Chapter 2172

Miranda’s fury detonated. She jabbed a manicured finger inches from Charlotte’s nose, though her venom was aimed squarely at Cecilia.

“See that arrogance? You really think I’ll just let her walk away after humiliating my child?”

Truth be told, Miranda had never liked Cecilia. Today felt like the perfect chance to exploit a weakness—and she seized it with vicious delight.

Charlotte had laid a hand on her precious boy. Miranda was not a woman who forgave, and she never forgot.

Cecilia opened her mouth to speak, but Charlotte raised a quiet hand, stopping her.

“Boss, let it go. I’m fine,” Charlotte said calmly. “Worst-case scenario? I spend a few days behind bars. No big deal.”

Cecilia knew better than to plead. Begging would only inflate Miranda’s ego and sharpen her cruelty.

In the end, the officers escorted Charlotte away. Her back was straight, her gaze steady, never once wavering.

As she climbed into her car, Miranda tossed a final remark over her shoulder. “Don’t blame me for being ruthless, Ceci. Any mother would protect her son. If yours were treated that way, you’d do the same.”

Cecilia didn’t respond. Silence—cold and heavy—settled over her like midnight fog.

When the driveway finally emptied, she pulled out her phone and called her attorney, Norman Jenkins.
“Charlotte’s been detained. See if you can bail her out immediately.”

After the call ended, she noticed Elliot shuffling toward her, eyes red-rimmed.
“Mommy, I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice trembling like a candle in the wind.

Cecilia knelt so they were eye to eye. “Sweetie, why are you apologizing?”

“I invited my classmate over to play,” Elliot said softly. “If I hadn’t, none of this would’ve happened.”

Elliot had never imagined Felix could be so shameless. No one had invited the boy—he’d barged in on his own, an unexpected storm that shattered a peaceful afternoon.

Cecilia lifted a hand and gently ruffled Elliot’s hair. “You silly thing,” she said, her tone soft but certain. “How could any of this be your fault? Don’t overthink it.”

“But what about Ms. Talbot?” Elliot asked, his voice thinning as the words trailed off.

“Don’t worry,” Cecilia replied, her hand still resting on his head. “Ms. Talbot would never blame you. And I promise—I’ll find a way to bring her home.”

Elliot nodded so hard his hair flopped into his eyes.

Elsewhere, Miranda ushered Felix into the back seat of a sleek black sedan and slammed the door shut.

“Mom, thank goodness you showed up,” Felix crowed, still buzzing with adrenaline. “That lackey really needed a lesson. Can you believe she actually threatened me? Hmph—bet she knows who’s in charge now.”

Miranda let his bragging wash over her, icy eyes fixed straight ahead.

“You were supposed to be in class today,” she said quietly. “Why did you come here instead?”

Earlier that afternoon, Miranda had stopped by Felix’s tutor’s house for a courtesy visit—only to discover he’d never shown up. After a quick investigation, the truth came out: Felix had lied, skipped class, and snuck off to Cecilia’s home.

Furious, Miranda had ordered a discreet search. The report came back quickly—her son was at the Smith residence.

Confronted now, Felix dropped his gaze to his knees, the cocky tilt of his chin collapsing.
“Sorry… I won’t do it again,” he whispered.

“I should have let Charlotte teach you a real lesson,” Miranda hissed. “Otherwise, you’d never straighten up.”
Even so, she couldn’t bring herself to strike her own child. “Try something like this again and see how I punish you.”

“I—I won’t, Mom. Never again,” Felix stammered, nodding like a wind-up toy.

Only then did Miranda lean back, her anger cooling into a tired, exasperated sigh.

She didn’t take him home. Instead, she drove straight to the hospital and marched him to a physician she knew well.

“Doctor, please look at my son,” Miranda said, resting a protective hand on Felix’s shoulder. “A woman struck him today—hard. I’m worried there might be something serious beneath the surface.”

The doctor understood immediately and nodded politely. “Of course. I’ll run a thorough examination.”

Satisfied, Miranda allowed a faint smile to curve her lips.

She might not yet have the leverage to crush Cecilia—but she could still make the people around her bleed.

And as long as it hurt Cecilia, that was enough.

After a few perfunctory scans, the report came back: minor injury, level two—just serious enough to send Charlotte behind bars.

Miranda’s smile widened.