Chapter 3

The scene in the photo was clearly from the day I left the school early to go home a few days ago. It simply showed my mom, Olivia Wagner, picking me up in her car.

"Just because of this? You didn't even bother to ask about it before accusing me like this?" I gritted my teeth, my eyes burning red.

Another classmate crossed his arms and let out a sneer filled with contempt.

"Feeling guilty now, aren't you? Just look at him now, Jake. I can't believe you used to call him your best friend. What an embarrassment."

Jake stood to the side, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.

"I wouldn't dare call someone like him a best friend. My father is the school's vice principal, and even I have never done anything so low. Yet this guy acts like he's something special."

I looked up, my gaze sweeping across the group. I exclaimed, "The woman in that photo is my mother!"

Pete, who sat at the desk in front of me, jerked his head up and said in a snide, sarcastic tone, "Please. Everyone knows your family runs a farm. How could your mother possibly be this young, and how could she afford such a luxurious car?"

"Exactly," Jake immediately echoed him, his mockery intensifying. "We've been best friends for so long, and yet, I've never once seen your parents. And you claim she's your mother now? More like some sugar mommy you've latched onto, right?"

The classmates around us burst into raucous laughter.

"No kidding! And he claimed he was home recovering from a leg injury too! Who knows? Maybe he was just spending his days 'servicing' some wealthy woman, got himself worn out, and just used that as an excuse to take time off!"

"Shut your mouths, all of you!" I finally roared, unable to hold back any longer. "She is my own mother! Don't you dare spout such nonsense about her ever again!"

Instead of backing down, Jake went even further and sneered. "You want to claim her as your own mother? Tell you what—maybe your father is just like you, also—"

Before he could finish his vile, filthy remark, I lunged at him like a madman.

Jake grabbed me by the collar and punched me in the face, and I quickly retaliated by punching him in return. The classmates around us swarmed in instantly, and a few other guys quickly grabbed my arms and separated me from Jake, pinning me back with all their strength.

Seizing the moment, Jake smoothed out his collar, stepped up to me, and delivered two more sharp blows across my face. He even spat in my face.

Just then, Pete, who had been keeping watch by the door, shouted, "Ms. Stafford's coming!"

The guys holding me let go at once. I staggered back a few steps, clutching my stinging cheek.

Ms. Stafford strode into the classroom. Jake immediately shot his arm in the air and said, "Ms. Stafford! Darrell's holding a grudge and attacked me just because I reported him for cheating during the exam. I only fought back because I couldn't take it anymore."

Frantic, I tried to defend myself. "He's lying! They were the ones who started it! They even insulted me and my mother! That's why I fought back!"

Ms. Stafford glared at me viciously. "What did they say to you? Repeat it to me."

I opened my mouth, but the vile, filthy language they had used was too foul to repeat. I could only say, "They slandered me and spread rumors about my mother! I didn't start any of it!"

Ms. Stafford stared at me impatiently. It was clear that she was simply done with me.

"Go back to your desk and write a 3,000-word essay to reflect on your behavior. If you don't hand it in by lunch, I'm giving you another major disciplinary demerit!"

"But I didn't do anything wrong!" I shouted, my eyes reddening. "You're a teacher! How can you make such accusations without even trying to figure out what actually happened?"

She didn't even bother to glance at me. She just turned and said to Jake in a concerned tone, "Come with me to the infirmary to get that treated. We've got to make sure you're alright."

Then, turning to the students nearby, she added, "You're getting another disciplinary demerit for assaulting your classmate, Darrell Goodwin."