Chapter 3

I fought to push forward, but there were too many of them.

Ms. Albright had clearly come prepared; there were easily a dozen parents.

They formed a human wall, making it impossible for me to reach my daughter.

My heart was pounding with anxiety.

“Let go of my daughter! You’re going to kill her!”

Ivy’s cheeks were already severely swollen, and her breathing had become rapid.

Yet, she used every ounce of her remaining strength to reassure me.

“Mommy, Ivy’s okay. Ivy doesn’t hurt.”

Ms. Albright gave a wicked smile.

“See? I told you she’s fine. Be a good girl, Ivy. Eat ten more shrimp, and Auntie won’t make your mommy pay for Ava’s nutrition, okay?”

“Okay, Auntie, you promise you’ll count!”

“No!”

I screamed at the top of my lungs.

“Ivy, don’t eat it! Listen to Mommy, don’t eat it!”

Ivy hesitated, closing her mouth again.

But the next second, Ms. Albright yanked her hair, forcing her mouth open.

Someone saw this and immediately rushed over to help.

Several strands of Ivy’s hair were torn out, and she cried out in pain.

“You psychos, let go of my daughter! If anything happens to her, can any of you bear the responsibility?!”

“I’m telling you, I called the police on my way here! Every single person here will face consequences. Get ready to go to jail and become a lifelong stain on your children’s lives!”

Everyone’s expressions shifted, and they began to waver.

The human wall weakened, and I spotted an opening, ready to charge through.

Then I heard Ms. Albright say,

“What can the police do? Capitol City is run by the Vances!”

“Quick, stop this madwoman! If you do, I’ll put in a good word with Julian, and you’ll be first in line for any future Vance family collaborations.”

The Vance family?

Julian?

Julian Vance! Isn't he my husband? When did he become *hers*?

I hadn't even processed what was happening before I was pushed back again.

Someone eager to earn big favors grabbed my daughter’s hair and began slapping her hard.

“That’s what you get for not eating shrimp, for being so stubborn!”

Ms. Albright smugly lifted her chin.

Seeing this, everyone followed suit.

Ivy swayed like a falling autumn leaf, on the verge of collapsing.

I roared, my voice raw.

“She’s a liar! She’s not Mrs. Vance, because I am!”

Ivy was beaten until she gradually lost strength, her breathing becoming shallow.

“Ivy’s mom, lying is bad. No wonder Ivy is so disobedient; she learned it from you, didn’t she?”

Ms. Jenkins deliberately fanned the flames, and I slapped her across the face.

“Shut your mouth!”

“If you don’t believe me, I can make a FaceTime call!”

Ms. Albright nonchalantly stood up and walked over to me.

She scoffed.

“What’s so credible about a video call? AI can fake those, you know. To prove something, you need actual evidence.”

“Besides, you called the police ages ago. Do you see even one police officer here?”

It had been over an hour since I called the police.

Even with slow response times…

At that thought, my heart sank.

She watched my expression, covering her mouth with a triumphant laugh.

“To tell you the truth, this place has already been sealed off by the Vance family. Unless… your precious daughter eats all hundred pounds of this shrimp, nobody’s leaving!”

“Mr. Harrison, please bring in the gift I prepared for Ivy.”

The moment she finished speaking, a man walked in.

When I finally got a clear look at his face, my eyes widened!

It really was Mr. Harrison, Julian Vance’s personal assistant!