Chapter 4
Oliver Baker hopped onto the school bus, his face a mix of excitement and trepidation. Just two days into the new school year, he was still getting used to the bustling atmosphere of Firstbrook Primary School.
Across town, his mother, Evelyn Greenwood, boarded a crowded city bus, heading to her job as a fashion design tutor. The classroom she entered was cozy, adorned with colorful patterns and inspiration boards. She was tasked with guiding a group of budding designers through the basics – a straightforward job that required little more than encouragement and a good eye..
After an uneventful morning session, Evelyn had planned to head straight home, but her plans abruptly changed when the phone rang. It was Oliver’s teacher, voice tinged with urgency. “Evelyn, you need to come to the school right away. Oliver got into a fight.”
Heart racing, Evelyn barely hesitated. Two days of school, and already he was in trouble. She waved down a taxi, urgency propelling her through the city streets toward the school.
Meanwhile, in a high–rise office in Kingston’s bustling CBD, Alexander Hawthorne, the CEO of Hawthorne Enterprises, was deep in work when his phone buzzed. It was Elizabeth, his wife, her voice laced with panic. “Alexander, I can’t get back right now. Sebastian’s school just called. He got into a fight, and I need you to handle it.”
Glancing at his watch, Alexander nodded curtly. “I’ll take care of it.” Relief washed over Elizabeth as they ended the call.
At Firstbrook Primary, Evelyn rushed into the sixth–grade classroom where two boys stood, one tall and one short, facing opposite walls.
“Oliver!” she called, worry flooding her voice. The shorter boy turned, his bright eyes meeting hers. “Mom!” he exclaimed.
Evelyn’s gaze shifted to the other boy, who seemed familiar, but there was no time to dwell on it. Oliver’s teacher stepped forward, looking serious as he explained the situation.
The tall boy was Edward Ashford, Oliver’s desk mate and the class monitor. Apparently, during class, Edward had reprimanded Oliver for goofing off. Instead of taking it in stride, Oliver had lashed out, leading to a chaotic scuffle.
“Oliver tackled him?” Evelyn noted the redness on her son’s cheeks, a stark contrast to Edward’s pale face, which bore scratches resembling the aftermath of a catfight.
“Oliver, were you the one who threw the first punch?” she asked, trying to keep her tone even.
“He wouldn’t stop harping on me! I got mad and just pushed him,” Oliver admitted, his smaller hands fiddling anxiously.
Evelyn sighed as she attempted to explain the importance of classroom discipline. “But you can’t resort to violence. Do you think that was the right choice?”
Pouting, Oliver retorted, “It’s not like I bothered anyone else!”
“Okay,” Evelyn said calmly, “but hitting someone isn’t acceptable. Do you agree?”
Oliver glanced sideways at Edward, who remained silent, a storm brewing behind his eyes. “He just underestimated me. I couldn’t let him walk all over me.”
“Right,” Evelyn said, her patience thinning. “Have you apologized?”
He nodded. “I did, when the teacher called us to the side.”
Ex–husband’s regret
you think that was the right choice?”
Pouting, Oliver retorted, “It’s not like I bothered anyone else!”
“Okay,” Evelyn said calmly, “but hitting someone isn’t acceptable. Do you agree?”
Oliver glanced sideways at Edward, who remained silent, a storm brewing behind his eyes. “He just underestimated me. I couldn’t let him walk all over me.”
“Right,” Evelyn said, her patience thinning. “Have you apologized?”
He nodded. “I did, when the teacher called us to the side.”
Evelyn turned to Edward, who looked furious, crossed arms emphasizing his displeasure. “Edward, I’m really sorry for his behavior. He didn’t mean to be unfair, and he promises to be better.”
Edward glared at her, his expression unyielding. “He did apologize, but I’m not accepting it. Maybe you can apologize when my uncle gets here later. He might appreciate it more.”
Evelyn’s heart sank at the idea of facing another adult over this incident. She motioned for Oliver to return to the wall and offered another apology to the teacher before taking a seat, awaiting Edward’s uncle.
The minutes dragged on, tension thickening the air until a sharp knock broke the silence.
“Thomas, Edward Ashford’s guardian is here,” a staff member announced.
With an unsettling feeling, Evelyn watched as the door opened, revealing a tall, imposing figure. When she met his icy gaze, her stomach dropped.
Alexander stood there, his demeanor all business. His eyes locked with hers, lifting an unbearable weight in the room she felt like a deer caught in headlights, paralyzed by his presence.
“Let’s talk inside,” Thomas suggested, stepping back to allow Alexander entry.
As he entered, the spacious office suddenly felt stifling. Evelyn’s palms grew clammy as she focused on the wall, heart racing while Oliver awkwardly inches away, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air.
Oliver, however, was unphased. He twisted in his seat to stare up at Alexander with wide, unyielding eyes that sparkled with curiosity.
“Who’s the big guy?” he seemed to ask with his stare, unafraid of the intimidating aura surrounding him
Spotting the resemblance, Alexander’s expression softened slightly as he caught Oliver’s gaze. The chill in the air receded just a bit, but the tension persisted.
As the classroom teacher relayed the details of the fight, Alexandra’s penetrating gaze never left Evelyn. She held his stare, refusing to back away, a flicker of defiance in her eyes.
“Maybe it’s time for both parents to say what they need to,” Thomas interjected, sensing the electric atmosphere. “I have another class to teach soon, so-”
“Let the boys return to class. I need to speak with her alone,” Alexander interjected coolly, his voice dripping with authority.
Thomas nodded, quickly dismissing the boys. As Oliver walked past, he stopped and faced Alexander, defiantly
Ex–husband’s regret
gaze, her stomach dropped.
Alexander stood there, his demeanor all business. His eyes locked with hers, lifting an unbearable weight in the room – she felt like a deer caught in headlights, paralyzed by his presence.
“Let’s talk inside,” Thomas suggested, stepping back to allow Alexander entry.
As he entered, the spacious office suddenly felt stifling. Evelyn’s palms grew clammy as she focused on the wall, heart racing while Oliver awkwardly inches away, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air.
Oliver, however, was unphased. He twisted in his seat to stare up at Alexander with wide, unyielding eyes that sparkled with curiosity.
“Who’s the big guy?” he seemed to ask with his stare, unafraid of the intimidating aura surrounding him.
Spotting the resemblance, Alexander’s expression softened slightly as he caught Oliver’s gaze. The chill in the air receded just a bit, but the tension persisted.
As the classroom teacher relayed the details of the fight, Alexandra’s penetrating gaze never left Evelyn. She held his stare, refusing to back away, a flicker of defiance, in her eyes.
“Maybe it’s time for both parents to say what they need to,” Thomas interjected, sensing the electric atmosphere. “I have another class to teach soon, so-
“Let the boys return to class. I need to speak with her alone,” Alexander interjected coolly, his voice dripping with authority.
Thomas nodded, quickly dismissing the boys. As Oliver walked past, he stopped and faced Alexander, defiantly challenging him. “Just so you know, it was me who hit your nephew, not my mom. If you yell at her, you’ll regret it.”
With that, he turned and walked out, leaving Evelyn shaken. Alexander’s lips curved slightly at Oliver’s bravado, a hint of pride swelling in his chest.
This fierce little boy, he thought. No doubt he was his blood.
