My Son’s Bully Was His Old Flame’s Son Chapter 03

My Son’s Bully Was His Old Flame’s Son Chapter 03

There stood Joseph, his posture softening as he leaned over Trent, a tenderness he had never afforded his own son.

On the bed, the elderly woman gently placed Julia’s hand into Joseph’s palm.

“Joseph,” she said earnestly, “Julia has had such a hard life. That man abandoned her and Trent so early. Thank goodness she met you.”

“In this world, a woman like Julia needs a protector. Without you, they’d be defenseless.”

The man who would recoil from touching me now didn’t pull his hand away. His voice was soft, so gentle it was almost unrecognizable.

“I won’t let anyone hurt them again, Mrs. Johnson. You have my word.”

My heart didn’t ache anymore. It simply went numb. I lifted my phone and recorded the scene, the three of them standing there, warm, close, harmonious.

Joseph, if you’re so devoted to your old lover, then let me give you a little push.

Half a month later, the court postponed the trial yet again due to “insufficient evidence.”

I had expected it, yet a sharp pain still stabbed my chest. Today was Carl’s first day back at school after being discharged. For his sake, I forced myself to smile.

Outside the school gates, his mood was gloomy. “Mom… will Trent really get arrested?”

I swallowed the bitterness and wrapped him tightly in my arms.

“Yes. I promise you, he will. Everyone who hurt you will pay the price.”

Including his father, Joseph. But only one day later, Carl was bullied again, slapped across the face and forced to kneel.

When I arrived at the hospital, Joseph was pressing a hand to his forehead, speaking on the phone.

“Just keep this contained for now—”

I stormed forward and slapped him hard across the face. His call cut off instantly. He staggered back, eyes wide with shock. Once he regained himself, his brows twisted in anger.

“Do you have to be so dramatic?”

“Carl is my son,” I shouted, trembling beside the bed. “No one hurts more than I do… Now get out, Joseph! Get out!”

Joseph exhaled heavily. “I’ll give you an explanation.”

But I didn’t want to hear anything else from his mouth. I didn’t believe him anymore.

That very afternoon, I went to the Department of Education and submitted a formal complaint. Soon after, while Trent was in class, investigators came and took him away for questioning.

Julia rushed to the hospital, and Joseph came with her.

The same woman who had strutted around arrogantly now threw away her dignity and begged in front of me, crying helplessly in front of Joseph.

“Mrs. Sterling, I’m begging you! Please withdraw your complaint! Trent is still so young—he can’t handle interrogation, he’ll have psychological trauma!”

I looked straight at Joseph.

In his eyes, a flicker of distress flashed by. And I caught it, held it tightly. Ridiculous. Infuriating. His own son was beaten bloody, yet he felt sorry for the boy who did it.

Joseph pulled Julia up by the arm and turned to me, his voice icy. “Drop the charges, Sierra. Don’t make this uglier than it already is.”

I refused to back down. “Not a chance.”

In the next second, he lifted his phone and sent a single message. Less than a minute later, my supervisor called.

“Sierra… did you offend someone? The prosecutor’s office just notified us… someone reported you for tax evasion. Don’t come to work for now…”

When the call ended, my ears were still buzzing. Joseph looked at me calmly, without shame.

“You forced my hand.”

I couldn’t go to jail. If I went in, who would take care of Carl?

Numbly, I withdrew the complaint. Trent was released and returned to school.

Watching Joseph, Julia, and Trent standing together in the distance like a happy family reunited, I felt nothing but bitter mockery.

A few days passed. Joseph broke his promise again. There was no rescinding of the false accusation, only my termination letter.

And then I learned that Julia had become his assistant. A judge’s assistant, one of the most prestigious, coveted positions, was handed to her effortlessly, openly displaying his favoritism.

This time, I didn’t even bother questioning him. Joseph, for once, decided to offer an explanation.

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s a matter of equity. Julia has been marginalized; she deserves a stable environment.”

For the first time in years, he reached from behind and wrapped his arms around me. A gesture I used to ache for. A gesture that now made my blood run cold.

I shoved him away violently, my eyes filled with wariness.

“Joseph,” I said with a sharp laugh, “did you really think this would stop me from filing charges? Keep your delusion.”

He left in anger. I took out my phone and dialed a familiar number.

“Mr. Collins, all my evidence is ready.”