Chapter 45: The Expelled Top Scholar

The fifth was a Saturday, and Felix Ford had wanted to go with her. But he was afraid of running into Samuel Ford and being dragged back home. He hadn’t had nearly enough time with his mom and didn’t want to return to that cold, empty house.

’Anyway, back home, it was always the nanny and bodyguards who played with me. Dad just told me to be quiet and not make a fuss; he didn’t care about me at all. Mom is so much better. She’s fragrant and beautiful, and she even tells me bedtime stories at night. I want to stay with Mom forever.’

When he saw her emerge in her new outfit, Felix Ford immediately put down his cup and ran over. He circled her twice, exclaiming over and over, "Mom, you’re so pretty!"

Amused by his antics, Amanda Vance took his hand to stop him from spinning. She gave him a little tickle under the chin. "You’re looking a little silly."

Felix Ford tilted his head back to look at her. "You’re so pretty, you made me go silly."

Amanda Vance let out a chuckle, which only made Felix Ford stare at her, even more captivated.

She really was a sight to behold. Naturally beautiful, she had put on light makeup today and was dressed in a long, flowing red dress. She was breathtaking.

Amanda gently pinched his cheek and snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. "Back with me now."

Felix Ford finally snapped out of it. "Mom, you look so, so pretty!"

He hugged her leg, refusing to let go. "Waaah, I don’t want you to go anymore."

’What if some creep starts hitting on her?’

"But if I don’t go, how will I teach Penny Palmer and her friends a lesson?"

Felix Ford considered this and had to agree. His grip loosened. "Okay, Mom, you can go. But if anyone bullies you, call me. I’ll come help you right away."

He was completely serious, waving his little fists and baring his teeth to look as fierce as possible. Amanda was once again overwhelmed by her son’s cuteness. She stroked his chubby little face; the smooth, soft skin made her narrow her eyes contentedly. "Alright. You be a good boy and wait for me with your uncle. I’ll make you both something delicious when I get back tonight."

"Okay!" At that, Felix Ford’s smile grew even brighter.

Felix’s happiness, however, didn’t sit well with Hayden Grant. "What’s so great about your mom going into the lion’s den all by herself?"

He’d been surprised when he first learned she was actually going to the school anniversary. But when he found out who had goaded her into it, he felt an urge to grind his teeth.

He snatched the boy up, squished his cheeks forcefully, and said through gritted teeth, "Are you dense?"

"You’re the dense one!" Felix’s protest was muffled by his squished cheeks. He pushed Hayden’s hand away and rubbed his own face, which felt red. Glaring at his uncle, he jumped off his lap. "What do you know? You didn’t see how arrogant that ugly lady was. With people like her, you have to fight back. Otherwise, they’ll just take a mile if you give an inch. They’ll think you’re an easy target and bully you even more."

The logic was sound, and Hayden wasn’t one to be pushed around either. Still, thinking about all the scumbags and monsters at that school, he felt uneasy. "I’ll go with you," he said again.

"You went to Northwood High. What would you be doing at Aethelburg High’s anniversary?" Amanda dusted off her skirt and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Relax. Do I look like someone who’s easily bullied?"

Of course she wasn’t, but there were so many of them.

She had been ostracized back in school, and then she’d had a child out of wedlock and her name was struck from the honor roll. No matter how you sliced it, this was a trap. Those people would surely be even more scathing with their insults.

Sensing his concern, Amanda slowly rolled her wrists and tilted her head to look at him. "All the bullying they put me through back then... don’t you think I should pay them back?"

"You should!" Before Hayden could reply, Felix was already waving his little fists, making a "charge!" gesture. "Mom’s the best! Go, Mom, go!"

Hayden Grant pressed his temples and pulled the boy back, flicking him on the forehead. "You just love to watch the world burn, don’t you?"

He looked at Amanda and finally relented. "Go on, then. Be careful. If anything happens, remember to call me. Don’t try to tough it out on your own."

The bullying she’d endured back then went far beyond just being ostracized. The vicious rumors, the insults, the curses... she deserved to get her payback for all of it.

Back then, they were trying to drive her to her death.

Anyone else in her shoes would have probably broken down and found a high place to jump from, just to escape it all.

Just thinking about it made his heart ache for her.

Amanda smiled but didn’t say anything more on the matter. She only said, "I’ll have to trouble you to watch him for me today."

"Don’t you worry." Hayden Grant raised an eyebrow, glaring at Felix Ford with a grin. "I’ll take *real* good care of him."

No matter how you looked at it, that sounded like a threat.

Felix Ford made a face at him, completely unafraid. He turned back to Amanda. "Go get ’em, Mom! I’ll be waiting for you!"

Giving him a playful arch of her eyebrow, Amanda waved goodbye and walked away. Her retreating figure was the very picture of effortless confidence, as if she didn’t have a care in the world about the people she was about to face.

After watching her leave, Hayden Grant turned his gaze to the little sprout on the floor. His expression darkened as he hauled the boy up by his collar and marched toward the room. "You little rascal, get over here."

Felix Ford’s legs dangled and kicked as he yelled at the top of his lungs, "HELP! AN ADULT IS BULLYING A KID!"

Once in the room, Hayden kicked the door shut with his long leg, cutting off the boy’s cries.

Driving her red sports car, Amanda Vance soon arrived at the school.

Aethelburg High boasted the highest university acceptance rate in all of Aethelburg and was considered a top-tier institution nationwide. Its alumni were a who’s who of influential figures across every industry.

And with such distinguished figures came, of course, a fleet of luxury cars.

The street in front of Aethelburg High was already lined with cars, and a quick glance revealed that none of them cost less than seven figures. When Amanda’s car pulled up, it immediately turned heads.

’Holy cow, is that a top-of-the-line, limited-edition Koenigsegg!’

’Who is that? They must be loaded.’

When Amanda stepped out of the car, a collective gasp went through the onlookers. ’She’s absolutely gorgeous!’

Seeing that she had arrived alone, a stir of excitement went through some of the men in the crowd.

Shirley Vance and Penny Palmer arrived just in time to witness the scene, and they were instantly consumed with jealousy. Penny gritted her teeth. "See that, Shirley? She just can’t stand it if every man in the room isn’t drooling over her."

’That bitch. She thinks she can flirt with everyone just because she has a pretty face. It’s disgusting.’

Shirley Vance was just as furious and jealous. The thought of how things had been at home lately only fueled her hatred.

Because of what had happened at the Ford estate, she had been utterly humiliated. Then the company started having problems, and her father had blamed her and her mother for everything. For the past few days, neither of them had dared to say much.

’It was all Amanda’s fault!’

She clutched her handbag, glaring at Amanda as if she wanted to skin her alive.

She and Penny exchanged a look, and both broke into a cold sneer. They walked over together, and Penny was the first to speak. "Amanda, you actually came! I was starting to think you wouldn’t. This is great. We met in such a rush last time, we barely got to talk. Oh, by the way, why didn’t you bring your son today? The little guy is just adorable."

’A son?’

’She’s married already?’

Those who had been admiring her were surprised. They looked at her again with a hint of disappointment. ’To think she’s married so young. I wonder which lucky bastard got her.’

’Wait, her name is Amanda Vance? Why does that name sound so familiar?’

They were still trying to place the name when someone suddenly gasped in realization. "Wait, isn’t that the top scholar who was stripped of her honors for having a child out of wedlock?"