Chapter 114
This wasn’t just any preschool – it was the kind where toddlers arrived in chauffeured Mercedes and nannies knew more about stock portfolios than playground games. The waiting list was longer than most political careers, filled with last names that opened doors and closed investigations. These little ones were born with silver spoons in their mouths, living lives of luxury and privilege, often spoiled beyond measure.
Among this group of young heirs and heiresses, it was Keen and Marvin who stood out for their manners and upbringing. Keen, at times, displayed a hint of arrogance, but Marvin was remarkably down-to-earth and approachable. The teachers at the preschool adored Marvin, especially after learning that he didn’t have a mother, which only deepened their affection for him. Marvin was known to be well-behaved and exceptionally bright, making it hard to believe he would ever tell a lie.
The thought lingered: if Marvin was so fiercely defending someone, that person must be worth it, right? Meanwhile, it was common knowledge that Keen’s father treated his mother with a cold indifference. Their rare conversations were laced with criticism. Keen even went so far as to refer to his own mother as if she were just a nanny, rather than his parent.
This led to whispers among the staff and parents, casting curious glances toward Haynes and Rachel. Could it be that a mistress had driven Keen’s mother away, leaving Keen to be influenced by her manipulations? No wonder his attitude towards his mother was so poor.
Rachel, feeling the weight of these judgmental stares, felt a growing resentment towards Stella. Marvin’s words had touched Stella deeply. She had only cared for Marvin for a short while, yet he was already so loyal to her, whereas Keen, whom she had raised for much longer, greeted her with hostility.
Haynes’ gaze could have flash-frozen the room. “Stella, didn’t you hear Keen say this kid has been secretly bullying him? Sending him all sorts of provocative pictures?”
“I know Keen’s character,” Haynes continued, his gaze piercing through Marvin. “He wouldn’t dislike someone for no reason. Marvin isn’t as innocent as he seems.”
Stella’s brow furrowed. She knew Keen well; she had practically raised him. He was usually well-mannered and it was unlike him to speak so rudely in public.
Turning to Marvin, Stella asked gently, “Marvin, can you tell me what’s really going on?”
Marvin, feeling wronged, said, “I didn’t send Keen any provocative pictures. Those were just pictures I posted on the preschool app.”
Stella looked puzzled. “Preschool app?”
One of the teachers quickly explained, “It’s our preschool’s internal social platform. We use it to share event announcements. Every child has their own account to post updates, fostering social interaction among them. But it’s private -only accessible to our teachers and students.”
Ah, it was like their own little Facebook for kindergarteners.
“Marvin, can I see your phone?” Stella asked softly.
Marvin obediently handed over his phone. Stella skimmed through Marvin’s posts. Sure enough, Marvin had been posting updates regularly. A slew of comments followed each post, with kids expressing envy or excitement, saying things like, “Wow, that looks delicious!” or “Your mom is amazing!”
One comment stood out: “Did your mom make all that?”
Marvin had replied, “Yes, my mom made all of it!”
Marvin explained in a small voice, “The other kids always post about the yummy things their moms make. I’ve never known what my mom looks like, and I didn’t want them to know I didn’t have a mom…so I just posted those pictures.”