Chapter 207

"Ridiculous! My son would never insult anyone!" The woman glared at the teacher, her voice sharp with indignation. "And you're telling me it's acceptable for him to be beaten? Where is the principal? I demand an explanation for this disgrace! Do the Langleys look like people you can trample over?"

The teacher sighed, caught between the two furious parties. She glanced at Caleb, her tone firm but weary. "Caleb, regardless of the circumstances, violence is never the answer. You must apologize to your classmate."

Caleb tilted his head, defiance flashing in his eyes. "Why should I? He called me a fatherless bastard. Shouldn’t he apologize first?"

Sophia inhaled sharply, her patience thinning. "Your son is the one hurling insults, and you have the audacity to play the victim?"

Thank heavens I’m the one here.

If Zoe had been summoned instead, she might’ve actually slapped the kid. And if she’d come with Mr. Goldmann—

"You—" The woman scoffed. "My son would never say such a thing! Ask him yourself if you don’t believe me!"

The boy refused to meet Sophia’s gaze, his jaw clenched as he muttered, "I... I didn’t say that."

"See?" The woman smirked triumphantly. "Your son attacked mine, and that’s a fact. I won’t let this go unless he apologizes!"

Sophia crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Fine. Let’s settle this, then."

"You—!" The woman turned to the teacher, seething. "Look at her! What kind of parent encourages this behavior? Like godmother, like godson. A child like him has no place in this academy!"

Sophia knew Caleb wouldn’t lash out without reason. Though she wasn’t his birth mother, she was his godmother—and she refused to let anyone bully him.

"You believe your son’s denial, yet you dismiss my godson’s word? Hypocrisy at its finest."

"Godson?" The woman sneered. "So this brat couldn’t even call his real mother? No wonder he’s so ill-mannered—raised by someone like you, it’s no surprise."

Sophia’s chin lifted, her gaze icy.

The woman’s mocking laughter filled the room. "Ah, I see. He probably doesn’t even have a mother. No wonder he’s so wild—an orphan with no one to teach him manners."

Caleb’s small fists tightened, his face darkening.

Before anyone could react, Sophia’s palm struck the woman’s cheek with a sharp crack.

Even Caleb froze, stunned. His godmother was usually playful and carefree—he’d never seen her so fierce.

The teacher shot to her feet. "Miss Hill! You can’t just hit someone!"

"She insulted my godson," Sophia retorted, rolling up her sleeves. "A slap is the least she deserves."

The woman shrieked, lunging at Sophia. "How dare you?! You and your brat will regret crossing the Langleys! You’ll be run out of Bassburgh!"

Chaos erupted as the two women grappled, the teacher frantically calling for security.

Then the door swung open.

A tall figure stepped inside, his presence instantly commanding silence. The teacher nearly sagged in relief.

Lucas Laurent took in the scene—two women brawling like street fighters—before striding forward. He seized the back of Sophia’s collar, yanking her away from the fray.

"Who the hell—?" Sophia whirled, then stilled.

Her breath caught at the sight of that familiar, impassive face.