Chapter 2

“Fiona, stop making things up,” I said, forcing down my anger.

Only then did I finally understand that this whole livestream spectacle had been staged for this very purpose.

“We’re practically family. There’s no need to be so formal between us,” Fiona said, blinking her sly eyes.

“After all, we know each other well. With your son marrying my niece, both sides can rest easy.”

As she spoke, she reached out, trying to pull the two children’s hands together.

I slapped her filthy hand away and glared at her.

“Rest easy? You might trust Leo with her, but I don’t trust your niece at all!”

Fiona smiled greedily.

“Oh, come on. How can you say that?

“Leo and my niece get along just fine. He probably likes her too.

“Isn’t that right, Leo?” she asked, casting a sideways glance at my son.

Leo looked confused. He clutched the hem of my clothes and looked up at me.

“As a nanny, my son’s marriage is none of your business!” I gently stroked Leo’s head to calm him, then turned back to Fiona, my voice sharp with sarcasm.

I was done pretending not to notice and decided to lay everything out.

“Don’t think I’m stupid. Your niece has sticky fingers. She’s stolen plenty from my house, and she didn’t do it without your instruction.”

“You… You’re slandering me!” Fiona was both guilty and furious, her face flushing red in an instant.

At that moment, a male parent nearby suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Where’s your proof? Show it!”

Pain shot through my arm. I felt like my wrist was about to shatter, yet he twisted harder.

“No evidence, and you dare throw accusations around? Desperate people bite back like dogs!” he sneered. With a violent swing of his arm, he flung me aside.

I crashed heavily onto the ground, my vision spinning.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself up. My eyes burned red, but I stubbornly refused to cry.

The wrist he had squeezed was already turning purple, trembling uncontrollably.

Yet no one stepped in.

All I heard were waves of mocking laughter echoing around me.

After enjoying the chaos, Fiona seized the moment. She quickly grabbed Leo’s small hand and dragged him toward an ink pad nearby.

“Stop!”

Reacting on instinct, I ignored the pain in my body and slapped her hand away.

The absurd contract flew into the air and tore cleanly in two.

Leo finally snapped out of it. He clutched his sore wrist and whimpered softly in fright.

“What are you doing?!” I shouted, shoving Fiona away.

I crouched down and wrapped Leo in my arms.

“I told you. Don’t touch my son!”

Unexpectedly, Fiona didn’t get angry. She laughed instead, then shot a look at her chubby niece.

The next second, the girl rushed over. Crumbs still clung to her mouth as she pressed her lips directly onto Leo’s.

Then she announced proudly, “Leo, I gave you my first kiss. You have to marry me now!

“My aunt said everything you have will be mine. Our family’s money is my money too.”

She ended it with a giggle.

I stared at her in disbelief.

This time, Leo completely broke down. He buried himself in my arms and wailed.

“Mom, I don’t want to marry her! I don’t like her!”

Fiona drifted over like a ghost and patted Leo on the shoulder.

“Oh, Leo, crying won’t help. You kissed her, so you have to take responsibility. That means you must marry her.

“I’m basically her mother. So from now on, you’ll have to call me Mom, too.

“Come on. Come to Mom,” Fiona said, reaching for him.

Leo cried even harder. “I’m not going! You’re not my mom! I hate you!”

“Take your filthy hands off him!”

I swung my hand back and slapped Fiona across the face.

A bright red handprint immediately bloomed on her cheek.

I didn’t want to waste another word on people like her. So, I picked Leo up and turned to leave.

That night, a cautious private message from Leo’s homeroom teacher popped up.

[Ms. Francesca, this incident has had too much impact. To calm public opinion, would you consider issuing a public apology?]