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I knew explanations were futile.A lifetime ago,Linda was convinced I ruined Sophie's life,beating me to death with a bat out of rage.
Now,she still believed firmly I was keeping Sophie out,corrupting her daughter.
"Emily,last chance—hand over my daughter."
"Ma'am,are you getting stupid with age?I didn't kidnap her.Why're you storming my house at night?"
Before I finished,Greg slapped me hard.
His strength had me dizzy and my ears ringing.He whipped out a camera,recording."I don't care whose daughter you are—if your parents won't teach you how to behave,I will.What are teachers doing,letting someone like this stay in school?Expel her!"
The video was sent to our class’s group chat.
The chat exploded,everyone asking what happened.
Linda,finding a way to attack me,recorded my face.
"This girl's a born troublemaker.My Sophie's always been sweet,kind.She befriended her because she was lonely,but Emily's full of schemes,trying to ruin my daughter."
"I let the past slide,but now she's keeping Sophie out,turning off her phone.Judge for yourselves—a girl out all night,how worried are we parents?"
Linda loved the video's impact;the chat mostly backed her.
"Senior year's critical.Onestep wrong could ruin a life."
"Exactly.If my daughter had a friend like that,I'd hit menopause early."
"Some parents don’t know how to keep their kids behaved.Watch your children—there's too many bad influences out there."
"Kids are delicate and easily influenced—don't let them be poisoned."
Their words emboldened Greg.He started a group video call.
Parents flooded in,eager for gossip.
"If her parents won't teach her a lesson,I will."
Linda grabbed a baseball bat beside near the TV.
"Hand over my daughter,or I won't be polite."
The bat pointed at my nose,her venomous face ready to skin me.
Greg turned the camera to my family's antique vase.A savvy parent commented,
"Whoa,that vase looks old."
Greg,annoyed at they weren’t focusing on codemning me,scoffed."Old?With a daughter like this,what kind of family are they?Who knows where this stuff came from!"
A construction foreman,Greg was used to bossing workers around,acting superior.He smashed the vase,muttering about “doing the public a favor”.
The video's parents cheered.
I watched as group encouragement led him to wreck more.
I tried reasoning."Sophie's not here.You're trespassing and destroying my personal property.I've called the police."
At the word"police,"the instigators quieted,though some kept watching.
Linda,certain I'd hidden Sophie,stood with her hands on hips,undeterred.
"Good,call the cops.They'll lock you up,and my daughter can study in peace."
