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As Chloe dialed her mother, I frantically tried reaching James at his conference. No answer for phone call. I texted him to come immediately.
Melissa arrived minutes later, her entrance timed like a stage cue. Chloe held a spare key. She flung the door open.
“Mom, it’s okay!” Chloe dragged Melissa forward. “Tell everyone Sarah Mitchell is the mistress!”
Melissa bit her lip, shrinking into herself like a startled fawn. Her trembling act was Oscar-worthy. “Chloe, please… this is a private family matter.” Her voice wavered. “Going public will ruin Sarah’s reputation…”
Lies. Flames of anger licked my throat.
“Reputation? Mom, she’s harassing you!” Chloe whirled on me, spitting venom. “and you’re defending this snake? She’s bold because you’re too soft! Everyone’s here as witnesses. Mom, demand justice for yourself, the real wife!”
Melissa’s eyes welled with tears.
“I’m just… a housewife. Sarah’s vice principal…” She let the title hang like a guillotine. “How could we possibly fight her?”
A bitter laugh ripped from me.
“Enough theatrics, Melissa.” I stepped closer, locking eyes. “Answer this clearly—did you and James ever legally register your marriage?”
She flinched as if struck, cowering behind Chloe. A burly colleague jabbed his finger at me.
“Stop intimidating her! If she confirms you’re the mistress, we’ll circulate a petition for your termination!”
Melissa’s eyes flashed—triumph—before dissolving into tearful theatrics. With a choked sob, she dropped to her knees before me.
“Please, Sarah!” Her voice cracked like broken glass. “Have mercy on my family!”
The room erupted. Her evasion was all the confession the crowd needed.
“SEE?” Chloe shrieked. “If I don’t expose her now, she’ll destroy more families!”
“Homewrecker!”
“Clean the rot out of our school!”
Desks rattled as students stomped, their chant swelling: “EXPOSE THE MISTRESS! CLEANSE THE SCHOOL!”
A sickening splat shattered the chaos. Rotten egg slime slid down my blouse, the stench gagging me. Through the acidic haze, I caught Melissa’s smirk curling behind her hand.
Then—agony. Chloe’s boot slammed into my stomach. White-hot pain seared through me as warmth bloomed low in my abdomen. Dark stains spread across my skirt.
Chloe paled, panic flickering across her face. The child finally grasped her monstrosity.
“S-Sarah…” she stammered, “…kneel to my mom. Apologize. Resign. Swear never to see my dad. Or else—”
“Go to hell.” Blood pounded in my ears, iron and rage. “You’ll regret this!”
The classroom door exploded off its hinges. James stood framed in daylight, shirt drenched in sweat, his eyes widening at the chaos.
“Sarah! What in God’s name —?”
Gritting through waves of pain, I pointed at Chloe.
“Explain her, James. Is she your daughter?” I bared my teeth. “Funny… I didn’t even know I had one.”
Silence dropped like an executioner’s blade. James’ gaze hardened. In one blurred motion, his palm cracked across Chloe’s cheek.
"Where did this bastard come from?" he roared. "Born to a woman with no sense of decency!"
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