, she grabbed my daughter's hand and started to lead her inside.

"Wait!" I called out.

She turned slightly. "Yes? Is there something you need?"

"You're taking my child without so much as a nod or a word? Is that your idea of professionalism?" I snapped.

Caroline was unfazed as she replied calmly, "Mrs. Verna, I'm a teacher. Everything I do is for the child's benefit. Classes are about to start. If I'm in a hurry to take her in, what's wrong with that?

"Our school's policy has always been clear. If a parent is overly sensitive, perhaps they should keep their child at home, tied to their side, instead of sending them here to burden the teachers and classmates."

Her arrogance was unbearable, and my face darkened with anger. Who gave her the audacity to act so condescendingly? Who gave her the right to dismiss a parent so blatantly?