Revenge Is a Mother's Gift

I couldn't be bothered with the gossip. Instead, I shot a cold glare at Elaine. "Help out? You're impersonating me as my daughter's mother.

"That's considered helping out?"

I turned to Joanna and said, "I need you to pull Natalie's enrollment record up now, Ms. Wimbleton!"

Joanna looked flustered. "We can't just show you the students' record, ma'am. And according to our records, Ms. Marshall is the registered guardian. She even provided an enrollment authorization form signed by you, so we…"

"I'm Natalie's biological mother! And I've never signed any authorization form. Is this what you call thorough verification in your school?"

My demand made Joanna's face flush crimson.

By then, Elaine's tears had started falling. "Please don't put Ms. Wimbleton in a tough spot, Whitney. It's all my fault for not explaining things to her properly.

"I'll call Arnold and get him to talk to you." She pulled her phone out with trembling hands, making it look as if I was the bully here.

I coldly chuckled. "Sure, get him to come over then! I'd like to hear him explain this to me!"

The call was connected shortly after, and Elaine started speaking through sobs. Her voice was just the right volume to ensure the surrounding crowd could hear her.

"Come quickly, Arnold! Whitney… doesn't believe me. She even said that I impersonated her as Natalie's mother and insisted on checking the records. She's putting the teachers in a tough spot now," she said as she wiped her tears away, her shoulders shaking violently.

From the other end of the line, Arnold angrily spat, "Whitney must be crazy! Make sure she stays there. I'll go over now!"

The word "crazy" rang loud and clear across the entire admissions office. Everyone's attention was now on me.

Their gaze toward Elaine was full of sympathy, while they looked at me with disgust.

After ending the call, Elaine timidly looked at me. "Arnold is coming over now, Whitney. Please don't get upset. He's only looking out for me and doesn't want me to get hurt."

Her words were a testament to everyone how close she was with Arnold.

My body shook in anger.

…

Ten minutes later, Arnold showed up.

Without sparing me a glance, he walked over to Elaine and pulled her into his embrace. He softly comforted her, saying, "Don't be afraid, Elaine. I'm here now.

"Tell me, what happened?"

Their intimacy hurt my eyes.

Elaine buried her face in Arnold's chest and choked out, "Whitney misunderstood me, Arnold…"

Only then did he turn around and shoot me a gaze full of disgust and irritation. "Are you done causing a scene, Whitney? I told you to stay home and rest. Why are you here lashing out at Elaine?"

It was as if he'd forgotten just how he had lied to me in the earlier call.

Arnold was never interested in my career. To him, my job was nothing more than a title he couldn't understand, and it was far less valuable than the numbers in my bank account.

Whenever I tried sharing my accomplishments, I was met with his annoyed comments insinuating that nobody cared about what I did.

Arnold's indifference to my life had become the very shovel he'd used to dig his own grave.

I watched his poorly-executed performance as if observing a specimen I was about to dissect.

I pointed at Elaine and asked loud and clear, "Why is she here, Arnold? And why did the teacher say she's listed as Natalie's mother?"

Arnold frowned. Panic crossed his face, but it was soon overtaken by his anger. "Elaine is my cousin. She's just trying to help. What's your problem with that?

"Natalie's enrollment process is complicated, but you're always buried in work. When have you actually taken care of her? Now, you've got the nerve to storm in here and question other people?"

His ability to twist the truth had become almost second nature.

I bitterly laughed. "I've never taken care of her? How many of Natalie's parent-teacher conferences have you attended, Arnold? I was the one who sat through the trial lessons of her extracurricular classes, and I pulled all-nighters just to put her application materials together.

"And now, you're showing up with this woman to steal my daughter's achievements, and you even have the audacity to blame me?"