The Devil CEO's Contract Wife - Chapter 289: A Call From The Academy [2]

Chapter 289: A Call From The Academy [2]

“Say what now?” I asked with wide eyes.

“You heard me very clearly, Mrs. King. This is a serious matter, and it puts a stain on our—”

I gasped thickly, hands slapping to my mouth—holy… shit.

My little Esme did that?

I laughed, the sound coming off me before I could stop it.

“Mrs. King, this is a serious matter! There is no room for amusement. Which part of this is funny to you?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know what to do except…” I snorted. “Sorry!”

Mrs. Hill was in disbelief before her teeth ground hard. Oops!

“Mrs. King… I don’t think you understand the gravity of what your daughter has done—”

“Oh yes, I do,” I cut her off.

“I beg your finest pardon?”

“I know my daughter, Mrs. Hill…”

“Is that so? This unruly behaviour is—”

“I know she would have acted on impulse if someone had provoked her.”

Mrs. Hill’s mouth hung open before she kept it shut.

“So tell me what happened exactly, the whole thing. I think that was the first thing we should have brought to the table.”

She cleared her throat, adjusting her glasses. “It was a misunderstanding between Adrian and Esme…”

“A misunderstanding?”

“There was a ruckus at the cafeteria, and when I was summoned, Adrian was on the floor, nose bleeding and clutching between his legs.”

“So, based on what you just said, you decided that my daughter just straight up put him down over a misunderstanding?”

“Mrs. King, your daughter clearly acted unbefitting of—”

“Of what? Before making your conclusion, you should have found out why. That’s usually how this works doesn’t it?”

She sighed. “Yes, I did find out why.”

“Good.

“But it still doesn’t warrant such behaviour…”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Rumors have been going on for the last week.”

“What rumors?”

“That Adrian is your husband’s illegitimate child.”

My fist clenched hard. This again? What was Agatha trying to do now? Ruin my daughter’s life?

“Rumors…” I muttered. “Shouldn’t you have done something about that then? Stop such vile lies from spreading, or call the parents for attention?”

Esme didn’t say anything to me either. She was silent each time she got back from school and went to bed on time. I simply thought she was tired.

“You’re very right, Mrs. King, and we were in the process of handling it quietly. The last thing I want is to prove to Mr. King that we’re not capable enough.”

She sounded scared of that outcome. She probably knew Ares was gonna sue if any mishap happened.

“Esme is a gifted child. She’s intelligent and shockingly good with numbers, and in just two months, she has made herself our star student, earning a badge. As her mother, this behaviour shocks you.”

It does, but I knew Esme wouldn’t do something like that out of the blue. There’s a reason.

“Thank you, Mrs. Hill…” I said, pushing to my feet.

“Y-You leaving already?”

“Yes, I would like to take my daughter home now. In the meantime, please investigate properly before you make any assumptions…”

“A-Assumptions?”

“Did you ask the other kids gathered around the scene about what really played out? Or did you see Adrian on the floor and Esme standing and declare she acted out based on nothing?”

“That is—”

“No, you didn’t investigate, and you’re speaking based on what you saw… I suggest you do this properly. In the meantime, I’ll take that suspension for both of them until the matter has been looked into.”

“I’m the Headmistress of Midnight Academy! Y-You can’t just tell me what I can or cannot do!” She slammed her hand against the table and sat up.

“But that’s the line that usually goes for something like this, isn’t it? I’m just helping process it faster. Call me anytime…” I walked out, slamming the door behind me.

“Esme sweetie, we’re going home.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“It depends.” I folded my arms.

She nodded quickly, a bit frightened. I probably look like I was about to commit murder. I would start with that headmistress.

Feeling eyes on my back, I turned to Adrian before I got distracted by the door.

“Mrs. King!”

“We’re done, aren’t we? Or is there anything else you have failed to mention?”

She fixed her blazer, making her stance more upright to capture that look of authority. “We are yet to reach Adrian’s mother, and school hours are long from over.”

I internally smirked. Well, obviously, Agatha is preoccupied because of the gift I left her in the underworld. She got her hands full.

“Then I guess someone else will come for him.”

“Actually…” She stopped me. “There’s no one else to call.”

~☆~

This was not what I had in mind.

Esme and Adrian were literally glaring at each other like they were about to start a war or something.

Whatever went down between them must have been serious.

Oh God, I can’t believe I’m even doing this.

This was supposed to be alone time with Esme so that I could figure out what happened.

I had texted Ares an hour ago and told him where we were.

Honey: On my way.

That was his reply.

“Here’s your chocolate milkshake.” The waitress dropped the tall glass on the table, and Adrian’s, too. “And for you!”

“I don’t want a chocolate milkshake…” Adrian said.

“Well, you straight out ignored me when I asked what you wanted,” I replied.

“Maybe I will bring something else from the menu…?” The waitress considered.

“No, it’s alright. I’ll let you know if I need anything else.”

“Of course…” She left.

Esme was already sipping from her straw, while Adrian just glared at her before looking over to his drink as if deciding whether he should take it or not.

It seemed like a difficult decision for him because his eyes could burn through the glass if he kept that up.

“No one can resist a good chocolate milkshake,” I informed. “Don’t just stare at it and get sipping, the first taste is worthwhile, trust me.”

Adrian looked to Esme, who was fully engrossed in hers. With her delightful expression, I’m sure he could tell it was delicious.

He reached for it, but changed his mind at the last minute. “My mother told me not to take things from strangers.”

“I’m not a stranger, Adrian.”

“And you’re not my mother… why should I listen to you?”

This little…!

Deep breaths, Catherine, deep breaths.

“No, I’m not your mother, but I’m the adult here. Either drink that or wait out until your stomach starts bleeding…”

“Bleeding?” he frowned.

“Yes, when your stomach starts growling.”

He gulped, but he didn’t make any attempts to take it.

He’s stubborn.

He was always so quiet and polite, but I guess there was an attitude hanging around there somewhere.

“If you won’t have it, then I will.”

“I change my mind!” He snatched it away before I even had the chance to reach for it.

I smiled when he finally sipped from the straw, and I could tell he loved every taste.

“Daddy!” Esme got off her seat and scurried.

My eyes followed her movement as she ran into Ares’ arms.

Adrian rose to his feet, and his earlier demeanor had changed; right now, he looked like a puppy waiting to be seen.

“M-Mr. King…”

Ares looked at him, a stony expression plastered on his face that made my heart skip a beat.

“There’s a car waiting to take you back to the estate,” he said, walking past him to me.

Adrian opened his mouth, but his words got stuck, and he chose silence.

One of Ares’ men came for Adrian, and he left with them. I watched until he got in and the car drove out.

I pulled my attention back to Ares. “It’s a long story… we should probably go home now, Esme is tired.”

~☆~

Esme had just finished putting on her pajamas. I was in the middle of buttoning when I spoke.

“Sweetie, we need to talk.”

Esme didn’t meet my eyes. She got like this whenever something was wrong.

“You can tell me what happened… and I want you to be honest with me, alright?”

“Okay, mommy…” She met my eyes, and I smiled. “But first. Are you mad at me?”

“How can I be mad when I don’t even know what happened?”

“I hit Adrian.”

“Yes, you did…”

I took her hand to see the small bruise. I had applied something to it so that it wouldn’t hurt.

Ares wanted to talk with Esme, but I told him I would do it myself. I knew the instant he heard what transpired, he wouldn’t take it lightly. Best handle it myself without going full-on devil.

“I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“I know, sweetie, and I know it would have taken something very wrong for you to do this. Did he hurt you?”

“Adrian was talking about things in his class, and they started talking… I got a lot of looks after that, even from my class. They pointed at me too.”