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Chapter_14
The room fell into a heavy silence. Vivienne’s eyes were locked on the posh lady, her expression calculating and unyielding. The tension was palpable, and the posh lady, once so confident and brash, now stood frozen, unable to muster any words.
The principal, visibly sweating, glanced nervously at the screen where the footage now played, showing a clear image of the altercation. Thaddeus was shown sitting at a table, quietly eating, while Dino, the other boy, approached him, shoving him first. Thaddeus hesitated, then pushed back defensively. But there was no sign of him hitting Dino, let alone using a knife. The footage clearly contradicted the claims made by the posh lady and her son.
Vivienne turned back to the screen, tapping a few keys to pause the video. “It seems the only thing broken here is your story,” she said coolly, her voice ringing with authority. “This footage clearly shows who initiated the altercation.”
The principal stammered, trying to salvage the situation, but the damage was already done. “I—I wasn’t aware of this. We’ll look into this further—”
“Look into it?” Vivienne interrupted, her voice sharp as a whip. “You’ve already deleted the crucial parts, haven’t you? Now you’re trying to cover up a lie. The CCTV wasn’t broken; it was just conveniently ‘out of order’ until I arrived. How many times do you think people will believe this kind of excuse?”
The teacher, who had been silent until now, swallowed hard, his face paling as he avoided eye contact. The posh lady, meanwhile, was seething, her face flushed with fury. “This—this is outrageous!” she sputtered, her voice trembling with rage. “How dare you accuse me of lying? My son was attacked by this little delinquent! You can’t possibly—”
Vivienne’s gaze flicked to her with cold disdain. “Your son is a bully. The footage shows that. Your attempt to manipulate the situation only makes it worse for you.” She turned back to the principal, her tone turning even colder. “I think it’s time you reconsidered your approach, don’t you?”
The principal, now completely cornered, nodded reluctantly. “We’ll review the situation thoroughly and take the necessary actions.”
Vivienne nodded sharply, her expression still icy. “I trust you will. If you try to sweep this under the rug or make Thaddeus out to be the villain, I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly what happened here. I’m sure the local news would love a story about a school covering up bullying.”
The principal’s face turned ashen. “Of course, Ms. Hawthorn. We’ll ensure proper steps are taken.”
Vivienne turned to her family, her demeanor softening slightly as she looked at Thaddeus, still clinging to Cordelia. “Thaddeus, are you alright?” she asked, her voice gentle, though there was still an underlying firmness.
Thaddeus nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m okay, Vivienne. Thank you.”
Cordelia smiled at Vivienne, tears of gratitude welling in her eyes. “Thank you for standing up for him,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Dorian, still simmering with anger but relieved by Vivienne’s handling of the situation, placed a hand on her shoulder. “You really saved the day,” he said, his voice low but full of respect.
Vivienne gave him a small, knowing smile. “Just doing what’s right,” she replied, before turning back to the principal. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, I think we’re done here.”
Without waiting for any further response, Vivienne led her family out of the office, leaving behind a room full of uncomfortable silence. The posh lady, humiliated and speechless, stood frozen, her face twisted with a mix of disbelief and rage. The principal and teacher exchanged nervous glances, knowing full well that they had been caught in a lie they could no longer deny.
As they stepped outside into the cool air, Dorian placed his arm around Thaddeus. “You did good, son. No matter what, we’re proud of you,” he said softly.
Thaddeus gave a small, shy smile, his confidence starting to return. Vivienne, ever observant, glanced at him. “Don’t let anyone make you feel small, Thaddeus. You’re stronger than they think.”
The drive home was quiet but filled with a sense of relief. Vivienne leaned back in her seat, her thoughts already shifting to the next challenge ahead. But for now, she had protected her family, and that was enough.
