Chapter 19: Conflict
The Jackson family was quite prominent at the kindergarten. Aside from the luxury cars used to transport their children, they also donated a large collection of children's books to the kindergarten every year.
Whenever there was a parent-child activity, the Jackson family would always attract everyone's attention. It was said that Jackson's grandfather used to be quite an important figure.
The teacher's scales tipped, and she frowned, "Sam’s Parent, you were in the wrong here. Look, you made Jackson cry."
Sophia witnessed what it was like to have no shame, to be a hypocrite who changed their stance to fit the situation, and to be unable to distinguish right from wrong. Gabriel could actually send their child to such a school.
It was unimaginable that Sam must have been subjected to constant bullying at school.
As this thought crossed Sophia's mind, her anger grew stronger. She was about to argue her case when a small hand suddenly tugged at her own.
Sophia lowered her head in confusion and looked at Sam, but in the next moment, a sharp female voice rang out.
"I'm sorry I'm late, teacher. Hello, I'm here to pick up Sam." Tiffany rushed in, slightly out of breath due to her hurried walk.
The teacher looked at her in confusion, "Are you Sam's parent?"
"Yes, here's my pick-up card." Tiffany presented her pick-up card.
After the teacher inspected it, she angrily looked at Sophia, "Then who are you?"
"I..." Sophia began.
"Miss Kelly, what are you doing here?" Tiffany exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening.
She had just been outside and had already seen Sophia.
Sophia furrowed her eyebrows slightly. Did Tiffany coming to pick up Sam mean that she had been taking care of Sam all these years? Had she even replaced her in Sam's heart?
"Oh, Mrs. White, why do you look angry? Who has upset you?" Tiffany suddenly seemed to notice that Mrs. White was angry.
Mrs. White also recognized Tiffany, after all, Tiffany had accompanied Sam to a parent-child activity before.
"Sam's mom, your child claimed that my Jackson bullied him. My Jackson is well-behaved, how could he bully his classmates? This woman was being unreasonable and forced my Jackson to apologize, making him cry. Please help us figure out what to do."
Sam's mom? Did she actually mistake Tiffany for Sam's mother?
Sophia felt extremely uncomfortable. She didn't like Tiffany, and she certainly didn't want her child to call Tiffany "mommy."
But who was to blame for her absence in her child's life for five years?
"What? This happened? I'm really sorry. My Sam doesn't talk much, it must have been a misunderstanding. Children often play around like that. Mrs. White, please don't mind. I will personally come to apologize another day."
Sophia's eyebrows furrowed even more. Tiffany was not only speaking like the teacher, but she also implicitly admitted that Sam was at fault.
Mrs. White sneered, refusing to accept the apology.
"This time, I'll let it go for your sake. It's getting late, so we should leave."
After saying that, Mrs. White left with her son, and Tiffany was about to leave with Sam. Sophia followed them and couldn't help but question.
"Is this how you and Gabriel always educate Sam, Letting him be bullied without knowing how to fight back?"
Tiffany stopped in her tracks.
"Miss Kelly, why were you at the kindergarten? Getting into conflicts with other parents, do you realize that you're causing Sam to miss out on opportunities to learn?"
"I..."
"He can't live a normal life like other children, and now he's unable to attend school properly because of you. Can you bear the consequences?"
Gabriel blamed her, and now Tiffany was reprimanding her as well. Sophia couldn't help but laugh at their accusations. Her determination to reclaim her child grew stronger.
"How do you know that I can't let him live like a normal child? And besides! You have no right to blame me."
Tiffany smiled. "I understand your mindset, but Gabriel said that you're not allowed near Sam. I'm sorry, but I have to take Sam home now."
After saying that, she opened the car door and let Sam get in. Sophia clenched her hand by her side. She wanted to snatch Sam and hold him lovingly in her arms, but for the sake of her child, she could only endure for now.
Tiffany opened the car door and was about to get in when Sophia rushed over to stop her.
"Please, tell me, what illness does Sam have?"
Tiffany glanced at Sam, who sat silently in the back seat, and slowly uttered three words, "Autism spectrum disorder."
It really was autism! Sophia watched the car drive away, her face filled with sadness and guilt. She stood there, while Sam obediently sat in the back seat, watching her grow smaller through the rearview mirror.
This woman was truly peculiar. Why did she stand up to protect him when he was being bullied? Like a superhero standing in front of him, and the way she looked at him, it was like his grandmother's worry and concern when he had a fever or a cold.
Even more so than his grandmother.
Who is she, exactly? Sam began to wonder.
Although Sam had autism, it didn't affect his above-average intelligence. This was only his second time meeting Sophia, but based on his observational skills, he had a faint feeling that this woman had some kind of connection with him.
Usually, Sam lived in the Lancaster family mansion, where he had nannies and bodyguards to pick him up and drop him off at school. Only on rare occasions, when he wanted to see his dad and his dad couldn't come back to the mansion, would he go to the apartment to find him.
Today, Gabriel had promised to take Sam out for a meal, but then had a meeting and couldn't come to pick him up, so he had Tiffany do it instead.
Tiffany was driving the car, and when they stopped at a red light, she pulled the handbrake and turned to look at Sam. A loving smile hung on her exquisite and beautiful face, but her eyes were cold and void of emotion.
"Sam, that lady you just met, what did she say to you?"
Sam's small body trembled slightly, his little hand tightly clutching his schoolbag. His milky-white complexion turned pale, and there was even a hint of fear in his eyes.
He shook his head to indicate that he didn't understand.
"Remember, stay away from her in the future, she's a bad woman who will take you away from me. You will never see your daddy again." Tiffany's smile was gentle, but her words were as poisonous as they could be, spoken in the softest voice, Tiffany spoke the most terrifying words to the child.
"You have already been abandoned by your mommy, you can't be abandoned by your daddy as well, otherwise you will truly become an orphan." Sam bit his lower lip tightly, his surroundings turning pale.
Fear blossomed in his heart like a flower. Ever since he was sensible, he had never seen his mommy. Aunt Tiffany said that mommy despised him, so she left him and ran off to another world.
If he wasn't well-behaved, daddy would abandon him too. He didn't want to become an orphan without a mommy or a daddy.
Sam nodded vigorously, indicating that he understood.
Tiffany smiled approvingly. "Good boy, be obedient when you have dinner with daddy later, okay?"
Sam nodded again.
This little troublemaker was really annoying. If it weren't for Gabriel adoring him too much and keeping a close eye on him, she would have gotten rid of him long ago.
Gabriel's most beloved child in the future could only come from her own womb!
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