Dames whimpered, his voice trembling as he clung to his grandmother’s skirt. Daph stood a few feet away, fists clenched tightly by her sides.
She’d always been strong for her age. When she was younger, she hadn’t known her own strength, and a few times she’d accidentally hurt Dames. Ever since then, their grandmother watched Daph like a hawk, never letting her guard down.
Dames had learned quickly to run to Grandma for protection. She always took his side.
With a scowl etched deep into her face, Grandma marched over and yanked the little red badge off Daph’s chest.
“Daphne, you hit someone at school today. You don’t deserve this badge! I’m going to tell your teacher to disqualify you from every award this year!”
Dames was still sprawled across Grandma’s lap, fake sobs muffled behind his hands. He peeked through his fingers, sneaking glances at Daph to see her
reaction.
Daph stood rooted to the spot. Her vision blurred as tears welled up. She didn’t want to cry, she tried desperately to hold it in, but she couldn’t stop herself.
The Aurelian Tower–the model she and her mom had spent hours building–was now a hopeless wreck. There was no way to fix it.
A lump rose in Daph’s throat. She felt as if she were standing in the ruins of something precious, completely lost.
Suddenly, a gentle figure stepped in front of her, shielding her from the others.
It was her mother.
“Mrs. Yates, it was Damien who destroyed The Aurelian Tower first. Daphne only pushed him after that.” Selene’s tone was firm, her gaze unwavering.
Gemma, arms crossed, gestured toward Felicity, who was still kneeling on the floor, unable to get up. “Your daughter didn’t just hurt her own brother–she kicked another student, too!”
Grandma didn’t particularly care for Felicity, but now she had the perfect excuse to scold Selene in front of everyone.
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Felicity, meanwhile, was caught in her own dilemma. She wanted Harrison’s
sympathy, but she also didn’t want to seem weak. She was five years old, and a girl had knocked her flat with a single kick–if her friends ever found out, how could she show her face?
Selene’s voice rang out, clear and strong. “There’s security footage. Felicity deliberately stomped on Daphne’s Aurelian Tower. Plenty of people heard about the bet between Daphne and Felicity: if Daphne won first place, Felicity would have to apologize.”
She raised her voice. “Felicity, where’s your apology?”
Felicity rubbed her leg and huffed, “Actually, Daphne should apologize to me now!”
“Selene! That’s enough!” Harrison crouched beside Felicity, his tone cold as he shot a glare upward. “You’ve spoiled Daph. She’s completely out of control.”
With Harrison’s verdict hanging in the air, Grandma seized the moment. “I told you to raise Daphne as a proper young lady, Selene. Look at what you’ve turned her into!”
Dames started up his sniffling again, which only made Gemma rush to defend her
own son.
Gemma’s voice was sharp. “Daphne, you need to apologize to your brother today. If you don’t, I’ll have you expelled! I will not allow anyone in this school to threaten the Vaughn family’s eldest grandson!”
In the past, Dames had only ever tattled that Daph had hurt him. Grandma had always doted on her grandson, but she’d never actually seen Daph in action.
Now, she’d watched it happen: one gentle push from Daph sent Dames flying, as if he were made of paper.
Grandma was horrified.
Selene’s expression remained calm. “Gemma, you may be on the school board, but you don’t have the authority to expel a student. As for what really happened here, I believe everyone can see the truth for themselves.”
She glanced toward the cameras set up just across the room.
“Felicity was standing right in front of the camera, talking to Daphne. Everything that happened between them was caught on film–everyone watching the live
stream has seen it all.”
The speech contest was being broadcast live on the local children’s channel. The
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director, eager for drama, had instructed the cameraman to keep the lens trained on Daph after her impromptu speech on stage.
Selene had seen Daphne kick Felicity earlier and had immediately checked what was shown on the broadcast.
Now, Grandma was at a loss for words, and Felicity’s face shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions.
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