Chapter 2

Everyone burst out laughing, their tone teasing and mocking.

"Like mother, like daughter. Even at such a young age, she's already lying with the adults. This kid is a lost cause."

"Come on, they were holding hands in front of everyone. How could that be fake?"

Hanley charged off the stage, fire blazing in his eyes as he glared at Yvonne. "Who the hell are you calling a homewrecker? You and your mom are so thirsty for a man it's driving you nuts."

With that, he lunged forward, ready to hit her.

I shoved him aside and demanded, glaring at Oswald, who sat unbothered at the head table. "Oswald, are you still not going to admit it? Don't say I didn't warn you when the time comes!"

Oswald's expression turned ice-cold. He fixed me with a dark, unblinking stare before speaking, each word sharp and measured. "Ma'am, we are complete strangers.

"I've already shown you more tolerance than anyone else would. If you keep dragging my name through the mud, you'll be hearing from my lawyer."

Yvonne stared at him, completely stunned, her voice thick with heartbreak and disbelief. "Dad, are you out of your mind? Are you seriously pretending you don't even know me and Mom?"

The whole room erupted in laughter.

"Hey, you really don't know when to walk away, do you? Better make yourself scarce while Principal Oswald's still in a good mood. Otherwise, Greenlake High's legal team might just clean you out!"

A few of Yvonne's classmates were also at the meeting, and they couldn't help but voice their disgust.

"Yvonne, seriously, have you no shame? You always act like you're better than everyone else, but now look at you, so desperate. How low can you go?"

Not caring about all the mocking around her, Yvonne stormed up to the stage and grabbed Oswald's arm, pleading in her voice. "Dad, are you out of your mind? Why are you acting like you don't even know us?

"Can you really just watch them tear us down like this? Please, stand up for us!"

Oswald coldly pushed Yvonne aside, not even hesitating.

Caught off guard, Yvonne nearly stumbled off the stage, her eyes brimming with tears from the humiliation.

Right then, Hazel slid right up to Oswald, staking her claim by clinging to him and giving me a look that screamed victory.

It hit me instantly. Hazel was totally in on the whole mess between me and Oswald.

I pulled Yvonne into my arms, hugging her close. "Yvonne, a dad who disowns his own family like this isn't worth a single tear.

"From now on, you don't have to acknowledge him as your father ever again."

Oswald's brow furrowed at my words, then he ducked his head and started firing off a message.

Oswald: [Nydia, I've already told you everything. I'm just helping Hanley out this one time. Tomorrow it's back to business as usual. Don't you have any compassion?

[Do you really have to corner me into admitting you and Yvonne in front of everyone? What do you expect Hanley and Hazel to do then? How are they supposed to show their faces after this mess?

[If you didn't insist on putting yourself out there for attention, we wouldn't be stuck in this mess. You brought this embarrassment on yourself, so don't blame anyone else. Go home. Now.]

I let out a bitter laugh, so pissed I couldn't even be mad anymore.

It seemed he'd been living easy for so long that he forgot he never had any real background or even a college degree.

If it wasn't for me, there was no way he would've ever gotten his hands on that principal's seat.

Just then, a city official stepped in with a warm smile, trying to smooth things over. He suggested we all head over to the auditorium for the celebration.

There, the government would be honoring Oswald for his contributions to the city's college acceptance rates.

As we headed toward the auditorium, Hazel pretended to accidentally brush past me, but she slammed her shoulder into mine on purpose, her eyes full of smug challenge. "Women like you, stuck at home slaving over a stove, are destined to be left behind.

"Oswald needs a well-educated woman who can actually support his career. Do yourself and your kid a favor. Hang on to whatever dignity you've got left and get as far away from us as you can," she said.

I let out a cold laugh, thinking, 'A well-educated woman who can support him? Please.'

Just earlier, the group's HR team had already given me a full rundown of Hazel's background.

She didn't even graduate from vocational school, a total nobody who only got the principal's secretary gig by latching onto Oswald. All she ever did was flirt shamelessly with him, and she didn't know the first thing about anything else.

From her clueless face, it was obvious she only knew I was Oswald's wife. But it never even occurred to her to find out who actually ran Greenlake High's board.

I'd already told the company's legal team to bring over both the firing notice and the divorce papers.

By the look of the clock, they should be showing up any minute now.

I was still sticking around, just waiting to humiliate them in front of everyone and finally make them pay for what they did to me and Yvonne.

Hazel and Oswald were officially placed together in the VIP seats, singled out for special treatment.

Hazel lifted her chin with smug satisfaction, basking in the compliments from everyone around her without a hint of shame.

Yvonne automatically went to sit next to her dad, but that was when all hell broke loose.

Hanley stormed over and shoved her without warning. Yvonne was totally blindsided, stumbled forward, and cracked her head against the steps.

I bolted over to check on her injuries.

Yvonne's face was ghostly pale from the pain, her lips trembling so hard she couldn't even get a word out.

Blood was streaming down her forehead, the vivid red covering her face and sending a chill down my spine.

It felt like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart so tight I could barely breathe.

But Hanley still wasn't satisfied. He spat at us, his eyes blazing with venom. "Serves you right, you shameless loser. Think you can steal my spot? Hope it hurts!"

Gritting my teeth, I charged at Hanley, ready to claw his face off, but Oswald threw out his arm and blocked me.

He pulled Hazel and Hanley behind him, standing guard like a fortress, and snapped at me, his voice cold and commanding.

"Just drop it. He didn't mean it. You're a grown woman. Why are you stooping to fight with a kid?" Oswald shot back, his voice cold and dismissive.

I was so furious my chest felt like it was about to explode. "Didn't mean it? Are you seriously blind? Your own daughter is bleeding all over the place. That's assault, and I'm pressing charges."

Hazel let out a mocking laugh, pulled out a check from her purse with a smug flourish, and flung it at my face with a sneer.

"Cut the act. Isn't this all about money anyway? Consider this hush money for what my son did. Now get out of my sight," she sneered.