Chapter 153
His voice faltered, and suddenly his expression turned icy, an intimidating aura enveloping him.
“Do you really think anyone can bully my son?”
The kindergarten teachers fell silent, as if a chilling breeze had swept through the
room.
They hadn’t seen Neville often, but knew well enough that children attending this preschool came from affluent, influential families.
Yet in Neo-Vespera, Haynes was a force to be reckoned with, someone nobody dared challenge. He had personally shown up at the preschool multiple times to defend Keen.
In the eyes of the teachers, the scales were clearly tipping in Keen’s favor.
Just moments ago, they were gently suggesting to Stella that perhaps she should consider another preschool, separating the two children.
But now, seeing Marvin’s father, they understood that he was a man not to be taken lightly.
In the conversation, without much effort, Neville managed to pull Stella’s hand free from Haynes’ grip.
Deprived of Haynes’ restraint, Stella swiftly slapped Rachel several more times, causing her to scream in pain.
Haynes frowned, attempting to intervene, but found himself meeting Neville’s amused gaze. He hesitated, stepping in front of Rachel.
“Stella, that’s enough!”
Stella withdrew her hand, which was starting to go numb from the slaps, and without even glancing at Haynes, said coldly, “Rachel, apologize.”
Rachel was on the verge of losing it. What a humiliation.
She had never suffered such indignity in her entire life!
“Haynie, she hit me! She actually dared to hit me!” Rachel’s eyes burned with anger, her usual fair and pleasant face now twisted with rage. “Don’t let her off easy! You absolutely can’t let her get away with this!”
Keen, watching Rachel’s frenzied state, instinctively took a few steps back. The woman who was usually as gentle as a fairy suddenly seemed terrifying.
Haynes spoke in a low, steady voice, “Rachel, calm down.”
Rachel clung to Haynes’ arm and whined, “Haynie, aren’t you going to defend me?”
Marvin’s childish voice cut through, “Yeah, Mr. O’Brien, aren’t you going to stand up for Stella? Ms. Pearce deliberately twisted our rescue into something malicious. And she lied to Keen, saying you didn’t want Keen and Stella to get along. Now I finally understand why Stella and Keen’s relationship is so strained. It’s because…” He glanced at Rachel and added, “This lady keeps feeding Keen nonsense.”
Haynes’ dark eyes clouded, sharp as a hawk’s, turning towards Keen.
Keen lowered his head, unable to meet Haynes’ gaze.
Haynes was quick to piece things together. He had already started to suspect something when Keen had let something slip earlier. But in the presence of the teachers, he didn’t want to embarrass Rachel, so he hadn’t brought it up, intending to discuss it with Keen later.
Now that the issue was out in the open, Haynes could no longer ignore it.
He was silent for a few seconds before saying to Rachel, “Rachel, apologize.”
Rachel looked at Haynes in disbelief, “Haynie, what did you say?”
Haynes repeated coolly, “Apologize to Marvin and Stella.”
“Haynie?!”
Looking into Rachel’s eyes, Haynes enunciated each word, “I’m saying this for the
last time: apologize to Marvin and Stella.”