After paying the tuition, I had just stepped out of the office when a commotion in the corridor stopped me cold.

A small crowd had formed.

In the middle of it, a girl stood with an air of arrogance—flanked by a group of well-dressed girls—mocking and jeering.

And there, cornered against the wall like a wounded bird, was my daughter.

Her face was streaked with tears, a red handprint burning on her cheek. She looked small, broken, and utterly alone.

"Didn’t I tell you to get lost?" the ringleader snapped, grabbing her collar. "You’ve got some nerve showing your face here."

"Believe it or not, I’ll beat you to death today!"

A few girls laughed cruelly and one even spat on her.

My daughter trembled, hands clutched against her chest, whispering through choked sobs.

“Please… don’t hit me. My mom’s here… Please…”

“Please me?” The leading girl laughed and raised her leg, pressing her shoe forward.

“Then lick my soles clean. Do that, and maybe I’ll let you crawl away.”

The others burst into laughter.

“Did you hear that? Our Miss Su is merciful.”

“You think you can compete with Savannah? You couldn’t even afford tuition—just drop out already!”

Two girls grabbed Amanda’s arms and tried to force her to her knees. Her face twisted in shame and fury, but she didn’t resist. She simply closed her eyes, defeated.

“Don’t make me slap you again,” Savannah snapped, lifting her hand high.

I moved.

In an instant, I seized her wrist mid-air—and with a sharp crack, slapped her across the face.

The corridor went silent.

“Whose child are you?” I hissed. “What kind of parents raise a little thug like you?”

“This is a school, not a gang hideout. Act like a human being.”

Savannah didn’t cower. She lifted her chin, eyes burning with disdain.

“Do you even know who I am?” she scoffed. “In Ridgeport, no one dares to lay a finger on me. You just slapped me—you’re dead. I’ll tell my dad and have you kicked out of this city.”

What a big mouth. I laughed coldly.

“Oh? And who is your dad?”

Before she could answer, I felt a tug on my sleeve. My daughter’s voice came in a whisper.

“Mom… her dad is… Dad. Graham Wyatt.”

Graham?

If Amanda hadn’t reminded me, I’d nearly forgotten that man even existed.

Savannah puffed her chest with pride.

“Now you get it? Go ask anyone—my dad adores me. You think you can touch me and walk away?”

That’s when the pieces finally fell into place.

In the two years I’d been abroad, Graham not only brought Clarissa and her daughter into our home—he raised Savannah like a princess… and erased my daughter like she never existed.

He made sure Clarissa’s child called him Dad.

And mine? He denied her in public, neglected her in private.

No wonder Savannah walked around as if she owned Ridgeport.

But what they all forgot… was that the Blake family is not to be trampled on.

I turned back to my daughter, helped her to her feet, and brushed the dirt from her clothes.

With gentleness in my voice, I asked, “Tell Mom—how many times did she slap you?”

Amanda trembled, eyes darting between the girls.

She hesitated.

“Don’t be scared,” I said, wrapping an arm around her. “Mom is here now. You’ll never be bullied again.”

She finally raised her head. “Six times…”

I nodded. Calm. Certain.

“Then slap her back—six times.”

Her eyes widened. “Mom, I… I don’t dare…”

I crouched beside her and looked at her in the eyes.

“There’s nothing to fear anymore. Anyone who tries to stop you—Mom will break their legs.”

The moment I rushed in, I finally understood how my daughter got those wounds.

For the past two years, I naively believed that Graham—her biological father—would at least protect her.

But I was wrong.

He wasn’t a father. He was a beast.

Not only did he turn his back on her—he let others humiliate her, torment her, treat her like trash.

But today, that ends.

Encouraged by me, Amanda slowly stood up. Her body trembled, but her gaze began to harden.

The group of girls backed off slightly, fear flickering across their faces—though they still tried to act tough.

"Amanda, you dare touch us?" one of them snapped.

"Don’t forget how pathetic you looked when we humiliated you. If you lay a hand on Savannah, her dad will skin you alive!"

At those words, my daughter faltered. She dropped her gaze. That name—Graham—still had power over her. Still made her feel worthless.

Seeing her hesitation, Savannah smirked.

"I knew you didn’t have the guts. Trash like you isn’t even worthy of carrying my shoes—"

Crack!

She didn’t finish her sentence before my hand connected with her face.

A clean, merciless slap.

"If your parents won’t teach you manners," I said coldly, "then allow me to do it for them."

I rolled up my sleeves and turned to my daughter.

“Watch carefully, Amanda. This is how you deal with people who bully you.”

They clearly forgot—when I was 18, I was a national State Kickboxing champion.

A few teenage girls? Please.

Every move I made was sharp, controlled, and devastating.

In less than five minutes, they were crying, scrambling, and on the floor—faces red, pride shattered.

I turned to my daughter.

"Amanda, come here. Show me who hit you. Every slap she gave you—you return it now."

With my support, my daughter finally stood tall. Her eyes burned with courage.

She walked straight up to Savannah, raised her hand, and—smack!

"Savannah, this is for slapping me earlier."

Smack!

"This one’s for pulling my chair and making me fall."

Smack!

"And this is for pushing me off the swing last semester."

Each strike was measured—not just revenge, but release.

As my daughter listed every cruel act they had inflicted on her, my vision blurred with unshed tears.

I never knew.

This was the life she’d been enduring while I was gone.

Suddenly—

“Stop this at once!”

A group of teachers came running in, their faces filled with panic.

“Are you insane?!” one of them shouted. “Do you know who you just hit?!”

Two of them hurried to help Savannah, who was wailing incoherently, her face swollen beyond recognition.

Whispers spread through the crowd. Teachers, students, even janitors had gathered.

Some gasped. Others just stared in disbelief.

“It’s over,” one muttered. “Call the principal—this is big.”

I stood there, arms crossed, utterly calm.

Let them panic.

They had all known what was happening.

They’d turned a blind eye, bowed to power, and let my daughter suffer.

One teacher scowled at Amanda.

“Amanda again! You’re always causing trouble. I’m expelling you right now!”

My daughter’s eyes widened in fear, and I immediately stepped in front of her.

“Touch her, and I’ll sue you so hard you won’t work in education again.”

I narrowed my eyes. “On what grounds do you expel her? What rule did she break?”

A teacher in glasses looked me up and down with disdain.

“Do you have any idea who Savannah is?” he scoffed. “You dared to lay a hand on her? Are you trying to die?”

“Her father is Graham, president of Blake Enterprises. He owns half of Ridgeport. He could crush you like an ant.”

"Her father donated three teaching buildings to our school," the teacher snapped, arms crossed. "Do you think someone from a rich family like that is someone you can afford to offend?"

I chuckled coldly.

“Oh? Since when did those three teaching buildings become his donation?”

The teacher snorted, looking at me like I’d just told the joke of the century.

"If not him, then who? You?"

I gave a calm nod.

"Yes. I did."

The teachers burst out laughing.

"Unbelievable—do you even hear yourself?"

"With what? Your daughter couldn’t even pay her tuition until today, and you expect us to believe you donated three entire buildings?"

Clearly, these were new hires. They weren’t around back then.

I raised my eyes and said coolly,

“Call your principal.”

The teachers exchanged glances but made no move. It was clear they didn’t believe me and assumed I was bluffing.

"Refusing, are we?" I pulled out my phone.

"Then I’ll call him myself."

I dialed. The call connected almost instantly.

“This is Vivian. I’m at your school. Come here—now.”

More laughter followed, and one teacher scoffed.

“Please, enough with the act. Do you really think the principal has time for your little drama?”

“Right? Why don’t you save yourself the embarrassment? Even your daughter’s watching.”

Another waved at the security guards.

“Escort them out.”

I raised a brow.

“Are you sure you want to do that?”

"You might want to think carefully. When your principal arrives, he just might expel all of you instead.”

“Get real. What a shameless woman. Still putting on a show after all that—”

“Stop it—right now!”

A voice cuts through the chaos.

Everyone froze as the principal came rushing down the corridor, red-faced and panting.

“Miss Blake! My deepest apologies—I didn’t know you were here. When did you return to the country? Why didn’t you let me know in advance?”

The hall went dead silent.

All eyes widened as the principal practically bowed before me.

The teachers who had just mocked me stood there, pale and dumbfounded.

“Wait… did he just say Miss Blake?”

“She’s the eldest daughter of the Blake Enterprises? The real one?”

“No way… could she really be the Blake family’s heiress?”

Even Savannah’s face drained of color.

“No… this can’t be. You’re lying!”

I didn’t even glance her way.

Instead, I looked at the principal, voice calm but laced with steel.

“I remember three years ago, you were just the teaching director. Do you remember who recommended you for promotion?”

The principal wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed again.

“Of course I remember. If not for your endorsement, Miss Blake, I wouldn’t be standing here today.”

“You supported me when no one else did—I owe my career to you.”

I gave a small nod.

“Good. Then let me make myself clear.”

I motioned toward the girls huddled behind the teachers.

“I hit them. Because they’ve been bullying my daughter for over two years—with the school turning a blind eye.”

“I want justice. And if this school doesn’t resolve this properly, the Blake family will cut all donations. All funding. All investments.”

The principal bowed deeply.

“Understood, Miss Blake. I will handle it personally.”

And he did.

Within two hours, the arrogant teachers who mocked us were terminated.

Only then did they realize...

They’d bet on the wrong family.