Chapter 163
Chapter 163
“What the hell are you implying?” Lainey snarled, brows shooting up. “You’re saying this is Jayden’s fault? Tour most be asking for the sack, the call you principal and have you fired on the spot!”
The teacher sucked in a breath, and her patience clearly wore out. “Mrs. Brusself, knows better than to cross your family. I’ve kept must bout your she’s antics because I feared I’d lose my job.
“But enough is enough. He rules the school like a little despot. If you don’t rein him in, he’ll land in real trouble”
“How dare you curse my son?” Lainey seethed, fumbling for her phone, intending to call the principal to fire this rarkiens teacher
Theodore cut in sharply, “knock it off. Jayden, spill.”
His voice dropped the temperature in the room. Even Lainey clamped her mouth shut.
When Jayden only burrowed deeper into Lainey’s arms, Theodore’s eyes narrowed, “Jayden, you’re not a baby anymore. Do you plan to hide behind. your mommy forever? What’ll you do when she’s too old to fight your battles?”
Lainey’s heart twinged. ‘He has a point. One day I’ll be too frail to protect my children,‘ she thought.
But the thought dissolved as quickly as it came. ‘How could I possibly relate to Theodore? He caused all our problems, she thought
Theodore wasn’t preaching out of the goodness of his heart. He’d noticed Jayden showing rare signs of maturity lately and decided to nudge her
At those words, Jayden stole a glance at Eliana, just in time to see her rise and head for the stairs.
He thought, “She’s disappointed in me too, isn’t she?”
Jayden ground his teeth, yanking his gaze away. His voice cracked with anger, frustration, and some nameless hurt as he blurted, “I was the one shaking down those guys for protection money. Go ahead. Yell at me and beat me. I don’t give a shit!”
Under the teacher’s pointed “see what I mean” look, Lainey wanted to slap a hand over his mouth. ‘He usually has a dozen excuses for every screw–up. Since when did he start spilling the truth like this?‘ she wondered.
“Protection money?” Theodore’s eyes narrowed
Jayden snapped, “I thought it was fun, all right?”
to
slits. “Does this family not feed you or something?”
Theodore’s tone turned arctic. “Fun? Then I guess locking you in a bathroom was a real hoot for them too.”
Lainey chose her words carefully. “I’d say Jayden’s life means more than a few bucks.”
Theodore didn’t spare her a glance, keeping his focus on Jayden. “How much did you extort?”
“Never counted. Just some broke kids at school. They couldn’t cough up squat.” Jayden waved a hand dismissively.
“Knowing they were broke, you still made their lives worse.” Theodore’s smile was all teeth. “Lainey, this is the ‘good son‘ you’re always defending?”
“I…” Lainey’s face went red then white. ‘How am I supposed to know Jayden would get bored enough to shakedown people for chump change?” she thought.
But Jayden suddenly barked at Theodore, “Lay off my mom. Blame me instead.”
Theodore nodded. ‘At least the kid has some spine–more than that weasel Anthony, who always plots from the shadows,‘ he thought.
“Fine.” He wasn’t about to coddle a brat. “Kneel. Time for family discipline.”
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14:22 Thu, 19 Jun
Chapter 163
‘Family discipline?‘ The teacher gaped.
She knew rich families had their rules, but this was the 21st century. She didn’t exactly approve of corporal punishment.
“Mr. Russell, maybe we should…” she tried to say weakly.
Theodore snatched the whip from the servant’s hand and barked at the teacher, “I’ll handle this. You count, fifty lashes.”
‘Holy hell. That’s a steel whip. One lash could shatter Jayden’s scrawny body!‘ Lainey thought and crumpled to the floor, sobbing like a banshee
Jayden squared his shoulders, defiance blazing in his eyes. “You’re not my dad. What gives you the right to punish me?”
“An older brother’s word is law.” Theodore’s voice could freeze boiling water.
Jayden spluttered, “Then let Anthony do it!”
Lainey let out a blood–curdling wail. “Anthony, where are you? Your brother’s about to get killed!”
“Enough,” Theodore snapped. “Guys, hold him down.”
“Yes, sir,” the servants said.
Just then Eliana came flying down the stairs. “Stop, Theodore.”
He reflexively reached out to steady her as she rushed down.
Eliana held up an envelope for all to see. “This is the protection money. Jayden gave it to me because he felt guilty. I wanted to wait for him to decide what to do, but then this happened today.”
Jayden’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
That was a lie. After their fight, he’d given her a cold shoulder and stopped caring about the stupid money.
He thought she’d given up on him, but she’d been trying to save his ass.
‘Why bother with a screw–up like me? Everyone kisses up to me but despises me deep down,‘ he thought.
Eliana turned to the teacher with a polite smile. “Your name, miss?
The teacher replied, “Olson.”
“Ms. Olson, please take this,” Eliana said, pressing the envelope into her hands. “We’ll make sure Jayden writes a full confession and apologizes to everyone.”
Ms. Olson’s eyes welled up. “Thank you. This is exactly what I hoped for.”
As soon as Theodore had Eileen ushered out, Lainey immediately cooed at Jayden, “It’s all right now, sweetie.”
But the next instant, Jayden dropped to his knees with a thud.
He glared up at Theodore, shouting, “Bring it on. You wanted to lay down the law, didn’t you? Let’s see it!”
“Jayden, have you lost your mind? He’ll beat you to a pulp.” Lainey believed Theodore might settle old scores. ‘How could Jayden survive fifty lashes at his age?‘ she thought.
When Jayden stared at the steel whip in Theodore’s grip, his face went paper–white. “Mom, I was wrong.”
Lainey nearly choked on her own breath. This was the first time Jayden had ever owned up. ‘Has he taken a wrong pill?‘ she wondered.
14:22 Thu, 19 Jun
Chapter 163
Though Eliana found the whip terrifying, she held her tongue. She respected Theodore’s role as head of the household.
Theodore towered over Jayden for a long moment before growling, “Stay on your knees tonight and think hard.”
To everyone’s shock, he handed the whip to a servant and led Eliana upstairs by the hand.
As soon as Theodore vanished, Lainey pleaded, “Get up, sweetie,”
But Jayden stayed rooted, deaf to her pleas.
He’d listened to Alice, doubling down on bullying after she said kids could act up.
But when trouble hit, Alice was gone.
And once again, it was Eliana stepping in. Always Eliana.
‘She’s my only lifeline,‘ Jayden thought.
He suddenly ached for the candy Eliana gave him, but he then remembered he’d crushed it underfoot.
In their bedroom, Eliana blurted out, “Theodore, were you just playing tough?”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Weren’t you playing peacemaker?”
Eliana flushed. “Caught me.”
“The whipping wasn’t the point,” Theodore said. “It’s about whether he owns his mistakes.”
Eliana recalled Jayden’s apology to Lainey. ‘So that’s what made Theodore back down,‘ she thought.
AD
