Lara relayed to Liam everything Jovie had told her. As Liam listened, the pieces fell into place, and he grasped the full scope of the situation. On the other end of the line, Lara was met with silence. She mistook Liam's quiet for a sign of guilt. Before Liam could say a word in his defense, Lara pressed on, "Mr. Cole, as Jovie's teacher, I have to say, the way you're handling this isn't right. You can't just tell fibs around a child. She's young, and she believes what you say."I get it, you want to be her hero and make her proud. However, that doesn't mean you should mislead her. Honestly, this approach to parenting isn't working." Lara paused, taking a deep breath before she continued with heartfelt concern, "Mr. Cole, you really can't go on like this. You've got to set the right example. Teaching her to lie? That's going to hurt her, now and down the road." Liam cut in before she could say more, his voice calm and steady, "Ms. Lara, I appreciate your good intentions, but I as
Liam hung up and glanced at the untouched dinner on the table, letting out a weary sigh.He's the Commander-in-chief of Pendragon. Why should he have to play pretend?Recalling what a man said at the school gate when he picked up Jovie, Liam let out a disdainful laugh. If it was a show they wanted at that parent-teacher conference, he would give them one they would not forget.Celena had spent the previous evening comforting Jovie, and it had taken a while to lift her spirits.The following morning, after a family breakfast, Celena left early for the office. She mentioned the company was swamped lately, with several well-running projects abruptly halted by their partners for reasons unknown.So, for the past few days, Celena had been buried in work, heading to the office early and staying late into the night.After waving goodbye to Celena, Liam turned to see Jovie, her little backpack on, sitting quietly on the couch, her mood still downcast.With a smile, Liam said, "Come on,
Calum stepped out of the vehicle as Liam and Jovie appeared. He was decked out in his dark uniform, looking every bit the upright soldier."Sir!" he said with a salute.Knowing Liam had a parent-teacher conference at Jovie's school, Calum had donned his uniform for the occasion, though he had left off the epaulets to keep things low-key.Jovie beamed at the sight of Calum, waving enthusiastically. "Uncle Calum, good morning!"Calum's stern face melted into a warm smile at the sight of Jovie. "Good morning, Jovie!" he greeted her with the same affection.Liam cradled Jovie in his arms as he approached the car, turning to Calum with a question, "Is everything set?" Calum swung open the back door of the vehicle, answering, "All set. Five hundred of Drunham City's finest are ready and waiting. Kolten has been alerted too. He's dropped everything and can head to the school on a moment's notice." Liam gave a nod, settled Jovie into the car, and declared, "Alright, let's roll out."
Then, the boy who had knocked Jovie down and laughed at her yesterday stepped forward with a chilling smirk. "No need to keep calling, sir. Jovie's a big fat liar. She's probably too chicken to show up today."The moment the words were out, peals of laughter echoed through Jovie's classroom."Seriously, hahaha, the so-called King of Bragging must be too chicken to show his face at school now.""I can't even, they're still at it with their tall tales, claiming her dad's some kind of hero. More like a bumbling bear, if you ask me.""Spot on, Jovie's nothing but a fibber, and her dad's just a plain old bodyguard.""Hahahaha..."Before long, the whole room was buzzing with kids poking fun at Jovie, and their parents, catching wind of the gossip, started to see Jovie in a different light, chiming in with their own two cents."I got it straight from my son—the kid's dad is nothing more than a bodyguard, and he's been strutting around school, puffing his chest out.""Yeah, my kid told
Mr. Reynolds knew all too well that Jovie was just a kid from a run-of-the-mill family. It made no sense to him to ruffle the feathers of Drunham City's elite for her sake.He certainly was not about to cross the town's rich and powerful for an average Joe's kid!Lara, standing nearby, overheard Mr. Reynolds could not help but furrow her brow, whispering, "Mr. Reynolds, she's just started school. Isn't this kind of harsh?"Mr. Reynolds dabbed at the sweat on his brow, snorted with a sneer, and shot Lara a withering look. "Lara, are you challenging my authority? Remember, I'm the principal here. What's so bad about what we're doing, anyway? You think we should get on the bad side of all these VIPs over some nobody? You think we can handle that kind of heat?"Without giving Lara a chance to retort, he waved his hand dismissively and said, "Enough, I've made up my mind. Ms. Devens, get to the office and whip up an expulsion notice. Put it up on the bulletin board—better yet, slap it o
A bunch of parents were already hustling their kids toward the school's front gates, hoping to be the first to shake hands with the big shot as soon as they got out of the car.Mr. Reynolds and company had sprinted to the entrance early, standing off to the side with polite smiles plastered on their faces, eagerly awaiting the arrival.They had no clue which parent could possibly draw such a crowd of Drunham City's garrison soldiers for protection, but it was clear they were no ordinary people.As the sleek black sedan inched closer to the school, the crowd buzzed with guesses. Could it actually be Malcolm gracing the Guiding Star School with his presence?However, the folks gathered knew better, Malcolm's kid had been in high school for ages, and the Guiding Star School was an exclusive school for just the little ones, kindergarten through elementary.While Mr. Reynolds and the onlookers were busy guessing, the sedan had already glided to a halt right before their eyes.The few
'So, who exactly is he?'Just as everyone was speculating, the little boy who pushed Jovie suddenly shouted from within the crowd, "I know who those people are. It's that liar Jovie and her dad!"This little boy was doted on like a little prince since he was born. When he saw Jovie, whom he mocked before, arriving at school in a car bearing the Biskeland battle flag and escorted by so many armed soldiers, a surge of jealousy and resentment welled up inside him. As wealthy as his family was, he never rode in such a grand car with so many soldiers escorting him.'Why does that liar Jovie get to arrive at school in that car?'Jovie herself said her father was just a bodyguard. The boy could not stand the thought that the daughter of a mere bodyguard could have such a grand entourage when he never experienced anything like it. His jealousy made his face flush red.As soon as the boy shouted, everyone's eyes turned to him and his parents, and at the same time, everyone learned Liam's i
The parents present, upon hearing that these people were hired by Liam, immediately sneered and scoffed mockingly. Some even righteously joined Mr. Reynolds in criticizing Liam."Mr. Reynolds is right. As a parent, how can you teach your child to lie like this?""Exactly! How can it be acceptable to teach your child to lie? No wonder my child came home yesterday saying there was a kid at school who loved to lie. Turns out it's because you taught your kid to lie!""Yes, my child said the same thing. I thought it was just kids having a squabble. I didn't expect it to be true. How can you teach your daughter this way?""With a dad like you, no wonder Jovie likes to lie. Jovie must be expelled. I don't want my child to be around bad influences like her!""I agree! Expulsion is necessary. Such people don't deserve to stay at Guiding Star School!""Expel Jovie!"...Immediately, all the parents present shouted madly.Lara stood behind Mr. Reynolds, looking at Liam and Jovie in a daz