Laura’s POV 110
I look at her, she is like a good little cat snuggling beside me, heartbreaking.
Sensitive and stubborn children are always heartbreaking.
I patted her little face and let her lie down under the quilt. That night there was a typhoon, the wind was howling outside, and the tree branches were banging on the windows. Willow and I chatted all night long under the quilt, while Cameron acted as our back-up soldier, providing us with snacks and refreshments non-stop.
I don’t know how long we talked before we drifted off to sleep, and within two or three hours it was dawn. I looked back at Willow, who was still sleeping soundly, and couldn’t help but smile.
I went downstairs to the restroom, but I didn’t expect to see Cameron when I opened the door.
He too had been up all night, but was in high spirits.
“Just let her sleep a little longer.” He looked in, “She’s usually used to missing school anyway, it’s not like it’s going to be a bad day.”
I stretched my back, “It’s still good to be a student, you can go to class if you want to, you can’t if you don’t want to, unlike bitter people like us who are running for our lives, even if we stayed up all night, we still go to work with a stiff upper lip!”
“You could have chosen not to labor and run around.” He looked at me, “But you had to …”
I put my head down and ran downstairs in a huff.
Breakfast was already set on the living room table. Cucumber sandwiches, scrambled eggs, and Earl Grey tea.
“You can go to work after you eat.” Cameron says, “I’ll take care of it here.”
I grin, “What do you want to do with her?”
“What else?” He shrugs, “Take care of this great lady’s breakfast and send her home!”
“Ah, that …”
“And you’ll take her in for the rest of her life?” Cameron grimaced, “She’ll have to go home sooner or later, she can’t use this place as a haven! Besides, if you leave her here in private, what will her parents think when they find out? With Rafael’s kind of character, she might report you to the police for abducting a minor!”
I was stunned, I hadn’t thought of that.
Willow was still a minor, and her every move was still under the supervision of her guardian.
“That’s why I told you to stay away from The Denoble Family!” Cameron glared at me indignantly, “You just don’t listen! Sooner or later you’re going to get in trouble!”
I scowled and ate everything on my plate.
After I got to school, I was still worried about the situation at home. Once Willow woke up and saw Cameron’s fierce face, what should she do? Will she go home obediently …
But in Cameron’s hands, even the most stubborn child will be changed for the better.
I was about to go to lunch when I heard a coworker call out to me, “Ms. Laura, the principal wants you to come over.”
“The principal?”
“Yes, looking for you in a hurry, I don’t know what’s up.”
I was a little apprehensive. With this principal, we have only met twice in total. The first time was when I joined the school, and the second time was at the school orientation. I only had a little weak impression of her, an old lady with a kind face, who was rumored to have been the driving force behind many first-tier stars in the past.
I knocked gently on the door, and from inside came a gentle, “Come in.”
“Principal Audie, you wanted to see me?” I nodded slightly.
She removes her gold-rimmed glasses, her face calm, and gently gestures to the chair across the table, “Have a seat.”
“What did Principal Audie want to see me about?”
Principal Audie did not beat around the bush, “A student’s parent has sued me, saying that you are leading the students astray. I came to you today to find out what’s going on.”
I was shocked to hear that.
Leading students astray?
I never thought such an irresponsible word would come to me!
“Principal,” I froze for a while, “I wonder which parent said that? I’ve been teaching for the past six months or so, I don’t dare to take credit for it, but I can say with a clear conscience that I’ve been dedicated to my teaching duties, and I’ve been conscientious and responsible for my students! How did I bring down the students?”
“You take it easy for a moment.” Principal Audie waved her hand, “Tell me first, have you been getting close to Willow lately?”
It dawned on me that the one who was here to tell me off was none other than Willow’s dad!
No wonder Cameron told me to stay away from The Denoble Family …
I bit my lip and nodded softly, “Yes.”
“What have you been teaching her?”
“What else could I have taught her?” That’s funny, “Something’s going on in her family, she’s got a strained relationship with her father, she’s in a bad mood, I’m just enlightening her!”
“Enlighten?” She frowned, “But to that parent, you weren’t exactly enlightening. He said you educated his daughter, that daddy’s home didn’t belong to her!”
“Was I wrong?” I asked rhetorically, “That in itself is her father’s home, and parents raise their children only until they are eighteen. After adulthood the child is supposed to find her own way!”
“That’s right in theory!” Principal Audie straightened and tapped the table, “But how many parents do that now? How many kids don’t depend on their families after they turn eighteen? Ms. Laura, Willow’s father thinks you’re abetting her to run away from home! And you tolerated her all night, didn’t you?”
“I …”
I was suddenly at a loss for words, and all I could understand at this point was the phrase, “It’s not a matter of desire, it’s a matter of guilt.”
“It wasn’t a crime of desire,” the principal sighed, “He had a point, and if I hadn’t stopped him, he’d have sued you, I’m afraid!”
“Heh, that’s the first time I’ve seen such an unreasonable parent!” I sneer, “Bossy and unreasonable! No wonder Willow can’t stand him. If it were me, I’d leave home too! What’s the big deal about being rich and powerful?”
I feel sad that Willow was born into this kind of family, and I also feel sad for myself. Last night I was also a strong persuade her that her father had bitter feelings, her father had no choice … to turn out not to be so. She was right, her father is a person who can not get along.
“You quickly stop saying that, Ms. Laura.” The principal looked at me helplessly, “You were introduced to me by President George, and Boss Rafael is a friend of President George, I see that there is still room to ease this matter.”
“To de-escalate how?” I smirked, “Want me to apologize and admit that I’m a bad judge of character and brought down the students? And then just let it go? Heh, I’m not taking the blame for that one!”
“I wasn’t wrong.” I said with a straight face, “I only took Willow in because I felt sorry for her, and when I enlightened her with those words, I was only trying to help her get unstuck. My only fault is that I shouldn’t have gotten involved in this mess!”
“Ms. Laura …”
“Forget it!” I let out a long sigh, “Principal Audie you don’t have to be embarrassed. The best solution to this matter is for me to resign! Only if I leave will this fiasco completely die down. As long as I’m still in this school, this matter will definitely not end!”
The principal tightened his brows and fell silent.
I didn’t expect to lose my job in this way.
And my biggest regret is that I didn’t wait for the chance to meet Sunny …
“It’s settled.” I said softly, “I’ll do my exit formalities this afternoon.”
“Ms. Laura!” The door was suddenly pushed open and a voice came, “No, you can’t leave!”
It was Willow!
She rushed in, with an anxious face and tears in her eyes, and stormed over to my side, tugging on my arm tightly.
“Ms. Laura, you … you don’t have to go …”
I was somewhat touched. This child at least knows how to be grateful, distinguishing between good and bad, much better than her father.
“Teacher Laura, I’m sorry.” She lowered her head, “I didn’t know that my father had come to the principal, if I had known, I would have stopped him. Ms. Laura don’t go, no one has ever treated me like you … I can’t let you go!”
“Willow, stop it.” I touched her face, “This has nothing to do with you, it’s me who wants to quit. I … I want to go back and rest for a while too.”
“Don’t you lie to me!”
“I didn’t tell lies …”
Willow didn’t listen to my explanation, shook me off and rushed at Principal Audie, “Please, don’t listen to my dad! He’s used to being cocky and arrogant, he’s often indiscriminate! Ms. Laura is not wrong, I can listen to every word she teaches me, such a good teacher,, you can’t fire her!”
“Willow!” I pulled her back, “It’s not the school that fired me, it’s the teacher herself who wants to quit!”
“Okay, you go home first.” I said lightly, “I’ll call you when I’m done with this.”
“No!” She suddenly screamed like crazy.
“You all said so, you’d call me when you were done! But any of you have kept your promises!”
“Willow …”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
“Anyway, I’m not letting you go this time!” Willow took my arm and wailed and cried, “It’s my fault … or I’d better quit school, I won’t give you any trouble!”
“What did you say?” A stern voice suddenly came from the doorway.
I followed the voice and looked over, only to see that the one who walked in was an imposing middle-aged man. He was in his forties, but well maintained, with a well-proportioned body, tall, and a naturally suave demeanor that permeated his body.
His eyebrows resembled Willow’s for a few moments, both being of the valiant type.
I guessed that this was Rafael, Willow’s father.
“What did you say? Tell me again!” His voice was loud as thunder, “Trying to quit school? Heh, let me ask you, how many times have you changed schools? How many things have you learned in these years of middle school? Do you have to fight me in this way? Do you have to risk your own future? Where exactly have I wronged you!”
“It’s Mr. Rafael, isn’t it?” I looked at him silently.
He narrows his eyes.
The man was somewhat similar to Cameron when he narrowed his eyes, both resembling a sly, ferocious wolf, with if anything a smile on his lips.
“You’re ….”
“I’m Laura.”
“Heh, so that’s you!” He glanced at me with disdain and sneered, “You’re the one who taught my daughter those crooked ideas? You’re the one who taught her to stay out at night?”
“Mr. Rafael …”
I was about to defend myself when Willow slammed across between me and her father, “I don’t need you to mind my business! I’m telling you, if Ms. Laura can’t stay in this school, I won’t either. Principal Audie is here, you can ask her how many unexcused absences she’s accumulated, which is the same as voluntarily giving up her school status!”
“You …”
“Splat!” A loud slap landed on Willow’s face.
I was stunned, so this is how Rafael usually disciplines his daughter?
“Mr. Rafael, please mind your manners!” Principal Audie couldn’t stand it either, “This is my office!”
Willow covered half of her face, her icy eyes staring at him intently, unable to believe that this was the way a daughter would look at her father.
“Mr. Rafael, Principal Audie is right, this is her office after all.” I say, “I think there may be some misunderstanding between us, I wonder if Mr. Rafael could set aside a little time and we could talk?”
Rafael gives me an indignant look and heads for the door.
I lead them to a cafe near the school.
At first the three men sat around the table in endless silence. It’s only later when Willow offers to go to the convenience store and get a sandwich back for dinner that I get a chance to talk to Rafael alone.
“First of all I’m sorry.” I looked at him, “I didn’t realize that a few words of enlightenment about Willow would cause such a misunderstanding with you guys.”
“Heh,” the condescending man sneered, “Ms. Laura, I think you’re taking it too far. Our Willow was an obedient and honest boy before he met you!”
“Obedient?” I shook my head and laughed, “You know better than I do what she’s really like.”
“Tell me, what exactly is your agenda?” He stared at me closely, “Did you stray from us father and daughter, was it at the behest of someone?”
Hearing this made me angry and amused.
This man was simply too arrogant and cocky to communicate, so why should I even bother being insulted here?
I stood up and pressed the money for my coffee under my cup.
“Mr. Rafael, I don’t think there’s much point in us talking anymore!” I looked at him undaunted, “Maybe in the eyes of someone in a position of power like you, everyone else has an agenda no matter what they do, even if it’s just a good intention! But I’ll tell you, I’m not unseen, what you have, I’ve had, and what I have, I’m afraid you’ve never seen!”
“Mr. Rafael, I love Willow with all my heart, and believe it or not, we shall not see each other again! If I really had any purpose to separate you, I wouldn’t be standing in front of you right now, suffering this kind of aggravation for no reason!”
With that said I headed out the door, not realizing that Rafael was coming up behind me. “Wait!”
I glared at him.
His complexion eased quite a bit, “Ms. Laura … just now my words offended, it was my fault. Now could you please sit down and let’s talk about it?”
“Is that even necessary?” I sneered.
He curved the corners of his mouth, “I’d like to wash my hands of what exactly is it that you have that I haven’t seen before?”
I was stunned, suddenly infected by this smile of his.
I sat down gently and Rafael reordered my coffee.
“You should be able to tell,” he said softly after a long time, “Willow is a problem child.”
“I don’t agree with you,” I said, “There’s nothing wrong with the kid, it’s the parents who have the problem.”
“With all due respect, I’ve been in contact with Willow over the past few days, and she’s told me a lot about your family. I know you’re getting remarried to a very young celebrity whose mother is in Auropean and won’t see her once in a couple of years. Have you thought about how she feels? From her point of view, each parent has a home and this is abandoning her!”
“I never left her alone!” Rafael aggravated.
“But have you ever communicated properly with her? Sit down, like we did, and communicate as equals?”
“Meh,” he was full of it, “she’s just a kid!”
“You’re wrong, she’s not a kid! She’ll be eighteen in two years, she has an independent mind and personality, you can’t treat her like a child!”