Chapter 3

On the other end of the line, Hudson was silent for two seconds.

Then his steady voice came through.

"I understand."

"Where are you? I'll be right there."

Quinn heard my words and froze at first, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, this is killing me! Commissioner in your committee? You think you're in a TV drama?"

She pointed at my nose, tears of laughter streaming down her face.

"Which committee is your husband an advisor for? Tell me so my uncle can look after him!"

The principal also wore a pitying expression, sighing as he tried to persuade me.

"Mrs. Lincoln, stop talking nonsense. The Williams family's power is beyond our imagination."

"Just sign the papers, take the money and get your son treated. That's what matters."

I hung up the phone and looked at them coldly.

"I told you, I won't sign."

"That disciplinary action must be withdrawn. Zachary must publicly apologize, then get out of this school."

Each of my words fell heavily in the silent office.

Quinn's laughter stopped abruptly, her face instantly darkening.

"Getting cocky, are we?"

"Looks like three hundred thousand doesn't satisfy your appetite. Fine, I'll add another hundred thousand. Four hundred thousand—is that enough?"

Her eyes were full of disdain.

"Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. If you piss me off, you won't get a single penny, and I'll have your son expelled immediately!"

The principal was sweating profusely, grabbing my arm.

"Mrs. Lincoln, why make things difficult for yourself! You can't win against them! For your child's sake, just back down!"

I shook off his hand and stared directly at Quinn.

"Keep your money to buy your son a coffin."

"You!" Quinn's chest heaved violently with rage, her pointing finger trembling.

"Fine, just fine! I'll show you today what power really means!"

She immediately made a call and put it on speaker.

"Uncle Williams, I'm at the school. There's a parent here causing trouble who doesn't know her place. Tell the principal to kick her son out!"

An oily male voice came through the phone—it was Commissioner Williams from the photo.

"Quinn dear, do you even need me for such a small matter? Just have the principal handle it directly."

"Who's so blind they'd dare to offend my precious niece?"

Quinn smugly lifted her chin and held the phone toward the principal.

The principal immediately put on an ingratiating smile, nodding and bowing to the phone.

"Hello, Commissioner Williams. Rest assured, I will handle this properly and make sure your niece is satisfied!"

After hanging up, the arrogance on Quinn's face was practically overflowing.

"Did you hear that? Now, even if you kneel and beg me, it's too late."

She turned to the principal and commanded imperiously, "Right now, immediately, process Lincoln's expulsion!"

The principal wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at me with difficulty, ultimately yielding.

"Mrs. Lincoln, this... there's nothing I can do. You..."

I ignored him, only quietly watching the office door.

Hudson said he'd be right here.

He never spoke empty words.

Under Quinn's urging, the principal tremblingly picked up the phone on his desk, preparing to notify the registrar's office.

My heart rose to my throat along with that lifted receiver.

Just then, Quinn's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and a doting smile appeared on her face. It was her son Zachary.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong? Missing mommy?"

The voice on the other end was arrogant and domineering.

"Mom, has that poor kid's mom shown up yet? You didn't waste time talking to her, did you? Tell her to get lost. Just looking at her is annoying."

"Oh, and the latest gaming console is out, globally limited edition. Remember to buy it for me!"

Quinn beamed. "Okay, okay, okay. Mommy will buy it for you as soon as I'm done here. Be good in class now."

After hanging up, she glanced at me contemptuously.

"Did you hear that? That's the difference."

"My son has had everything he could want since childhood. And your son? He's dragging his parents down and getting kicked out of school."

"I guess that's just fate."

Her words stabbed into my heart.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my flesh.

The office door was suddenly knocked.

The principal's secretary poked her head in frantically, her face pale.

"Prin... Principal, this is bad!"

"Several major shareholders of the school, and... and Director Clark from the board, they've all suddenly arrived!"

"They're in the conference room, saying they're calling an emergency board meeting!"

The phone in the principal's hand clattered to the floor.

"What? Director Clark? Why is he here? Why didn't I receive any notice?"