Chapter 197

The sun cast long shadows across the playground as Sophia Montgomery clenched her fists.

"Mr. and Mrs. Dawson donated 200,000 dollars to our kindergarten," Teacher Wei explained hesitantly. "So, regarding the incident with Lily—"

Sophia cut her off sharply. "Are you saying if we don’t apologize, my daughter will be expelled?"

Teacher Wei shifted uncomfortably. "It’s… not that simple. Even if Lily leaves, she must still apologize."

"Why?" Sophia demanded, her voice rising.

"Mrs. Montgomery, your daughter did hit Mason Dawson."

"I want to see the footage." Sophia’s tone left no room for argument.

For five years, she had lived quietly in Willowbrook County, keeping her head down, working tirelessly. But one thing she would never tolerate was anyone bullying her daughter.

Never.

"If the video proves Lily was at fault, I’ll make her apologize," Sophia said firmly.

"Show her!" Oliver Dawson, Mason’s father, bellowed. "Let her see what her brat did!"

Teacher Wei reluctantly pulled up the security footage.

The scene unfolded exactly as Sophia expected.

Mason had sneered at Lily, taunting her for not having a father. He mocked Sophia’s past imprisonment and her labor-intensive job at the construction site.

"This isn’t a place for bastards like you," Mason had jeered. "This is an elite kindergarten, funded by my grandfather. You don’t belong here."

Then, in a flash of fury, Lily punched him square in the nose.

Blood dripped onto Mason’s designer shirt.

Oliver Dawson shot up from his chair, face purple with rage. "You and your brat will kneel and apologize right now, or you won’t leave this school alive!"

His threat hung in the air, thick with menace.

Sophia barely suppressed a smirk as Lily, unnoticed, tugged Oliver’s swivel chair away.

Oliver sat down hard—and crashed onto the floor with a yelp.

Sophia couldn’t help it. She laughed.

Then, cool as ice, she met Oliver’s glare. "I’ve seen the footage. Your son insulted my daughter first. Maybe teach him some manners before pointing fingers."

She took Lily’s hand and turned to leave.

"You bitch!" Oliver roared from the ground. "Walk out that door, and I’ll ruin you! You’ll be begging on the streets!"

Lily flinched, her small fingers tightening around Sophia’s.

Sophia knelt, cupping her daughter’s face. "Don’t be afraid. Mommy won’t let them hurt you."

Then she turned back, her voice razor-sharp. "Try it. This is a lawful society. Lay a finger on us, and I’ll sue this kindergarten into the ground. How long do you think your father-in-law’s sponsorship will last then?"

Oliver and his wife paled.

Sophia strode out, head high.

"You’ll regret this!" Oliver screamed after her.

Sophia didn’t look back. "Thug."

Life in Willowbrook was hard. The economy was weak, but the bullies were relentless.

Sophia, an outsider with a disabled brother and a child to raise, had faced worse.

As she buckled Lily into their battered car, her phone rang.

Lucas Grayson’s name flashed on the screen.

"Mr. Grayson," she answered briskly. "Do you need me to come back for overtime? I’ll drop Lily home first."

Lucas’s voice was smooth, almost warm. "Sophia, your structural designs are exceptional—better than engineers with decades of experience. I wanted to take you to dinner tonight, but we’ve just secured a major investor. I’m tied up with meetings."

A pause. Then, softer:

"Perhaps another time? With this expansion, there’ll be more opportunities for you."

Sophia’s grip tightened on the wheel.

Lucas had asked her out before. She’d always refused.

But this time, with her job potentially on the line…

She hesitated.

Five years had passed since she fled Harborview City.

Five years of nightmares—her decade there, from school to prison, still haunting her.

She wouldn’t go back.

Not even for a dinner.

"Mr. Grayson," she said finally, "let’s keep this professional."

She hung up before he could respond.

The past was a ghost she couldn’t outrun.

But for Lily, she’d fight any battle.

Even against the Dawsons.

Even against her own demons.