Chapter 2242

Truth be told, Elliot didn’t really understand the proverb either—it just felt right.

Felix’s lips twitched. He was about to snap back when he suddenly spotted someone familiar.

“Mom—boo-hoo—!” he wailed.

Miranda had arrived to pick him up.

Jonathan and Elliot exchanged a glance, both frowning.

Elliot stuck out his tongue. “You’re a big kid and still crying for your mom? Tsk. That’s embarrassing.”

Felix froze. He even forgot how to keep up his act.

Miranda, completely unaware of what had happened, rushed over the moment she saw the dust on his clothes and the smudges on his face.

“Son, what happened? Who hurt you?” she demanded, her gaze turning icy as it landed on Jonathan and Elliot.

Jonathan met her stare without flinching.

The cold depth in his eyes made Miranda’s heart skip. For a moment, it felt like she was looking at Nathaniel himself.

Felix wanted to complain, but Elliot’s earlier warning choked the words in his throat.

“N-no one picked on me,” he muttered.

The answer stunned everyone nearby.

Felix—who was usually the first to tattle—had suddenly gone quiet. What was going on with him today?

Miranda pressed, “Then how did you get so dirty?”

Felix pursed his lips. “I… I slipped.”

Miranda took one look at him and knew he was lying.

Her gaze sharpened as she turned back to Jonathan and the others. “Was it you?”

Dante and Sophie both flinched under her harsh tone.

Jonathan had just stepped forward when someone rushed past him—it was Yulissa, Dante’s mother.

With a sycophantic smile, Yulissa faced Miranda. “Mrs. Larke, this must be a misunderstanding. Dante and Felix are very close—he would never hurt Felix.”

As she spoke, she pinched Dante hard at his side.

“Isn’t that right, Dante?”

Dante clenched his fists, swallowing the anger threatening to spill over, and stayed silent.

Afraid of offending Miranda, Yulissa tugged at his sleeve. “Apologize to Felix. Right now.”

Dante’s eyes reddened. He bent forward, ready to bow.

Jonathan stepped in front of him.

“Ma’am,” he said coolly, “you just said he wouldn’t hurt Felix. So why should he apologize?”

Yulissa froze, words catching in her throat.

Not daring to offend him, she softened her tone. “Jonathan, I just want you classmates to get along. Dante has a bit of a temper… as his mother, I have to guide him.”

Deep down, she still believed it was her right to discipline him however she saw fit.

Jonathan’s lips curved into a faint, cold smile.

“That’s not fair,” he said. “Felix already admitted he fell on his own.”

Once again, Yulissa had no response.

But Miranda still refused to let it go.

“Jonathan, don’t try to fool me,” she said sharply. “Felix is old enough. He wouldn’t just fall for no reason.”

Jonathan let out a short, icy laugh and pointed straight at Felix.

“Felix,” he said, voice calm but firm, “did you fall on your own?”

Under Jonathan’s gaze, Felix stiffened—then nodded.

“Yeah… I fell by myself.”

Still unwilling to accept it, Miranda crouched down in front of him, her voice softening.

“Son, tell Mom the truth. Who touched you? I’ll stand up for you.”