Chapter 302
Betty frowned. “How do you know they can’t be resolved if you haven’t even tried to face them?” She leaned forward. “True love isn’t about breaking up after every argument–it’s about wanting to stay together even after fighting. Every marriage has its problems. Some husbands have affairs, some don’t provide for their families, some don’t work and abuse their wives. By your logic, all these marriages should end in divorce, but people patch things up and continue, don’t they?”
“Be honest with yourself–has Henry ever gambled? Hit you? Neglected your physical needs? Is he truly beyond redemption?”
Hearing her defend Henry made me angry. “Betty, whose friend are you–mine or Henry’s? If you’re here as his advocate, we have nothing more to discuss.” I took a deep breath. “Yes, I admit Henry is exceptional, an incredible man, perhaps the best in Manhattan. But he was involved with Isabella during our marriage, spent money on his mistress, crossed my bottom line. That’s unforgivable!”
Betty fell silent for a long moment, an amused smile playing on her lips.
Finally, she asked softly, “Sophia, if the paternity test proves Billy is Henry’s son, will you still go through with the
divorce?”
My heart skipped a beat. I’d asked myself this question countless times without reaching a conclusion. After hesitating, I managed to squeeze out, “I don’t know.”
Just then, my phone rang. “Is this Billy’s mother? Could you come to school? Your son has been in a fight.”
I quickly ended the call, threw on my down jacket, and rushed toward the school.
My son had always been well–behaved and obedient–why would he be fighting?
When I arrived at Billy’s classroom, I found him standing outside the door, clearly being punished. His face was dirty, his down jacket torn with white goose feathers poking through, and a bruise forming on his chin.
A little girl stood beside him, constantly talking to him, trying to cheer him up and wiping his face.
The little girl noticed me first and smiled politely. “Hello, Mrs. Harding.”
I was furious that the teacher had left two children standing outside in the freezing cold. They could catch pneumonia! I immediately rushed to them, gathering both children in my arms. “Sweethearts, are you cold?”
Billy, who had been trying to act tough, instantly teared up at my touch. “Mommy,” he whimpered, his voice full of injustice.
The teacher stepped out of the classroom just then and spotted me. “Mrs. Harding, your son got into a fight and injured another student. The boy is currently in the infirmary getting treatment. Please come with me.”
Billy injured someone? I couldn’t believe my sweet child would hurt anyone.
After escorting the little girl back to the classroom, I took Billy’s hand and asked gently, “Baby, is this true? Mommy knows you’re a good boy who never hurts others.” I knew my son’s temperament–even at his young age, he wasn’t the type to randomly attack people.
“Teacher, did you find out why this happened?”
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Chapter 302
The teacher sighed. “By the time I arrived, the other student was already injured. His parent took him to the infirmary and said if your family doesn’t compensate them, they won’t let this go. The school has been trying to mediate, but they’re not cooperating.”
Though she spoke carefully, I understood her meaning. What had started as just children playing roughly had escalated because the other child was injured, and now they were being unreasonable, demanding Billy pay compensation.
As we entered the infirmary, a heavyset middle–aged woman turned to me.
“Are you Billy’s parent?”
I nodded, about to speak, when she launched into a tirade: “Look at your face that’s meant for seducing men–no wonder your kid is such a troublemaker!” she accused me.
“Your son hurt my child so badly he’s bleeding! Absolutely no manners! This is what happens when a child doesn’t have a father to discipline him!”
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