First Day of School, His Fall

She pulled out her phone as if to make a call.

The parent who had just picked up the broken hair clip hurried to my side, trying to persuade me kindly.

“Lily’s mom, just give in. Do you know who her husband is? Ryan Hayes, CEO of Crestwood Corporation. If he so much as stomps his foot, all of New York City will shake.”

“Even if your family has some money, can you really outmatch hers? If she actually calls her husband here, you’re finished!”

My heart jolted. “You said her husband is Ryan Hayes?”

Olivia Scott laughed brazenly. “Now you’re scared? Too late! Even if you kneel and beg, I’ll make your whole family disappear from New York City today!”

Looking at her twisted grin and recalling everything that had happened today, the truth hit me hard.

Ryan—the one who swore back in high school he would never marry anyone but me, who vowed eternal love, who willingly took my last name and married into the Lane family—had betrayed me.

At six years old, he was thrown out by his stepfather, starving and digging for food in restaurant dumpsters.

I was the one who took him in, fed him, and paid for his schooling.

My parents treated him like their own, never once belittling him for marrying into our family.

After our marriage, we even entrusted him with managing the Lane family’s businesses, raising him to the top as New York City’s richest man.

And now, he had forgotten that the arrogance Olivia flaunted came from the Lane family’s support.

I laughed in fury. “Fine. Call your husband. I’d like to see exactly how he plans to make us disappear.”

Olivia was about to reply when her son suddenly shouted.

“Mom! This woman’s phone has tons of pictures of Dad!”

Olivia snatched the phone, flipping through quickly. With every glance, her face darkened further.

“No wonder you dared talk back to me. You bitch! Turns out you’re my husband’s mistress!”

“If I don’t beat you to death today, I won’t be Olivia Scott!”

She lunged for my hair, but I reacted swiftly, kicking her hard in the stomach.

She fell to the floor, glaring at me with venom.

“Why aren’t you holding her down? Do you all want your kids expelled?”

“Don’t forget—my husband controls your families’ livelihoods. If I’m unhappy, I can bankrupt you in minutes!”

The parents who had hesitated surged forward, pinning me to the ground.

Olivia slapped me over and over.

“You worthless trash! With a face like that, how dare you seduce my husband?”

“You deliberately got your daughter in the same class as my son, didn’t you? Thought I wouldn’t notice, and now you dare act wild in front of me!”

Not satisfied, she tore off her high heel and slammed it into my back, then ground it down on my hand.

My finger bones cracked, and I screamed in pain.

Lily jumped in terror, clinging to Olivia’s leg and sobbing hoarsely.

“My mom isn’t a mistress! Don’t hit my mom. I’ll kneel, I’ll kowtow, just don’t hurt her, please!”

I watched as Lily’s forehead split open from kowtowing, blood streaming down her little face.

The pain and panic stole my voice for a moment.

Olivia kicked Lily aside, then grabbed scissors from the teacher’s desk and hacked at my hair.

“Slut! You like seducing men? I’ll make sure you seduce them now! I’ll make you famous!”

“Strip her clothes! She loves seducing men? Fine, I’ll post her naked online for everyone to see.”

Lily rushed to shield me, but Olivia yanked her away.

“Ethan, this little brat is yours. Strip her and throw her on the field. I’ll make sure she regrets having a shameless mother!”

“No! Let me go! Mom, help me! Mom!”