Haynes'' face darkened. "Keen, zip it."


    Keen flinched and instinctively hid behind Rachel.


    Seeing this, Rachel quickly interjected, "Hey, Haynie, Keen''s just a kid. Don''t be so hard on him. Besides..."


    "You''ve always held Keen to high standards, and he''s never let you down. He''s top of the ss in kindergarten."


    "Keen''spetitive, sure. He wants to be the best at everything, which is understandable. But Ms. Cameron..."


    Rachel nced at Ste and quietly added, "Having such an exceptional son like Keen should inspire you to better yourself too. As parents, we shouldn''t be the ones holding our kids back."


    Haynes seemed to mull it over, his dark eyes clouded with thought, and he fell silent.


    But Marvin stepped forward and protested, "Ste won''t hold anyone back! She''s amazing!"


    Keen snorted, unable to hold back. "She''s my mom. Don''t you think I''d know if she''s amazing or not?"


    "Marvin, maybe you should find someone else to team up with for thepetition, unless you want to end up crying when you lose."


    Marvin jabbed a finger at Keen, his usual timidness reced by fire. "Shut up about Ste! You''re the one who''ll be crying when you realize no one cares about your stupid grades! What''s the point of being ''perfect'' if you treat your own mom like trash? Newssh-people don''tugh at losers. Theyugh at spoiled brats like you who don''t know how to love anyone!"Keen was taken aback by Marvin''s intensity, momentarily at a loss.


    Rachel frowned, addressing Ms. Cameron. "I know you don''t like me checking in on Keen, but Marvin''s just a kid. It''s not fair to teach him to say such things to attack your own son."


    "If Ms. Cameron wants to take care of Keen herself, I assure you, I won''t step in anymore."


    Ste almost wanted to apud Rachel''s speech.


    She insinuated Ste was manipting Marvin like a puppet, turning him against his own blood—all while using her of neglecting Keen, yet refusing to allow anyone else to step in.


    Such elegant hypocrisy. Language, when honed to a razor''s edge, could y a reputation without leaving visible scars.


    Haynes looked at Ste, disappointment etched across his face.


    "Ste, have you really stooped to using children now?"


    Ste suddenly spoke up, "Ms. Pearce, could you do me a favor?"


    Rachel was caught off guard. "W-what favor?"


    "Could you tell Haynes that actually, Haynie, Ste is your father?"


    Rachel was stunned. In fact, everyone was stunned.


    Haynes'' expression was so dark it seemed like it might storm.


    "Ste!"


    "Sorry, just kidding." Ste said with no trace of apology in her voice. "It''s a bit much to ask Ms. Pearce to say that. How about instead..."


    "Haynie, the sun rises in the west, and pigs not only have wings but can climb trees."


    Marvin looked up at Ste, ying along.


    "Ste, I''m only five, and even I know the sun rises in the east, pigs don''t have wings, and they definitely can''t climb trees."


    Ste chuckled, "See Ms. Pearce over there? Whatever she says, people believe.


    If she said pigs could climb trees, some might actually buy it."


    Marvin giggled, "No way! Are people really that gullible?"