Chapter 3

3.

Riley's uniform was soaked in blood. When I lifted her pant leg, I found her skin covered in cigarette burns.

They were everywhere―her legs, her arms, her stomach!

Riley was born with a blood clotting disorder. If the bleeding didn't stop, she would die.

I barked at the nurse. "Does this clinic have clotting medication? My daughter has a disorder; she needs it now!"

Even then, Riley used her last bit of strength to comfort me.

"Mom, I'm okay..."

Riley had always been a good girl, a brilliant student who loved plants.

Everyone in our secure compound loved her.

I couldn't believe she had been treated like this at school!

My heart ached with a sharp pain, and a dark hatred grew within me.

Yvonne Young, I will make you pay for this!

The nurse found the last clotting capsule and gave it to me.

Just then, Halle burst in with a dozen girls.

They pointed their phones at Riley on the bed, filming and shouting lies.

"Look at our little scholarship student! Her night life must be real busy. She's already pregnant!"

"She couldn't afford a secret procedure, so she came to the school clinic to get rid of it."

"Like mother, like daughter. Two pathetic mistresses!"

The girls around her laughed mockingly.

I scrambled to cover Riley's body, shouting, "Shut up! Halle, I will sue you for everything you have!"

Halle narrowed her eyes, looking just as arrogant as her mother.

"Everyone, grab the medicine in this room! Let this b*tch suffer and rot!"

Her followers ransacked the cabinets and took everything.

I fought back tears, telling myself the Agency would be here soon.

Thankfully, I still held the clotting pill. I tried to feed it to Riley.

Suddenly, Yvonne marched in with five bodyguards in black suits.

She kicked my hand with her high heel.

The bodyguards lunged forward. Three men pinned me to the floor, forcing me onto my knees.

Yvonne slapped me hard across the face, smiling cruelly.

"Are you satisfied with the lesson my daughter gave your little brat?"

"Trying to manipulate public opinion against us? You're too green!"

"I'm telling you, if you don't kowtow and apologize, you aren't leaving this school. And you aren't getting this pill."

She picked up the capsule and held it over a bowl of disinfectant.

I struggled desperately. "Yvonne, give it back!"

She ground her heel into the back of my hand. Half the pill was submerged in the liquid.

"In your dreams! Unless your daughter kneels and begs my Halle for forgiveness, she's a goner."

"Have you decided? Are you going to gamble with her life?"

My eyes were red with desperation. That was Riley's life!

To calm her down, I had to swallow my pride and beg.

"Do whatever you want to me! I'll apologize for her!"

Yvonne chuckled, her eyes full of malice.

"Fine, but the punishment just doubled."

She pulled out her phone and aimed the camera at my face.

"I want you to say to the camera that you are a pathetic mistress, and your daughter is a bastard with no father."

"I'm posting this tomorrow. You agree, right?"

I looked at the pill and forced back my tears.

"Fine. I agree."

"I am a pathetic mistress. My daughter... is a bastard."

Halle burst out laughing. "Mom, look at her! She's so pathetic!"

Yvonne turned off her phone, her face full of disdain.

"Poor people are all the same. Low-class and annoying."

As she spoke, she dropped the capsule into the bowl of disinfectant.

"Oops. I don't keep promises to poor people."

The two of them laughed and walked out.

But the moment they stepped out, sirens began to wail.

Rows of men in black uniforms with silver insignias stormed into the school, heading straight for the clinic.

"Who dared to lay a hand on Director Wray's granddaughter!"

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