Chapter 3

[We did nothing wrong. Why should we apologize?]

After replying, I angrily shut off my phone.

When my husband, Anthony, came home and learned about what happened, his expression darkened.

He yanked at his tie irritably. “It was just a pair of shoes. Why did it blow up like this? Where does that leave my reputation?”

I looked at him coldly.

“So now you think this is all my fault?”

Anthony’s tone grew impatient. “Fiona has worked for our family for two years. Even if she hasn’t done anything remarkable, she’s put in effort.

“You shouldn’t have humiliated her like that in public.

“Today, you were in the wrong. You should apologize.”

I stared at the man I once loved deeply, unable to believe what I was hearing.

“How can you side with Fiona and criticize me? She was clearly the one who started it!” My voice trembled with grievance.

“Francesca, I never thought you’d become this unreasonable.”

With that, he slammed the door and walked out.

My heart clenched painfully.

I decided to leave the house for a while and take Leo out to clear our heads.

Soon after, photos of Leo and me out at sea were posted in the parents’ group chat.

The caption read: [Rich mom and son skip school to travel the world, while ordinary kids keep studying.]

In her livestream, Fiona accused us openly.

“When the rich skip school, it’s called freedom. When the poor ask for leave, it’s truancy. Parents, justice speaks for itself!”

She successfully stirred up anger, and more than half the parents jointly demanded that the school punish Leo.

On the morning of the seventh day, I walked Leo toward the school field.

Parents around us pointed and whispered.

The homeroom teacher hurried over, looking uncomfortable.

“Ms. Francesca, because Leo missed training, he won’t be able to participate in today’s soccer match.”

Leo’s head dropped instantly, and his eyes filled with disappointment.

In the distance, Fiona was holding up her phone, livestreaming. The camera was pointed straight at us.

She smiled, full of provocation.

“Miss, I know missing training was wrong…” I knew I was at a disadvantage, yet I still tried to fight for my son.

“But you know how much Leo loves soccer. He’s been looking forward to this match.”

Just as the teacher was about to respond, Fiona suddenly appeared beside us.

“It was your fault to begin with. Now you regret it? Too late. Hmph!”

Her livestream camera swept over me from head to toe.

“Everyone, take a look at how she’s dressed. So revealing, with heavy makeup too.”

She even reached out and tugged at my collar.

“Oh my, look how low this neckline is. You can practically see everything.”

Humiliated and furious, I shoved her away.

“Stop spreading nonsense!”

Fiona smiled maliciously.

“Isn’t this exactly how you seduced your husband in the first place?

“Instead of staying home to serve your man, you dress like this and parade around. Who are you trying to entice?”

Her gaze flicked meaningfully toward the male parents nearby.

I stared at her in shock, never expecting her to say something so vile.

There were plenty of fathers who came daily to pick up and drop off their children. This was blatant incitement, pushing female parents to turn on me.

The livestream comments surged like a tide, each one sharper than the last.

[This woman is so calculating!]

[My child goes to this school too. I’ll never let my husband do pickups again!]

[She’s absolutely vicious!]

The surrounding parents quickly followed suit, and hostility closed in around me.

“Slap!” A female parent rushed up and struck me across the face. “So shameless!”

Another spat at me. “You cow! Get out of our school!”

They shoved me so hard that I stumbled and fell to the ground.

The skin on my palm scraped open instantly. Sand ground into the wound, burning with pain.

“What kind of mom dresses like this to pick up her kid? Trying to hook a sugar daddy, huh?”

“Tsk. Probably looking for a new long-term meal ticket.”

Fiona kept her camera trained on me, her words growing more outrageous by the second.

I couldn’t take it anymore. Struggling to my feet, I grabbed her and pulled her close, lowering my voice.

“I’m wearing a completely ordinary blouse and skirt. Stop twisting the truth.

“Spreading rumors in front of children—you’ve gone too far.”

She took advantage of the moment, stepping backward as if I had pushed her.

Instantly, she turned to the livestream, crying, “Everyone, look! She dresses like this and still doesn’t want people talking?

“Can a woman like this really raise a child properly? What kind of example would she set?”

The comment section exploded, flooding the screen with accusations of indecency, malice pouring down like filthy water.

Fiona turned the camera toward herself, adopting a saintly expression.

“Honestly, wouldn’t it be better if I raised Leo instead as his stepmother? What do you all think?”