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"As for Bella," she continued, "she's just a girl. Liam comes from a good family—he can afford to keep her. As long as she doesn't fight for the inheritance with my future children, she can stick around for entertainment. She can even stay at the private school. After all, I'm still her teacher!"
"Stop talking!" Liam glanced at my icy expression, growing more afraid. "Don't say these things in front of her!"
Ms. Miller smirked. "Bella, you can start calling me ‘Mom' soon! I didn't let you eat that Swiss roll for your own good. You can't grow up with sticky fingers. Unlike your dragon lady of a mother, I'm willing to discipline you properly! Next time you steal, I won't stop at just breaking your arm!"
Bella trembled and hid in my arms. "Mommy!"
I held her tightly, then looked pointedly behind Liam and Ms. Miller.
Several parents from Bella's class stood at the doorway, their faces dark. They'd heard everything.
Who would've thought their children's teacher was not only having an affair with a student's father but was brazenly boasting about replacing the wife?
"Ms. Miller, you assaulted a student, you're having an affair with a parent, and now you're flaunting it in front of his wife? Explain yourself!"
Ms. Miller jumped up, seeing the group of wealthy parents standing there.
She turned pale. "It's—it's a misunderstanding…"
This private room was secluded. You wouldn't just stumble upon it.
But I had invited these parents. Their families have business ties with mine, and we're on friendly terms.
One of them, Mrs. Clark, has a father who sits on the school board. She's been around educators her whole life and despises those who are morally unstable, who blame students, or who resort to physical punishment.
No moral integrity! And an affair with a parent?
Disgusting!
Mrs. Clark was furious. "We heard everything! How can you possibly deny it? Ladies, today she's stealing Bella's mom's husband. If we let this slide, who's next? Look at poor Bella—her arm broken by her teacher, and now she's being told to call her ‘Mom'? This is outrageous!"
"You're right! We can't let this slide!"
The parents, their patience exhausted, grabbed Ms. Miller's hair, and slapped her hard across the face.
"You home-wrecker! Are all the single men dead? You have to steal someone else's? Can't have your own kids? Eager to play stepmom? I'll make sure your own mother won't recognize you!"
These were society women who rarely got their hands dirty. Now, they unleashed their full fury on Ms. Miller.
They yanked her arms behind her back—a sickening crack echoed. Her arm was broken. "Ah—! My arm—!"
Then they pushed her to the ground and kicked her.
Liam, the coward, just stood to the side, whispering uselessly, "Stop… please…" He might as well have been cheering them on.
When Ms. Miller was barely conscious, the parents turned their attention to Liam. "You—a man who married into money—dare to use your wife's status to show off? Using her money to support your mistress? Pathetic!"
