Chapter 19 The Fatherless Brat
+8 Pearls
Jessica ignored the pain in her foot and rushed to school. Arthur’s teacher had just called to inform her that he had been in a fight.
Seeing how anxious she was and knowing she could barely walk, Charles decided to take her to the school himself.
Though her injury wasn’t too severe, she couldn’t walk on her own. When they arrived, she hesitated, unsure how to get out of the car.
Without a word, Charles walked to her side and extended his hand. “Come on, I’ll help you in.”
She glanced at his clean, well–shaped hand in front of her. Too worried about her son to hesitate Jany longer, she placed her hand in his.
Charles supported her as they made their way to the teacher’s office. As soon as they stepped inside, Jessica saw Arthur standing beside another boy.
His clothes were dirty and torn. There was a bruise on the corner of his mouth and some blood on his arm. It was clear that he had been in quite a scuffle.
Jessica’s heart sank. Ignoring the pain in her foot, she quickened her pace toward him. “Arthur?” How could he have gotten into a fight so soon after starting school?
Arthur’s eyes reddened the moment he saw Jessica. Though he clenched his lips tightly, refusing to make a sound, his tough front cracked.
She then noticed the boy next to him. His face was bruised, a fresh scratch ran across his cheek, and his clothes were torn. He seemed to have taken the worse end of the fight.
“You’re Arthur’s mother, Jessica?” The teacher at the desk spoke up.
Jessica quickly nodded. “Yes, Ms. Pearl. What happened? Why were they fighting?”
Serena gave her a glance before looking at the man supporting her. Something about him. radiated an untouchable aura of authority.
Then, she returned to Jessica and said, “You should let him tell you himself.”
Jessica immediately turned to her son. “Tell Mommy, why were you fighting?”
“He deserved it!” Arthur was slightly aggrieved but even more furious, standing firm as if he had done nothing wrong.
Jessica frowned. “Speak properly.”
“He was being mean. He insulted me!“”
Her brows furrowed deener. She had never seen Arthur art this way before. “What did he say?”
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Chapter 19 The Fatherless Brat
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+8 Pearls
Arthur’s eyes turned even redder, tears welling up but stubbornly refusing to fall. He clenched his little fists and said through gritted teeth, “He called me a fatherless brat!”
“You are a fatherless brat! Everyone has a dad except you!” The other boy, who had been silent until now, shouted angrily.
“Say that again!” Arthur’s tiny fists clenched, ready to strike once more.
The other boy wasn’t backing down either. Just as the two were about to start fighting again, Jessica quickly stepped in to separate them.
She finally understood what had happened. Pulling her son behind her, she faced the other child.
“Kid, I’m Arthur’s mother. What’s your r
name?”
The boy huffed and lifted his chin. “Liam.”
“Liam,” she repeated. “You got one thing right, everyone has a father, including Arthur. I agree. that he shouldn’t have hit you, especially since you’re classmates. But please don’t repeat such hurtful things.”
She hadn’t expected her son to be mocked for not having a father. Her heart ached as much as he did.
Liam, however, wasn’t ready to back down. “Oh yeah? Then where’s his dad? Bring him here! Everyone knows he doesn’t have a dad!”
Arthur’s face turned red with anger again, and he raised his little fists. Jessica quickly held him. back.
She was at a loss. How could she suddenly conjure up a father for Arthur?
“I am his father,” a deep calm voice suddenly declared.
Jessica froze, turning mechanically to look at Charles. What did he say?
Arthur also stared at him in disbelief.
Charles met their shocked gazes and stood before the wide–eyed Liam. “I am Arthur’s father. While he shouldn’t have hit you, I think you owe him an apology.”
Charles was tall and imposing. Standing before Liam, he instantly intimidated the boy.
Jessica was too stunned to react. But Arthur, ever quick–witted, immediately grabbed Charles’s hand. With newfound confidence, he declared, “My dad is right here! If you dare say I don’t have a dad again, he’ll deal with you!”
Liam, startled by Charles’s overwhelming presence, fell silent. He didn’t believe Charles was Arthur’s father, but seeing how similar they looked, he no longer dares to argue.
Serena then approached them. “Ah, so you’re Arthur’s father? No wonder I thought you two looked alike when you walked in. You really are like two peas in a pod.”
When she said that, Charles and Arthur instinctively turned to look at each other. Were they really that similar?
