The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 308

Fueled by these defensive thoughts, Nadia suddenly lunged forward, snatching the phone from the principal's hand. "What do we need a video for?" she screamed. "Is her kid the one injured? My son is the one hurt! What kind of principal are you?"

The principal's hand froze in midair. She clenched her fingers briefly before forcing a warm, professional tone. "Grady's mother, please understand. You came to us claiming your son was assaulted. Now that the other parent is here, it's protocol to review the footage together so we can understand the full context. Otherwise, how can we fairly resolve this?"

"Resolve what?" Nadia snapped. "Make her kid pay for my son's medical bills and give him an apology. That's how we resolve it."

The principal let out a heavy sigh, shooting Suzie a look of deep distress.

Suzie was just about to speak when Grady trotted over and tugged at Nadia's blouse. "Mommy, you're being too mean. What if the Sugar Buddies won't play with me anymore? Didn't you promise I could join their group? When do I get to make videos with them? I want to be a famous star too."

Nadia quickly scooped the boy into her arms, cooing to him. "Be a good boy, sweetheart. They hurt you, and Mommy is so heartbroken. We don't need to play with them."

"No! No! I want to shoot videos with them and be famous!" Grady wailed, thrashing his arms and legs wildly against her chest.

Suzie rubbed her temples, thoroughly exhausted by the chaotic display.

What an absolute mess of a family. An unreasonable mother, a lying child, and a father whose wandering eyes practically screamed sleaze.

Suzie decided to cut straight to the chase. "Grady, your mother has the security footage right there on that phone. Do you know what that means? It means everything you did was recorded, just as clearly as the videos you watch online. Now, are you going to tell us the truth, or do we all sit down and watch the recording together?"

Nadia glared at her in horror. "How can you speak to a child like that? You're intimidating him."

But the moment the words left her mouth, Grady jutted out his lower lip and asked, "If I tell you the truth—that I fell down all by myself—will you let me join the Sugar Buddies?"

"No," Suzie answered bluntly.

She gestured for Ms. Larson to bring Mia and the kids back into the room.

Sniffling, Grady slid out of his mother's arms. He looked at Zoey and mumbled softly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pinched you, and I shouldn't have tried to take your toy."

"Hmph." Zoey pouted, crossing her arms and staring stubbornly up at the ceiling.

Seeing her reaction, Suzie called out gently, "Zoey?"

The little girl turned her big eyes to her mother and spoke in a sweet but firm voice. "Mommy, I'm not being mean. But Grady has bullied a lot of the other girls in our class, and he made them cry. I can forgive him for hurting me, but I'm still mad at him for hurting my friends."

Grady stammered out, "I... I won't be a bully anymore. I'll apologize to everyone tomorrow. Just please don't stop playing with me, okay?"