Chapter 19
Desmond said to James, “I just got off the plane and rushed here from the airport to handle this. If she doesn’t step down, Summit Academy won’t just lose new enrollments you’ll lose your current students too!”
James glanced at Ethel in a panic.
Ethel signaled to him with her eyes. “James, don’t forget that Fisher Corp is Summit Academy’s biggest sponsor…
James appeared torn. On one hand, he couldn’t afford to lose Fisher Corp’s financial backing. On the other hand, he couldn’t risk offending the Department of Education.
“Enough, Mom!”
Harvey’s voice was sharp, freezing the air around him. “Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough already?”
He turned to Desmond and declared, “I’ll take over my mother’s position on the board.”
The man’s presence was commanding, leaving no room for objection.
Desmond’s gaze shifted between Harvey and Elara before he chuckled. “I trust that you will be far more capable than your mother, Mr. Fisher.”
Then, Elara spoke softly to Bambi, “Let’s go.”
“Elara Jones!” Harvey’s voice called out behind her, but she didn’t respond.
“Hey! Harvey!” Ethel exclaimed as she watched her son strode out of the hall after Elara.
James noticed Desmond still looking in the direction Harvey had left. Attempting to curry favor, James said, “Mr. Fisher is one of Capitol’s brightest talents. With him as a board member, Summit Academy will surely reach new heights.”
Desmond murmured wistfully, “She was once even more exceptional…”
James paused, failing to grasp the meaning behind Desmond’s words. Not wanting to appear foolish, he refrained from asking.
Harvey reached the kindergarten parking lot just as Elara helped Bambi into the car and closed the back door. She moved to the driver’s side, but Harvey approached her before she could get in.
He was clad impeccably in a tailored suit, his long legs and lender waist gave him an air of undeniable elegance. Yet, the perpetual sternness on his face made him seem more like a debt collector than anything else.
Elara didn’t pause. She got into the driver’s seat and was about to close the door when she felt resistance. Looking
she saw Harvey’s hand gripping the door firmly.
His eyes which were cold and piercing bore into hers. “Taking Bambi away from the Fisher family will only ruin
her.”
Elara’s gaze was calm as still water as it swept over Harvey’s face. A chill seeped into his chest.
Her eyes had sparkled with fiery brightness when she loved him. Now, they were devoid of light or expectations, and her gaze left him with a crushing sense of falling from treat heights.
“On Beau’s birthday, he had an allergic reaction, didn’t he? Elara suddenly brought up the event from days ago.
“So, you knew!” Harvey retorted coldly.
Elara’s tone was firm. “I’m just telling you–if you don’t start taking responsibility as a father, Beau will be irreparably damaged.”
Harvey’s eyes narrowed, as though he could read her thoughts. “You clearly still care about Beau, but you’re intentionally ignoring him, hoping he’ll reflect on his behavior through your absence. He’s just a five–year–old boy!”
“I left the Fishers without any intention of looking back.”
Her resolve was unshakable.
Harvey took a deep breath, but the chill that entered his lungs felt like it crystallized into ice. He then pulled out a deep blue gift box from his suit pocket and extended it through the car window.
“Take it. I chose it for you,” he said.
Elara glanced at the box resting in Harvey’s hand and shook her head with a soft laugh. “Beyond what’s legally mine from our marital assets, I’ll accept nothing more from you.”
“Elara, if you keep this up, I really will divorce you!” Harvey’s tone grew impatient.
“I’m not going to hold Bambi accountable for hurting Niamh–she’s just a child. But you’re not five years
Elara!”
With a flick of his hand, the gift box landed on Elara’s lap. It was as if he were bestowing a favor upon a
subordinate.
old,
