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.

The teachers, now jobless and disgraced, turned their anger elsewhere.

“It’s all Savannah’s fault!” one of them grumbled bitterly. “She’s not even the real daughter of the Blake Enterprises—just a counterfeit.”

“If it weren’t for her lies, we wouldn’t have lost our jobs!”

Less than half a day later, the principal returned with the surveillance footage.

Sure enough, the recordings from the past six months showed Savannah and her clique repeatedly bullying Amanda—shoving her, humiliating her, sabotaging her desk, even spilling food on her uniform.

There was no denying it now.

All the girls involved were expelled on the spot.

The principal turned to me carefully. “Miss Blake, are you satisfied with how the school handled the matter?”

I gave a cool nod.

“I am. But make sure it doesn’t happen again. Not just for my daughter—for any student. Strengthen your management. This school should protect its children.”

Meanwhile—

At an extravagant auction venue across town, Graham was releasing a sky lantern with Clarissa. He’d just purchased a diamond ring worth tens of millions.

At least, he thought he had.

When he handed over the black supplementary card, the payment failed.

Graham frowned. “What’s wrong with your machine? This is an unlimited card.”

The staff bowed nervously. “Sorry, sir. Let us try again.”

They switched out the POS device—twice. Still failed.

Clarissa’s voice rose sharply. “What kind of garbage equipment is this? I have an unlimited card! How could it be declined?”

“I want to speak to your organizer!”

The auction manager arrived quickly. They tried a different card—it worked.

“Mr. Wyatt, Miss Hale, the machine’s fine. Perhaps you could try another card?”

Clarissa’s face went pale. “Impossible…”

Graham, now sweating, called the bank.

The verdict was swift.

The supplementary card had been frozen.

Furious, Graham stormed out and headed straight to find his daughter.

When he saw her, his rage boiled over.

He didn’t hesitate—he slapped, kicked, and shouted.

“Amanda! Call your mother now! Why can’t the card be used? What the hell is going on?”

“Tell her to reissue it immediately! Aunt Clarissa still hasn’t bought the diamonds!”

I stood in the shadows, fists clenched, barely holding myself back.

Instead of reacting, I calmly raised my phone and captured the scene.

Then I sent the video directly to my father.

Me: Dad, your granddaughter was beaten and humiliated. Can you tolerate that?

Our Blake family isn’t just the wealthiest in Ridgeport—

We’re feared. And that fear starts with my father.

He once ruled this city with a name that sent chills down spines: Victor Blake.

His reply came seconds later.

Dad: Isn’t that bastard your ex-husband? How dare he touch my granddaughter? I’ll destroy him. He’ll lose everything—his reputation, his businesses, his peace.