The principal and teachers nearby all breathed a sigh of relief-atst, the boy''s father seemed to have some sense and tact.


    "How have I been teaching you all this time? I told you to discipline your son! Instead, you spend every day ying cards, and look at the trouble this ungrateful child has caused! Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Goodwin."


    It was only then that the boy''s mother seemed to snap out of her daze. ncing at the two imposing men before her, she muttered a reluctant, "I''m sorry."


    The boy''s father jumped, frantically waving his hands. "No, no! My wife was out of line-she spoke without thinking. We wouldn''t dare demand anypensation from Mr. Goodwin. Please, I beg both Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Vaughn to forgive my son this once. I''lle in person to apologize properly another day."


    The father understood the message instantly and gave a nervous, ingratiating smile. "Of course, of course."


    Principal ke, a veteran in education, picked up on the subtext immediately- this boy was about to be expelled.


    The father rounded on his wife and son, barking, "What are you waiting for? Get home, both of you! Embarrassing me like this."


    "Hold on," Xavier said, his tone firm.


    The father spun back around, a servile grin stered on his face. "Yes, Mr. Vaughn? Is there anything else?"


    "Have your son apologize to my niece," Xavier replied.


    The father wasted no time; he grabbed his son by the arm and dragged him in front of Vivian. He fixed his son with a stern look. "Well? Apologize to your ssmate. Now."


    The chubby boy, usually a terror at home, shrank back under his father''s re and stammered to Vivian, "I''m sorry."


    "Hmph!" Vivian turned her face away, refusing to look at him.


    "And apologize to this ssmate too," the father ordered, pushing his son toward Evelyn.


    "I''m sorry," the boy mumbled, barely meeting Evelyn''s eyes.


    Everyone watching understood this was what real power and wealth looked like. In the end, right and wrong often bowed to those at the top.


    "Daddy, I don''t want to see Goldie ever again," Evelyn pouted.


    With that, the boy''s father hurried his wife and son out. The moment they stepped into the hall, his wife grumbled, "Why''d you back down like that? Since when are we afraid of trouble?"


    "Shut up!" he snapped. "Do you have any idea who those men are? One''s the richest man in Ashford City, the other owns half the shipping industry! I work my tail off just to get on their good side, and you-you manage to offend them both in one go! Are you trying to get me killed? Or do you think money just falls from the sky?"


    His wife''s face went sheet-white. "Oh God, what was I thinking? I ought to have my mouth sewn shut!" She gave herself a couple of theatrical ps on the cheek, then hurried after her husband.<fn3f89> Original content can be found at Find?Novel</fn3f89>


    Eleanor took her daughter home, but since it was still early, she invited Vivian over as well, with Xavier''s approval.


    Eleanor brought the two girls back to her house, while the men went their separate ways to handle their own affairs.


    Before long, the girls had forgotten all about the day''s drama. They chased Princess, their golden retriever, around the living room, squealing with joy. Eleanor flicked on the TV and immediately caught a glimpse of a news broadcast.


    She paused, eyes drawn to the screen-Joel and Faye appeared before the camera, speaking confidently about their breakthrough in fighting the virus.