Chapter 4
575words
"Doctor," I said evenly, "my son Andy was accosted at the school gate this morning. He has a congenital heart condition that makes him vulnerable to stress. I expect the school to address this immediately."
My tone was measured, but my words carried the weight of potential litigation.
The color drained from the doctor's face.
What terrifies elite schools more than anything? Safety incidents on campus.
Especially involving children like Andy Miller—from powerful families and with documented medical conditions.
The doctor didn't waste a second before alerting the principal.
Within ten minutes, the entire school administration materialized in the infirmary.
The principal, a distinguished man in his fifties, approached with practiced concern.
"Mrs. Miller, I deeply apologize. This incident reflects a serious oversight on our part."
I skipped the social niceties. "When Andy enrolled, I provided detailed documentation of his condition. I assume you've been briefed about today's incident. A student named Leo Miller and his mother Vivian Woods verbally attacked and physically threatened my son."
I let the word "threatened" hang in the air like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
"I expect an immediate resolution."
My words left no room for negotiation.
The principal shifted uncomfortably. "Mrs. Miller, perhaps we could arrange for Ms. Woods and her son to offer a formal apology, with assurances this won't—"
An apology? Pathetic.
"And when my son suffers a stress-induced cardiac episode next time," I cut in icily, "who bears responsibility? You personally? Or the school's insurance carrier?"
The principal's mouth snapped shut.
My phone shattered the silence.
Nathan's name flashed on the screen.
Without hesitation, I put it on speaker for all to hear.
The moment it connected, Nathan's voice exploded from the speaker: "Iris! What the hell are you doing? Vivian just called me in tears! Why are you making a scene at the school?"
His rage echoed through the now-silent infirmary.
The administrators exchanged glances, their expressions a fascinating study.
Their faces cycled through pity, contempt, and the unmistakable thrill of witnessing premium gossip material.
The headline practically wrote itself: "Tech Exec Defends Mistress Against Wife in School Showdown."
Pure tabloid gold.
I could practically hear them mentally taking notes.
After all, what power does a woman hold when her own husband publicly humiliates her? Even Harrington money can't buy dignity.
"Nathan Miller," I said, my voice glacier-calm despite the audience, "are you speaking as Leo Miller's father right now, or as Andy Miller's father?"
Dead silence from the other end.
"If it's the former, we have nothing to discuss. If it's the latter," I paused, each word precise as a scalpel, "then you should know that your son—our son, Andy Miller—was nearly driven to cardiac distress today by your illegitimate child and his mother."
"Still think I should play nice?"
My voice remained quiet, but it carried the weight of ten years of betrayal.
Nathan's breathing grew heavy in the silence that followed.
Finally, his voice returned, subdued: "Iris, please stay calm. I'll come to the school right away to sort this out."
Suddenly, a tall figure stepped forward from behind me, plucking the phone from my hand. His voice was smooth as silk but cold as steel.
"That won't be necessary. The Harrington family hasn't sunk so low that we need your intervention in such a trivial matter."
With that, he ended the call with a decisive tap.
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