All Chapters of When a Secret Mission Gets Personal: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Vanessa Morrison stood protectively in front of her daughter with a contemptuous gaze. "Go ahead. Call in more of your sugar daddies to protect your bastard child!" she hissed. "Let everyone know about this scandal so the other students will spit on her!"She deliberately raised her voice to draw in a crowd of students. Lila Keats shrank behind me. Her hoarse voice made my heart clench. "I'm scared, Anna."My throat felt tight as I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'm here. I'll make sure you get justice." Seeing this, Melody Caldwell spoke with the same arrogant cadence as her mother."You call your mother by her name? Is that your guilty conscience speaking? So what if I hit you? You're not even legitimate. I'm doing the world a favor!"Lila's entire family consisted of intelligence operatives. Her grandfather was a nuclear weapons expert under military protection. That was why her real surname wasn't reflected on her birth documents.For her safety, Lila was

Chapter 2

Just as I was about to phone the Education Bureau, Lila let out a sharp cry and collapsed.Lila was deathly pale as she looked down. I rushed over, reaching down to support her. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I realized that Melody had hurt Lila with chalk.I rushed to the infirmary, carrying Lila. "Excuse me, my daughter was severely injured with chalk. Can you please take a look?"However, the school nurse, Elisa Sanders, merely glanced at Lila and continued scrolling on her phone. "I can't. Just get her to a hospital."Tears streamed down my cheeks as I begged, "It'll take at least 15 minutes to get there. I don't think she can take it. Please just bandage her up at least!"Elisa clicked her tongue impatiently and shooed Lila off the bed. "And how would a school have the necessary facilities? Don't dirty my infirmary with your poverty and poor hygiene!""Ms. Sanders, my daughter bumped into a pauper. Please disinfect her," said Vanessa.As soon as Vanessa walked

Chapter 3

That wasn't all—her arms, stomach, and other body parts also harbored burn marks!Lila was born with a bleeding disorder. Failure to stop the bleeding could prove life-threatening.I grabbed Elisa and demanded, "Do you have any coagulants on hand? She has a bleeding disorder and needs it immediately!"Just then, Lila tried to muster up her strength to reassure me, "I'll be okay, Anna…"Lila had always been a sensible child—a botanist in the making. She was constantly praised at home, yet she endured such inhumane treatment at school.I felt a sharp tingling in my chest as hatred surged within me. I vowed to make Vanessa pay for this.Elisa handed me the last pill on hand. Just then, Melody burst into the infirmary with a dozen or so young ladies.They waved their phones around, taking pictures of Lila on the bed and spreading vicious rumors."Estrella High's underprivileged students must have such an amazing nightlife! The break's just over, and this one's already pregnant!""

Chapter 4

The chief of the Intelligence Agency, Joseph Chastain, ordered his men to surround the school and evacuate most of the students and parents.The principal, Elias Hammond, was startled by the commotion and hurried out to greet them. "May I ask who you are?"He saw the medal on Joseph's chest and realized that this was no ordinary civilian. Forcing a smile, Elias stepped forward to shake his hand."What brings you here, sir? Is this an unannounced inspection? You should've told me earlier so I could welcome you properly."Joseph glanced around coldly and said, "Where is Lila Keats? Ensure that her bullies remain. I'm here to ask what the hell the administrators have been doing this whole time!"I hurried over. Seeing Joseph here filled me with hope."Lila's covered in injuries and needs urgent medical attention, or she'll bleed to death. Send someone out for coagulants, now!"Joseph was equally anxious and enraged. "How did this happen? I always have some medicine in my car. Hurry

Chapter 5

I had initially suppressed my rage to protect Lila and uphold that vow of not hurting civilians.However, I finally exploded, unable to control my anger any longer. I immediately delivered a sharp, ringing slap across Vanessa's face.I forced her head down so she could look at the medals on Joseph's uniform, bellowing, "Take a good look! This is the agency's chief. Don't you dare speculate about our relationship with that filthy mind of yours!"Lila has a clean background. Her last name was concealed to protect her safety, not to be used as an excuse for your daughter's bullying!"Upon seeing me hit Vanessa, Melody lunged forward like a rabid dog."How dare you hit my mother?" she spat. "Everyone who sees the Caldwell family usually smiles at us!"She raised her hand, thinking of slapping me in return, but Vanessa held her back, seemingly having realized who Joseph was."Don't be impulsive, Melody," she urged nervously. "Anyone wearing those medals is a big shot. We can't afford

Chapter 6

"Let me tell you exactly who Lila is, Vanessa. She's from a family of covert operatives, and she's under the protection of the Intelligence Agency. "As agency operatives, Mr. Chastain and I are fully authorized to take Melody in for questioning as a suspect for harming Lila," I said icily.Joseph was equally resolute. "Do you think someone would go far enough to hurt themselves if they were just acting?"Melody Caldwell, I'm authorized to take you to the police for questioning. Furthermore, the school has failed to handle this seriously and is trying to sweep it under the rug. I am also authorized to investigate this school!"As soon as the order was given, Vanessa and Melody were both subdued and handcuffed. "Come with me!" said Joseph.Vanessa finally began to panic, shouting with both outrage and humiliation, "How dare you take us away? My husband works for the Education Bureau! I'm calling him now!"She struggled against her restraints as she phoned for help. The person wh

Chapter 7

I continued seething in rage. "Do you have any idea who Lila's grandfather is?"Joseph held me back. "Don't bother. Let's just take them away. Since you've let your daughter bully someone, Harold, I should investigate you, too!"The agents stepped forward once more, but Harold stood before Vanessa and refused to back down."I'm no longer a part of the agency, Joseph. Nobody touches my family as long as I'm here. If you insist on making things difficult, I'll ensure that Lila can't sit for the college entrance exam!"I never imagined Harold would stoop low enough to blackmail us with a child's future. It was no wonder he had raised that hellspawn of a daughter.Melody became bolder with Harold's support. "I tore up her application for early admission. The deadline is tomorrow. Are you going to give up the chance to take the entrance exam? Think carefully."Vanessa became even more smug, crossing her arms with a cold sneer."I told you my husband isn't someone you can mess with!

Chapter 8

"It's all Vanessa's fault," Harold continued. "She influenced my daughter. Since Melody is so young, please let this slide."Vanessa wanted to hide behind Harold, but he ruthlessly put her on the spot.She was so upset that she burst into tears and cursed at him, "Harold Caldwell, you heartless bastard! Didn't you spoil her? What does this have to do with me?"At this critical moment, nobody wanted to take the blame for raising a daughter like Melody.However, now that Josiah had stepped in, he wasn't going to let anyone off the hook. He pointed at Harold while addressing the police officers behind him."Harold Caldwell, who has abused his position to allow his daughter's bullying and threatened students with exam eligibility, is unfit to remain in the Education Bureau."Melody Caldwell and her mother, Vanessa, are suspected of harming a family member of a covert operative. Take them away for interrogation."Just as the school administration thought they could escape unscathed,

Chapter 9

I tracked down Lila's classmates and recorded their accounts of bullying. I also photographed their injuries.I also noticed that these kids had developed anxiety toward school. They kept their heads lowered when the teachers were present, as if worried that someone would point fingers at them.Some of them used to be top of their class, but their performances had plummeted after being bullied by Melody and her lackeys.They didn't dare to stand out, fearing Melody's retaliation.The very instigators of these issues were now causing a ruckus at school, draining them of their best resources. Who gave them the right?I organized the evidence and prepared to proceed to the court of appeals.Melody, however, was alerted to my investigation and sought me out herself. "Did you forget that I still have leverage over Lila? How dare you instigate these vile rumors behind my back!"Do you think I'm done for just because Dad's in prison? He has connections all over Apren. Even after I gr

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