What I Lost and Found

Maggie's question made me laugh.My eyes drifted back to the line that listed Zach's father.With the noise of students pouring out onto the playground after school, I suddenly remembered the first time I met Morris in ninth grade. It had also been because of a fight.I punched my desk mate for calling me a stray kid.Morris had beaten up the class sports rep for calling him a jinx.Two stubborn kids who refused to admit fault, and neither of us had parents who could be called in. We were made to stand under the school flagpole together, surrounded by teachers and students from the entire campus.In the middle of the principal's lecture, Morris noticed the cotton stuffed up my nose and the blood on my index finger, which had been cut by broken glass.His dark eyes narrowed slightly. "You lost?"I bit my lip. "I skipped breakfast. That's all. Next time, I'll beat him till he begs to stop."He paused, then said lightly, "Next time you get in a fight, come find me. I'll make sure

Judy and I still had to live. We had rent to pay and medication to buy.The only way was to work nonstop, day and night, then catch up on sleep in class.Maggie frowned again."That's his mom. Why are you the one taking care of her, buying medicine, and earning money to support her? He goes to Merinthia and just lives it up? No job, no income, and he doesn't give you a single dollar?"I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I gave a quiet hum.When Morris had just gone abroad, he called me every day. He complained about how expensive everything was, how he couldn't find a part-time job, and how he could barely afford food.Courtney complained, too. She said life there was nothing like home, and that even our days in the foster home had been better than studying overseas.I felt sorry for them. I squeezed money out wherever I could and transferred it to support their living expenses.Over time, the calls grew fewer. Half a year later, they only accepted the money. They stopp

Maggie immediately put on a smile, greeted him, and went back to her desk.I gave a calm smile."Mr. Freeman, is there something going on with Zach?"He didn't step inside. He just took a slim, narrow box out of his pocket. Holding it against the light, he handed it to me."Olivia, this is for you."Maggie froze for a second, confused as she looked from me to him. Then, her eyes landed on the small box.I didn't take it.The words "Scar Treatment" were printed clearly on it. Something bought by a successful businessman like him was bound to be expensive.But I didn't need it anymore."Thank you, but we have rules. We're not allowed to accept gifts from parents. Sorry."I said it politely, but he walked over anyway and forced it into my hand.Our fingers brushed. I pulled back quickly, and the cream fell to the floor.He picked it up and tried to press it into my hand again."This one works really well. Even if it can't erase it completely, it can still…"I stepped aside a

As Courtney finished speaking, she raised her hand to slap me. At the instant it came down, someone grabbed her wrist.Morris was there. His gaze was icy, just like that spring ten years ago."Courtney, I told you before. If you came after Olivia again, I wouldn't let it slide."Courtney's face drained of color inch by inch.But that wasn't enough for me.I narrowed my eyes, grabbed her collar, and swung my hand hard across her face."I'm giving those words right back to you. If I'd known you'd grow up coveting my boyfriend, I never would've protected you as a kid. I should've let you starve at the foster home and ended it there."Once again, I was the one taken away by the police, all because of that slap. Because I was a teacher, and Courtney was a student's parent.More importantly, she was a parent who had donated to the school, someone no one dared offend.A teacher who had tried to persuade me earlier let out a sigh."At the end of the day, we teachers are in the servic

"It's already too late, isn't it?"Yes. It was too late.I took Mom back to my rental apartment.Morris insisted that we stay in the villa. I refused.The debts weren't paid off yet, and I didn't have money to buy a place. This small apartment only had one bed and no high-end medical equipment.But when Mom walked in, she looked around, then sat down on the bed with a satisfied smile."This is great. I get to sleep with you again."After turning off the lights, I curled up in her arms, just like I had ten years ago.She suddenly lowered her voice, all mysterious."You know what? I don't actually have dementia. I did it on purpose. I couldn't stand how Morris treated you. I wanted to torment him and Courtney."I'd been exhausted lately. Half asleep, I nodded."I know.""How could you know?""We lived together for so many years. I know exactly what you're thinking at all times."Before I drifted off, Mom patted my back."Go to sleep, my love. Tomorrow morning, I'll make yo