Chapter 3
She took her sweet time looking Sophia over, but her words cut deep.
"Mrs. Harris, I thought it was something serious, but it's just a little blood.
"Kids heal fast. A little blood is no big deal," Monica said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
I clenched my fists, forcing a smile, refusing to let her see how angry I really was.
"Easy for you to say, Ms. Reed. You wouldn't know how much it hurts unless you've had scissors jammed in your own eye.
"Let's not disturb Sophia's rest. How about we step outside and talk?" I replied, my tone cold as ice.
Monica thought I was just a helpless housewife, too soft to ever stand up to her.
So she followed me into the alley behind the hospital, still running her mouth and stirring up trouble.
"Oh, my bad, Mrs. Harris. I didn't realize Sophia was your and Mr. Harris' daughter," Monica said, pretending she didn't know a thing.
There were no cameras in the alley, so I stopped short, nearly making Monica trip over herself.
"So if she's not my and Edward's daughter, that gives your son the right to bully her?
"Like mother, like son. You're already chasing after someone else's husband, and now you're teaching your kid to bully others and trying to take another child's dad away. What the hell is your problem?" I snapped, my words full of contempt.
Even the toughest person would be totally embarrassed getting roasted like that.
Monica covered her mouth, her eyes getting watery as she started playing the victim, acting all innocent.
"Mrs. Harris, show some respect! You say I'm seducing your husband? Got any proof?"
Oh, thanks for the reminder.
The next second, I whipped the pastie out of my bag and slapped it right across her face.
"Ms. Reed, I'm just returning your little 'milk cap' for Edward!" I sneered, my voice thick with mockery.
It looked like she was about to protest.
But I didn't give her a chance. I swung my bag and smashed it straight into her eye, not letting her fight back for a second.
The studs on my bag were razor-sharp, and I'd even packed a heavy-duty power bank inside, just in case.
The heavy bag landed blow after blow with a series of loud thuds.
Monica let out a blood-curdling, hysterical scream. Blood gushed from her eyes and nose, pouring down her face.
Her skin was instantly streaked with dozens of bloody marks, some even running all the way down her neck.
The teacher next to us just stopped breathing for a second, totally stunned.
Everyone here knew I was Edward's wife and that Edward was basically one of the school's owners.
So when I smiled and asked if anyone saw what just happened, no one dared to say a word—they all just shook their heads.
I flexed my wrist, ready to teach Monica another lesson, when Edward's voice suddenly cut through the air, calm and steady. "Linda, that's enough!"
He walked over, pulled Monica protectively into his arms, and then stared straight at me.
Edward said, his voice full of disappointment, "I always thought you were different from those women who go crazy over every little thing. Looks like I gave you too much credit.
"I already talked to the doctor. Sophia just got a little scratch—she's not blind or anything. Did you really have to blow things up like this?"
What a joke. While I was fighting tooth and nail for my daughter, my husband was busy comforting the bully's mom, like I was the crazy one for making a fuss.
When I didn't say a word, he figured I'd given up and dragged me off to the side.
"Linda, you know I'm a school board member, so I can't give you special treatment. When we get home, I'll go talk to Monica and sort things out.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she makes things right with you and Sophia," he said, trying to sound reassuring.
Honestly, I just found it laughable.
This was the same man who used to treat our daughter like she was his whole world—now, as soon as his lover appeared, he threw all that out the window and started acting all magnanimous.
I couldn't wait to see how he'd explain himself to me and Sophia.