Chapter 17
The parents in the auditorium were glued to their phones, buzzing about the online uproar,
“The school is trending!”
“Madam Foster’s identity has already been exposed!”
“The public really doesn’t miss a thing. They didn’t know Mr. Fisher got a divorce, but they could immediately tell Niamh is the mistress.”
“I can’t stand Niamh Jones either. She’s always draping herself over my husband.”
“Just two nights ago, when I went to pick up my drunk husband, she was sitting on Mr. Pitt’s lap. Then, she casually tossed her bra onto Mr. Cox’s face. My husband swears they were just messing around.”
As the parents gossiped animatedly, Ethel turned on the director, Peter Manford, and snapped, “Shut down the livestream now! If the Fisher family’s reputation is tarnished, I’ll sue you!”
Peter wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Madam Foster, I’ve already cut the feed.”
The events that had unfolded earlier left Peter scrambling. By the time he regained his composure and stopped the broadcast, the footage of Ethel threatening to expel Bambi had already aired.
The principal, James Osborne’s phone was ringing off the hook, and he quickly stepped forward to diffuse the situation. “Let’s put this behind us, everyone. Time to disperse!”
James then signaled the teachers to usher parents out of the auditorium.
Ethel scoffed but held back her fury. While Bambi was her granddaughter, and she wouldn’t hold a grudge against her, she had no intention of letting Elara off the hook
“Bambi, I know you don’t really want to leave the Fisher family. I’ll give you one more chance to decide–do you want to stay with your mother or your father?”
Bambi’s gaze steadied. Her voice was unwavering as she said, “I want to stay with Mommy.‘
Ethel shot Elara a cold glare, silently warning her not to manipulate Bambi’s decision.
“Bambi, you’re just feeling sorry for your mother, aren’t you? You don’t want her to be lonely, so that’s why you’re leaving with her, right?“!
When Ethel learned Harvey had signed the divorce papers, he flew into a rage, breaking several household items in her fury. Today, she had come to the school specifically to teach Elara a lesson.
“That’s not true,” Bambi denied without hesitation.
Ethel gave her a knowing look. “I understand. You don’t want to upset your mom by saying it in front of her.”
Bambi’s voice rang out firmly, “Mommy was always tired and pitiful in that house. But the reason I’m leaving with her is because I don’t like that house either!”
The auditorium bustled with people, though many lingered nearby, straining their ears to catch gossip about the Fisher family.
Ethel’s face turned stony. “You’re the eldest daughter of the Fisher family! You’ve lived a life of luxury since birth. How could you not like it?”
She glared sharply at Elara, convinced Bambi’s thoughts were Elara’s doing
Chapter 17
+25 DONUS
Bambi glanced at Beau and declared, “I never felt things were fair at home!”
“What?” Ethel immediately let out a laugh before continuing, “Have we ever deprived you of food or clothes?”
Bambi pressed on, “Beau and I are both Daddy’s children. Why is he the only one being groomed as an heir?:
Ethel responded firmly, “Because you’re a girl!”
To her, Bambi’s question was naïve and ridiculous.
“Beau has private tutors coming to the house every weekend and holiday, but I don’t. If I try to join his lessons, he chases me away!”
Before Bambi could finish, Beau shouted, “That’s because you distract me!”
Ethel frowned. “Didn’t we allow you to attend lessons if you wanted to?”
“But during the classes, the teachers only focused on Beau When I asked questions, they told me I didn’t need to know so much.”
“You’re a girl! The teachers were being considerate, and you don’t even appreciate it!” Ethel’s expression turned disdainful.
Bambi gripped Elara’s hand tightly and declared, “I want to stay with Mommy. She can teach me so much more- even the things those private tutors refuse to!”