Linford sighed, but he knew he couldn’t change the girl’s mind. Candace was gonna grow up sooner or later.
“Well then, you can do this by yourself. I’ll be waiting for you outside,” Linford could only compromise.
After sending the kids to school, Linford and Cristelle were gonna leave, but two men in suits came to them before they could get in the car. One of them was Tim Wayne, and the other was Marcos White. They must have come here to apologize for what their babies did to Candace.
Tim was the first to speak, “Mr. Bradley, we’re so sorry. Tylor didn’t mean to do that. I’ve taught him a lesson. I promise he will never do that again.”
“That’s right,” Marcos also said apologetically, “Betty’s just a kid. I’ve told her that she shouldn’t have said those things about Candace. We’re so sorry.”
After receiving Joe’s call, they hadn’t had much sleep last night. They came earlier this morning to apologize.
“It’s just a little fight between the kids. It doesn’t matter as long as the business of adults is not involved,” Linford said coldly.
Cristelle seemed pretty preoccupied in the car as they headed for the company. The two men had been sneaking glances at her, and it made her a bit uncomfortable. She didn’t know why they looked at her that way.
Were those people bullying Candace on purpose because of what she did to Mary Wayne?
Cristelle’s breath hitched as she thought about the possibility. She didn’t want Candace to be treated so unfairly because of her.
“Don’t worry. The babies will be alright,” Linford could tell she was worried about something as he comforted her.
Cristelle was still deeply concerned. She had a feeling that something would go wrong sooner or later.
Cody and Candace had stepped into the classroom. Their friends came to play with them. Everyone seemed as friendly as usual. Candace let out a breath. And then, she accidentally looked in Betty and Tylor’s direction.
Betty was pouting. And then, she mouthed at Candace, “Little mute.”
With that, she grabbed Tylor’s hand and walked away. She refused to play with Candace.
Candace had never been hated by anyone growing up. The way Betty treated her broke her heart. She felt bad as she walked toward the lawn, sitting down, collecting her knees as she leaned against a tree.
Amy came to talk to her, “Candace, do you want to play puzzles?”
Candace shook her head. She didn’t want to play anything.
“Okay then. Let’s sit here,” Amy took out a candy bar from her pocket and snapped it into halves, giving Candace a half.
Cody saw Amy and Candace being together in the distance. He thus became less worried and continued playing with other boys.
****
Linford came to his office. Alfred handed in his report instantly, “Sir, we’ve retreated most of our investment from the Wayne’s.”
Linford took the report and skimmed through it a lot, “How much remained?”
“We still have a little bit left, but…” Alfred sounded hesitant.
“But?” Linford arched an eyebrow. He didn’t have much patience.
Alfred cleared his throat, “Are you sure we’re gonna withdraw everything? The Wayne family is…”
Linford’s eyes darkened.
Alfred hurried, “Those journalists have been talking about this for days. I’m afraid there will be negative reports about our “company.”
“When did you become so hesitant, Alfred?” Linford snapped the report close, “Don’t think too much about it. Just do it.”
Alfred said yes and walked away.
Cristelle had been trying to force herself to calm down. She didn’t have much to do after handing in her final draft. They’d found the best tailor for the design. All she needed to do right was to make some slight changes when the dress was out.
But a bad feeling had been haunting her since the moment she stepped into the company this morning. She felt something bad was gonna happen.
She just couldn’t concentrate.
They said there was a special connection between a mother and her daughter.
At this moment, Candace was crouching down beside a little pond, staring at the little fishes in the water.
“Candace! You little rat!” Someone suddenly yelled behind her back. Candace looked over her shoulder and saw Betty and Tylor.
A group of other kids followed them. They were all standing there, glaring at her.
Candace wanted to run. But there were too many of them. She couldn’t outrun them. She was suddenly so scared.
Candace wanted to find Cody. But Cody was playing with other boys. He didn’t even notice what was happening here. Amy had said she was thirsty. She had gone to have water a couple of minutes ago.
Candace was all alone. What did these kids want to do?
Candace was so scared as she took steps backward.
“Little mute! Did you say bad things about us in front of Joe?” Betty held her chin up. She always thought she was a little princess and everyone needed to be nice to her.
Candace shook her head in panic. She had never told anyone anything.
“It must be her! Dad almost beat me last night, and he even scolded Mom and me! It was all her fault!” Tylor was so pissed off, and his loud voice came like thunder. He wanted to teach her a lesson so she would never say anything bad about them ever again!
Candace didn’t have a clue. She didn’t know why they were blaming everything on her. They were the ones who lied. Candace tried to break the circle and run away, but she accidentally stepped on Betty’s shoe as she tried to break out. Betty started to scream, “Did you just step on me?” She scratched Candace’s face with her nails. Candace’s face started to bleed instantly.
Candace screamed and tried even harder to break out.
Tylor didn’t expect the little mute to be so rebellious. He took a step forth and pushed Candace, making her fall.
Betty threw pebbles at Candace, “How could you rat on us, little mute? That’s so vile!”
Amy was coming back when she saw what those kids were doing to Candace. She ran to Cody immediately, “Come! Come with me! Other kids are bullying Candace right now!”