Chapter 202
Milo’s wail could shatter glass, echoing for miles around the quiet suburb.
Out on the street, Melissa halted mid–stride. Wasn’t that Milo’s cry?
“There!” she called out, her voice slicing through the calm.
Melissa stalked to the shed, her face a thundercloud, and peared inside. “Summer?”
Summer gave Melissa a big smile, his eyes showing relief. “Don’t worry, Milo and I are here,” he said, “School must be out, and the janitor must’ve locked up without realizing.”
Summer, ever the angel, made excuses for the forgetful janitor. The poor guy probably followed routine, not knowing they were hunting for their craft project in the shed.
“Move aside,” Melissa instructed. She couldn’t wait for the principal to fish out the keys.
With one swift kick, the door gave way, and Melissa scooped Summer into her arms. “Were you scared?”
Summer shook his head, pointing at Milo, who was a mess of tears. “He was scared.”
Melissa cast a disdainful glance at the snotty, sobbing Milo. “Coward.”
Despite her harsh words, she wrapped an arm around him too. Kids needed comfort, after
all.
“The teacher said we could fetch our handmade baskets from the shed after class. To give to our parents. They’d be so happy,” Milo wept. “Summer came with me.”
Milo wanted his parents to love him a little more, especially since Mom said she’d pick him up today.
Summer had helped Milo with the basket – a gift for his mother. But their teacher had snatched it away during recess.
Summer and Milo had asked where it was, and the teacher had told them it was in the shed, leaving them to their own devices.
Melissa narrowed her eyes and turned to the principal. “Your teacher’s quite the character, huh? Sending two five–year–olds out without supervision or permission, then tossing their
work?”
“It’s negligence. She’ll be fired,” the principal said, thinking this a strict enough punishment, considering no harm came to the kids.
“Fired? Letting her off that easy? Sounds more like endangerment to me. Call the cops. Let’s see if this teacher’s had any suspicious deposits lately,” Melissa gestured for her assistant to dial the police.
12:43
The teacher and principal paled, their voices trembling. “Ms. Melissa, the kids are alright… What’s there to fear if you’ve done no wrong?” Melissa pointed at the principal. “Check him too for any unexplained income.”
They dared to mess with Summer? They’d all pay.
Bribery and corruption alone would get them locked up.
When the principal heard he was also under scrutiny, he nearly fainted. As the head of Silvergrove City’s premier preschool, the amount of dirty money he’d pocketed was staggering.
“Ms. Melissa, please… The kids are safe. Spare us this ordeal,” the teacher begged through tears.
Melissa held Milo close and took Summer’s hand, her gaze icy as she looked down at the kneeling teacher. “Life’s about integrity, especially for a teacher. Greed’s your downfall. Whether you took bribes or were instructed by someone, you know best. Come clean, and I might give you a chance.”
Terrified, the teacher blurted out, “It was… young master Vincent FitzGerald. He came for Milo, said… said to distract the kids so their parents couldn’t pick them up for a bit. I thought it was just for a moment…”
“Ms. Melissa, please, I didn’t mean any harm.”
Melissa’s eyes darkened. Vincent was targeting Rhett.
Family squabbles and corporate rivalry were one thing, but involving kids was a step too far.
At Melissa’s villa.
Garner, panicked, burst into the living room. Summer and Milo sat on the couch, happily playing with a skipping rope. He sighed in relief.
“Boss…” Garner looked at Melissa gratefully. “Thanks.”
“How many thanks do I have now?” Melissa lounged in her silk pajamas, chin propped in hand, eyeing Garner.
Clearing his throat, Garner stammered, “…”
“Is a mere word of thanks your idea of repayment?” Melissa nonchalantly crossed her legs, a calculated move designed to distract with the very picture of casual seduction.
Garner stiffened, stepping in front of Summer and Milo protectively. “The kids are right here…”
Melissa rolled her eyes. “Rhett and Kristin are back, they’ll be here any minute to pick up
these little munchkins. If you really want to thank me, don’t just say it–work overtime tonight…
Garner rubbed his forehead and said, “Come on, boss, quit messing with me.”
“I’m serious, you know…” Melissa got up to tease Garner further.
Garner instinctively backed away, tripping over the coffee table and landing on the couch.
Melissa fell too, planting a kiss on him on purpose.
Summer covered Milo’s eyes with his hands, peeking through his fingers.
“Why cover your eyes?” Milo asked, curious.
“You’re so noisy.” Summer whispered, and Milo obediently fell silent.
Then Summer giggled. “Uncle, you have to take responsibility after kissing a girl.”
Melissa gave Summer a thumbs–up.
Garner’s face darkened with annoyance, but as Melissa was his boss, he had to endure.
“Summer!” Kristin burst through the door.
Summer sprang up and dashed into his mother’s arms. “Mommy! I missed you so much.”
“And me?” Rhett followed, a smile playing on his lips,
Summer beamed up at Rhett. “I missed Daddy, too.”
Garner quickly straightened up, standing aside to give them space.
“We’ll be taking the kids with us today,” Rhett said with a warm smile.
“Rhett, Vincent and Nicola have gone off the deep end, targeting the kids,” Melissa frowned, clearly upset.
“I apologize. That was my oversight,” Rhett admitted. He had arranged for someone to keep an eye on Summer near the school, but he hadn’t anticipated the teacher luring him to a storage room.
“Holcomb tricked you into coming back, and he’s probably waiting at your doorstep right now, isn’t he?” Melissa reminded Rhett, sensing trouble brewing for the evening.
“Let them wait,” Rhett scoffed, picking up Summer and Milo and leaving the Lawrence
residence.
That night, Rhett, along with Kristin and the two little ones, checked into a hotel for safety. Meanwhile, Holcomb and Vincent, convinced that Rhett would return home, waited outside his place for a full four hours, to no avail.
Chapter 202
“Dad… it looks like he’s not coming home tonight,” Vincent gritted his teeth in frustration.
Holcomb’s expression darkened with anger.
Rhett had instructed his butler to stock up on groceries, creating the illusion that he’d certainly be home that night–just to play them for fools!
Holcomb suddenly blurted out, “Kristin’s mom got out of jail, didn’t she?”
Vincent paused, a knot forming in his stomach. Was Holcomb planning to target Kristin?
“Yes…”
“Bring her to me. I want to have a word with her,” Holcomb’s voice was heavy with implication.
