But these boys towering over Sheldon were different.


    Not only did they team up with other kids to mock and ostracize him, they also shoved him around whenever they pleased.


    He never stood a chance against the three of them.


    Seeing Marvin wisely walk away, Sheldon felt a wave of smug satisfaction.


    He turned to Keen with a nasty grin.


    "So, not fitting in so well at your new preschool either, huh? None of these kids look eager to help you out. Who cares how smart you are, or how perfect your grades are, when nobody actually likes you?"


    He leaned in, lowering his voice just enough to make sure Keen heard every word.


    "The other day, my mom said your mom barely finished high school and can hardly even read. Not like us-kids from real private schools."


    Sheldon nced at the other children, his eyes gleaming with mean delight.


    "I bet they don''t know about your pathetic mom and all the embarrassing things she''s done, do they?


    Well, even if they don''t, it won''t be long before everyone finds out."


    Marvin had already started to walk away.


    But when he caught thosest words, he froze mid-step.


    He spun around, ring at the three boys crowding around Keen. "What did you just say?"


    Sheldon saw Marvin stop and assumed he''d taken the bait.


    He smirked. "What, you want to hear about all the humiliating things Keen''s mom has done?


    Ha! Last time at Keen''s birthday party, she fell t on her face in front of everyone! It was hrious."


    Keen blurted out, trying to defend his mom, "Someone tripped her! That''s why she fell..."


    The truth was, it had been Jasper Wilkinson''s troublemaking friends who''d stuck out a leg and deliberately sent Ste Cameron sprawling.


    Not only did they show no remorse, they even snickered and made snide remarks about it.


    Afterward, Deanna O''Brien didn''t care about the details-she just scolded Ste for disgracing the O''Brien family and told her never to show up at their events again.


    Haynes O''Brien only gave Jasper a half-hearted scolding, never bothering to punish the ones who''d actually caused the mess.


    In this crowd, everyone treated you ording to your status.


    Once people saw how Deanna and Haynes looked down on Ste, it was obvious


    she was unwee in the O''Brien family.


    No wonder her marriage had been kept a secret for so many years.


    The O''Briens'' attitude toward Ste set the tone for everyone else''s.


    No one was about to stand up for her.


    Sheldon burst outughing. "I don''t care why she fell. The way she looked was priceless! I nearlyughed my teeth out... Ow!"


    Before he could finish, Marvin socked him hard across the face.


    A searing pain bloomed on Sheldon''s cheek. He clutched his face, staring at Marvin in utter disbelief.


    "You-you hit me?"


    Sheldon had always been the king of the yground at their old preschool.


    No one dared mess with him, let aloney a hand on him.


    He was bigger and stronger than most of the other kids-a real bully.


    And Marvin? He looked skinny and frail, the kind of kid you''d expect to knock over with a single push.


    Who would have thought this scrawny little kid would dare take on the so-called "yground king"?


    Sheldon''s face twisted with rage.


    He''d always been a troublemaker, and when he red, he could be downright intimidating.


    Most kids shrank away from that look.


    But Marvin wasn''t fazed in the slightest.


    Back before he''d been adopted by the Connolly family, he''d seen scarier looks fighting over scraps with adults.


    Compared to that, Sheldon was nothing.


    "I hit you, and I''ll do it again," Marvin said, coolly. His delicate face was icy and determined.


    "If I hear you say one more thing about Ste, you won''t have to worry aboutughing your teeth out—I''ll knock them out for you myself."