Chapter 155
“I’m paying for my kid to be in preschool to learn, not to be summoned here every other day for a scolding. If your preschool can’t even handle conflicts between kids, you might as well shut down and stop wasting everyone’s time.”
The preschool teachers, silent as mice, didn’t dare raise their heads. These children were treated like royalty; you couldn’t raise a hand or voice to them. The only recourse was to call the parents.
But in front of Neville, the teachers didn’t dare deflect blame and could only manage a weak smile.
“You’re absolutely right, Mr. Connolly. We’ll make sure to improve.”
Neville nodded, handing an envelope to Stella. “Here, this is for you.”
Stella took it, barely glancing inside to know what it was all about. “Thank you.”
Neville gave Marvin a glance, saying, “Stella has some things to take care of. How about you come home with me today?”
Marvin nodded obediently, “Okay, Stella. I’ll head home with Dad today. We can practice piano again tomorrow.”
“Alright.” Stella waved him off with a smile as Marvin and Neville left. The teachers dispersed shortly after.
As the place cleared out, Stella turned to Haynes. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Haynes nodded, “Let’s discuss it back home.”
This wasn’t the place for a conversation, and Stella didn’t argue.
…
After leaving the preschool, they walked to Haynes’ car.
Haynes looked at Rachel’s swollen face. “I’ll take you home first. Do you want to head back or stop by the hospital?”
Rachel quickly replied, “Haynie, you and Ms. Cameron have things to discuss. I can get home by myself just fine.”
Haynes’ voice was firm, “Get in the car.”
Rachel considered protesting but saw the stern look on his face and swallowed her words.
Fortunately, Stella needed to talk to Haynes, which gave her time to think of an excuse to smooth things over.
Rachel opened the front passenger door, intending to sit there, when Haynes’ deep voice stopped her. “You sit in the back.”
Rachel paused, a flicker of jealousy passing through her eyes, but she maintained her usual sweet demeanor. “Alright.”
She opened the back door and gestured to Keen, “Keen, hop in.”
“Thanks, Ms. Pearce,” Keen said politely.
Rachel clenched her fingers.
Whenever Keen got suspicious, he’d switch to calling her Ms. Pearce and keep his distance. If it weren’t for Stella, she would have already won Keen over. But now, both father and son were pulling away and getting more suspicious. Her resentment towards Stella just kept growing.
Stella climbed into the front passenger seat.
As she was about to buckle up, she noticed a label marking the spot as someone’s special seat.
She paused, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. So, this was Rachel’s designated spot?
Before Rachel came into the picture, Stella rarely went out with Haynes, let alone rode in his car.
Even when she did, she’d usually sit in the back with Keen.
Spotting the label, Stella’s eyes swept the interior, taking in the details.
She saw a car charm that was a good luck token and a trinket clearly gifted by a woman, along with a cute-patterned floor mat. She even caught a whiff of a familiar scent she’d smelled on Rachel before.
It suddenly struck Stella how much the car reeked of another woman’s presence, making her feel queasy.