In the changing room, Dicky had just put on his clothes when a boy suddenly ran up to him and pushed him to the floor.Dicky glared coolly at the boy in return.He recognized him—the boy was Jerry from the next class, who just came second in the swimming event.Two tall and pudgy boys were with Jerry, staring Dicky down."You brat! You took first place from me! You're really asking for it!" Jerry threatened Dicky viciously."It's a fair competition. No one’s taking from anyone," Dicky said righteously, but just as he was about to get off the floor, Jerry slammed his foot down his little hand."Did I tell you to get up?!" Jerry snapped.Angered by Jerry's unreasonable outburst, Dicky pushed Jerry off firmly with his other hand.Jerry stumbled several steps backward, unable to believe that Dicky was actually resisting. "How dare you push me? Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is? He built this school! I just have to tell the teachers, and you'll be expelled!"Dicky,
The boys were stunned by Cordy’s sudden appearance, but Jerry soon gathered himself and yelled, "He upset me! I'm just straightening him out! What's wrong with that?"He was a little tyrant, and Cordy already had enough of him.If she had never met this boy, she would’ve never known that a six-year-old could be so vile.Still, she stayed calm since violence should never be used on children. She needed to find out everything that happened first.Crouching, she studied Dicky's filthy face, and her heart ached. She pushed down the pain and said gently, "Talk to Mommy. What happened?"Dicky told her everything calmly, which only infuriated Cordy even further. Her eyes were ablaze, and she snapped at Jerry, "The competition was fair! Don't your parents teach you that?""They told me that money talks!" Jerry retorted fearlessly. He even threatened her, saying haughtily, "Don't you dare talk to me like that! Don't you know what my family does for a living? My daddy will bankrupt you!"
Cordy’s slap left everyone on the scene dumbstruck. Everyone was surprised at how vicious she could be. All Eva could feel was the burning pain on her cheek. She could not quite react, even as Cordy snapped icily, "A child's discipline is their parents' responsibility. Since you insist on not disciplining your son, I’ll have to discipline you instead!""Cordy Sachs!" Eva shrieked shrilly, unable to believe that Cordy had just slapped her in front of so many people.If word got out, she would have no dignity left!Nonetheless, Cordy took Dicky with her and started to leave, refusing to waste her breath with them.Just as she turned, Adam intercepted her, looking utterly savage.He had no intention of fighting Cordy with that pretty face of hers. However, since he was Eva's husband, a slap to her face was no different from a slap to his face—he would never live it down.Dicky sensed danger, and promptly moved his little frame to stand before Cordy, protecting her.Cordy's heart
Cordy promptly pulled Dicky out of harm's way, refusing to let her son get hurt.Adam laughed coldly before snapping viciously at the boy, "Your mom’s a liar! Do you really think that John Levine, the heir to the richest family in North City, is your father? Why don't you look yourself in the mirror or see how slutty your mom looks! You really think John Levine would tap that and have you? Dream on!""John Levine is my—""That's enough! Don't waste your time with them," Eva said, losing patience. "Jerry's next event is coming up."Adam agreed, and started to threaten Cordy again. "Last chance! Are you going to do it or not?""No!" Cordy refused, not budging an inch. "So we're doing this the hard way, huh?" The man's face contorted with horrific intent, and he raised his pudgy hand, aiming it squarely on Cordy's face.Cordy gritted her teeth—she had already bought as much time as she could.There was no way she and Dicky could get out with so many people encircling them. Even i
Even as Jessica followed John, she could feel his fury from the back when they reached the dressing room and saw that Adam was about to hit Cordy. As John's rage reached its peak, Jessica watched as he rose to his feet and strode up to Adam, whose face had already turned pale.On the other hand, Eva was still fearlessly snapping at John, "So you're Cordy's manwhore, huh? You look well-dressed, so why would you sink so low for a slut like Cordy—"Smack!John slapped Eva across the face, and the resulting smack was deafening.Eva was sent tumbling to the floor, unable to get up at all. Everyone else was frightened by John's bloodcurdling demeanor—his forbidding presence left them shuddering to the point they were too afraid to even breathe too loudly."You hit my mom? I'll kill you! My daddy will make you go bankrupt!" Jerry threatened John viciously after seeing John hit his mother.John merely approached Jerry; the boy was immediately frightened by the scary man before him, a
Now, Dicky was shaking with inconsolable rage. He had been bullied, and his beloved mother was mocked for protecting him; she almost got hit for it, too!Hence, he took the trash can off Jerry's head, his little cheeks looking stern as he demanded, "Apologize to my mommy and me!"John’s lips curled up in a smile. Dicky had always been quiet, withdrawn, and poor at expressing himself. He would never behave like a spoiled child around him either; that honor belonged to only Cordy.Yet, he was now able to strut and demand an apology. All children can definitely be taught!Nonetheless, Jerry kept bawling and refused to apologize. Adam suddenly pulled Jerry aside and slapped him.Even as Jerry bawled harder, Adam barked at him, "Apologize, now!"That certainly scared Jerry—he had always been the little tyrant at home, and his father had never laid a finger on him. Now, however, he had no choice but to apologize tamely, with an almost inaudible voice, "I'm sorry.""Louder!" Dick
Cordy stared coldly at Adam and Eva.Even if they looked pitiable now, there was a reason for it.She took Dicky's hand, and told John, "I'll get Dicky cleaned up since he has other events soon. As for the rest…do what you will."John nodded—he really shouldn’t have worried that Cordy would be lenient. Even if she never went out of her way to hurt others, she wasn’t the type to suffer an insult lying down.It was what made her free-spirited yet domineering. After Cordy left with Dicky, John turned back towards Adam and Eva, his gaze suddenly cold.He wasn’t as soft as Cordy, who was satisfied with an eye for an eye.Rather, he wanted ten eyes for one. They were going to bankrupt him, was it?Well, he would show them what the term truly meant!-As Cordy gently wiped away the filth on Dicky's face, she asked sympathetically, "Are you upset you were bullied, Dicky?""No, Mommy," Dicky grinned. "You protected me, and Daddy taught them a lesson. I also did to Jerry what he
Cordy smiled slightly and gave Dicky both thumbs-up in encouragement, showing that she didn’t mind, let alone care about keeping up appearances.As the teachers arranged the groups, they noticed that one of the children didn’t have both parents with her—even though elite private schools like this usually insisted on having both parents attend school activities.Before things could get awkward, Dicky suddenly asked one of the teachers, "Can my mommy join us?""But your mommy's already here…""That's my mommy," Dicky pointed at Cordy on the stands. The teacher simply presumed it to be a child's innocent banter, and didn’t dwell on it as she said, "Of course."She went off to invite Cordy, who agreed to it since Dicky was so eager, and played mommy for the little girl.As the relay was about to begin, Cordy and Dicky were close enough to speak to each other although they were in different groups."Are you good at running, Mommy?""Of course," Cordy said proudly. "Where do you th