“Clumsy. Just like her mom.”

The principal forced an awkward smile beside him.

Marcus continued.

“This is what happens when schools accept scholarship cases.”

I ignored him.

Instead, I looked at Dylan.

“Did you push Ava down the stairs?”

He didn’t even look up.

“So what if I did?”

My heart went cold.

“She has a broken arm.”

“Then she shouldn’t stand in my way,” he shrugged.

Marcus burst out laughing.

“That’s my boy.”

Then Marcus stood and approached me.

“Look,” he said, pulling out a checkbook. “Five thousand dollars. Take it and move your kid somewhere else.”

He smiled cruelly.

“Like mother, like daughter. Both failures.”

I didn’t take the check.

“You think this is about money?”

He smirked.

“Everything is.”

Suddenly Dylan stepped forward and shoved me.

“Leave,” he said. “My dad owns this school.”

The room fell silent.

I looked at the boy calmly.

“You just made a serious mistake.”

Chapter 3: The Recording

I pulled out my phone.

Marcus rolled his eyes.

“Oh please. Calling the police?”

“No,” I said calmly. “Just checking something.”

But the phone had been recording since I walked in.

“So,” I continued, “you admit your son pushed Ava intentionally?”

Marcus shrugged.

“He’s learning leadership.”