Chapter 5
770words
The infirmary fell so silent you could hear dust settling.
Behind him loomed the Chairman of the school's governing board.
The Chairman shot the principal a look that could have withered oak, his expression screaming that heads would roll.
The principal's contemptuous expression evaporated, replaced by the look of a man who'd just realized he was standing on quicksand.
"Mrs. Miller," he stammered, clearing his throat, "I assure you the school will resolve this matter to your complete satisfaction."
I met his gaze without a word, letting the silence speak volumes.
Between an unwanted wife and a mistress with the husband's favor, the school's choice would normally be clear.
But when that wife's family could pull their endowment and bankrupt the entire school system with a single phone call? The scales tip dramatically.
I didn't need their pity—only their fear.
Frank placed a steady hand on my shoulder. "Iris, whatever you decide, I'm with you all the way."
"The Harrington name stands behind you. Always."
His hand was warm and solid—an anchor in the storm that threatened to drown me.
But this was my battle to fight.
Thirty minutes later, the school delivered their verdict.
Leo Miller: severe disciplinary action and academic probation.
Vivian Woods: required to make a public apology to Andy and me before the entire school community.
They couldn't completely alienate Nathan Miller, CEO of Cosmos Technology, but this was enough.
This would ensure Vivian Woods lost every shred of dignity before the entire school.
I accepted their terms.
My goal was never to expel Leo Miller.
It was to make damn sure Vivian Woods understood she could never walk over me.
The apology ceremony took place in the packed school auditorium.
Vivian Woods stood on stage in her designer Chanel, but her face had turned ghostly white.
Facing the sea of students, faculty, and parents, her lips quivered uselessly, no sound emerging.
I sat front and center with Andy beside me, watching her with glacial calm.
"Ms. Woods," the principal prompted with barely concealed impatience, "you may begin."
Vivian drew a shaky breath and lifted the microphone. "I... I'm sorry..." Her voice cracked like autumn leaves.
Her apology was hollow—a performance without conviction.
I couldn't have cared less.
What I wanted was precisely this: her public crucifixion.
When it ended, she stalked past me backstage, her eyes burning with hatred.
"Iris Harrington," she hissed, "don't get cocky. This isn't over."
I smiled serenely. "Whenever you're ready."
The spectacle ended with my temporary triumph.
But between Nathan and me, the real war was just beginning.
Nathan was waiting in the living room when I returned home.
His face thunderous, he launched straight in: "Are you satisfied now, Iris?"
"You humiliated Vivian in front of the entire school and got Leo disciplined. Feel good about yourself?"
"Now everyone knows I have a bastard child and drove my wife to make a scene! Cosmos is about to go public—do you have any idea what this could cost us?"
His outrage was almost comical.
"So for the sake of your precious company and reputation, I should just roll over while your mistress and bastard child terrorize our son?" I fired back.
"I never asked you to roll over!" he shouted. "I said I'd handle it! Why couldn't you trust me and give me time?"
"Time? Trust?" I laughed bitterly. "Nathan, your child with Vivian is seven years old. What right do you have to speak to me about either?"
He fell silent, his face draining from crimson to ashen.
"You know what your problem is?" he sputtered, desperate to regain ground. "You and your rich family, your controlling personality. You always have to have the final word. I've been suffocating for years. With Vivian, I can finally breathe!"
I laughed so hard tears sprang to my eyes. "Save your pathetic excuses, Nathan."
"When Cosmos was just a dream, my father handed you five million in startup capital. Did you feel 'suppressed' then?"
"When the company nearly collapsed, and I begged my father to leverage his connections for hundreds of millions in emergency funding—were you 'suffocating' then?"
"For years, half your core contracts came through Harrington connections. Funny how you never mentioned feeling 'controlled' while cashing those checks."
With each word, the color drained further from his face.
"Must you push this so far?" His eyes turned to ice. "Don't force my hand, Iris."
"I'm forcing you?" I met his gaze steadily. "You chose your path the moment you decided to betray me."
