The morning air was crisp, carrying a light breeze that whispered through the quiet neighborhood. The streets were almost empty except for a few joggers and the distant sound of a vendor opening his stall.
Linda tied the laces of her sneakers tighter, stretched her arms above her head, and drew in a deep breath. She had promised herself she wouldn't slack off today.
Linda had laced her sneakers before dawn, tying them with a determined tug, and set out for her usual jog. Her rhythm was steady as she disappeared into the distance, her breaths syncing with the sound of her feet striking the pavement.
Inside the quiet house, Mr. and Mrs. Lee exchanged a look. The absence of Linda felt like borrowed time—an opportunity they couldn't waste.
"She'll be gone for at least an hour," Mrs. Lee murmured, slipping on her coat.
Mr. Lee gave a quick nod. "Then let's go."
They got into their car and rode to the school . When they got to the school, the hallways were silent.
Mrs. Kara, the secretary, greeted them with her usual cheer and ushered them toward the conference room.
The moment the Lees stepped inside, Mr. Lee froze. His breath caught as his eyes fell on the tall man seated at the head of the table.
"You're… you're Mr. George?" he blurted, his voice betraying a mix of disbelief and awe.
The man gave a polished smile, leaning back in his chair with effortless authority. "The one and only," he replied smoothly. "And I remember you Mr lee, the owner of that small company I've been keeping an eye on. I hear your firm has potential."
Mr. Lee straightened his posture at once, his admiration seeping into caution. "Yes, that's right. We're… honored by your consideration."
But even with his nervous respect, he tried to return to the reason for their meeting. His hands clenched lightly against the table, steadying himself. "With all due respect, sir, Regina may be your daughter, but our Linda has been facing cruel treatment at school. She's come home bruised and shaken. We only want to make sure the children are taught kindness and respect."
Mr. George's smile faded into a scoff, sharp and dismissive. "Bullying?" He waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. Regina would never stoop to such behavior. You're being overly sensitive."
Miss Flora, perched elegantly beside him, nodded in support, her expression cool. "Yes, let's not exaggerate matters. Children argue all the time—it doesn't mean it's bullying."
The words struck Mr. Lee like cold water, but he pressed on, though his voice trembled under restraint. "We've seen the evidence, the injuries. Linda—"
Mr. George cut him off, his tone shifting from indifference to menace. His gaze sharpened as he leaned forward. "If you keep pushing this nonsense, I'll be forced to reconsider our potential partnership. Do you understand?" His voice dropped, quiet but heavy with power. "Your company has much to gain from me, but I won't tolerate slander against my daughter. Any attempt to damage Regina's reputation will have consequences."
The air in the room thickened. Mrs. Lee attempted to reason with him, her voice trembling with both fear and resolve. "We're not trying to ruin reputations. We're only asking for fairness. For Linda's safety."
Mr. George's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I already have a contract with your company. Handle your daughter. I expect this to be the last I hear of such accusations."
The threat hung in the silence that followed. The Lees sat frozen, their hearts sinking under the weight of his influence. By the time they left the school, their shoulders slumped in defeat, their footsteps heavy. They had come seeking justice for their daughter, but they had been silenced by power, trapped between love for Linda and fear of losing everything they had built.
---
The next morning, Linda walked through the school gates, her bag slung over one shoulder. She had no idea of the meeting her parents had endured the day before. Her pace slowed as Regina emerged from a cluster of students, her lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
"Hey, black girl," Regina sneered, her tone dripping with mockery. "You didn't hear about the little meeting, did you?"
Linda's brows knit together. "What meeting?" she asked, her stomach twisting with unease.
Regina's smirk deepened, her voice loud enough for the surrounding students to hear. "Oh, you really don't know? Your parents came crawling to mine yesterday. Pathetic, really. They tried to defend you, and guess what? My parents crushed them. Told them to back off and stop wasting everyone's time."
The words pierced Linda like shards of glass. Her parents? Meeting behind her back? She had begged them not to. Her chest tightened, heat rising in her face.
Around them, students began whispering and chuckling, their words hissing through the hall like cruel sparks. "Did you hear? Her parents got shut down…" "Even her mom and dad couldn't stand up to Regina's family…" The laughter pricked at her skin.
Linda stood frozen, shame washing over her, her throat tight with unshed tears. Regina basked in the attention, tilting her head like a victor, her innocence restored the moment a teacher appeared.
"What's going on here?" the teacher demanded, her eyes narrowing.
The crowd scattered instantly, their laughter echoing faintly as they dispersed. Regina slipped away, her smirk hidden behind a mask of false sweetness.
But Linda remained, hollow and humiliated.
The rest of the day dragged on in torment. She sat at her desk staring at the chalkboard, the teacher's words muffled and meaningless. Her mind churned with betrayal—her parents had gone against her wishes, and instead of helping, they had armed Regina with more power. During breaks, she slipped away to the bathroom, locked herself in a stall, and let the tears spill. Her muffled sobs were swallowed by the tiled walls until the bell forced her back into the world.
When the final bell rang, she didn't bother with a taxi. Her feet carried her home slowly, each step heavy with anger and disappointment.
---
The front door swung open, and the familiar warmth of home met her. Mrs. Lee's smile bloomed instantly. "Hey, sweetie! How was your day?"
Linda brushed past her, her eyes darkened with hurt. "Just leave me alone," she muttered, her voice clipped.
Jack and Emily rushed forward as they always did, their little arms reaching for her, their faces lit with delight. But Linda sidestepped them, her movements sharp.
"Linda, what's wrong? Why are you acting like this?" Jack's small voice wavered with confusion.
She ignored them, climbing the stairs quickly. Her parents exchanged troubled looks before Mrs. Lee followed. "Linda, honey, please talk to me. Did something happen?"
Linda stopped halfway up the staircase. Her fists clenched, her chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. When she turned, her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Why did you go behind my back?" she burst out, her voice cracking. "I told you not to interfere, but you never listen! You always make things worse for me!"
Her words trembled, but the pain in them was sharp. The tears she had been holding all day gushed forth as sobs wracked her body.
"Why did you let him bully you into silence?" she cried. "Why even bother going if you weren't going to stand up for me?"
Her parents reached for her, but she recoiled, shaking her head. Their living room turned into a stage of heartbreak, Jack and Emily standing frozen in the corner, wide-eyed and frightened by their sister's outburst. Finally, Linda fled upstairs, slamming the door behind her and collapsing onto her bed, sobs shaking through the walls.
Downstairs, silence weighed heavily. Mr. Lee rubbed his temples, guilt written on his face. Then a thought struck him.
"She listens to Jack and Emily," he said softly. "Maybe… maybe they can reach her."
Mrs. Lee hesitated, then nodded. "Let's try."
The two little ones climbed the stairs with determined steps. At Linda's door, they pressed their tiny hands against the wood.
"Linda, please open the door!" Jack cried, his voice breaking with urgency.
Emily's softer voice joined in. "Linda, we just want to hug you. We miss you."
The words tugged at Linda's heart. Slowly, she rose from her bed, her tears still fresh, and turned the key.
The door creaked open. Jack and Emily rushed inside, their faces glowing with relief. They threw their small arms around her, patting her with childlike care.
"We love you, Linda," they said together, their voices trembling with sincerity.
Something inside Linda melted. She sank to the floor, hugging them tightly, their warmth soothing the raw ache in her chest. Their innocent words, their unconditional love, seeped into the cracks of her broken spirit.
Soon, their little bodies grew heavy with sleep, Jack's head resting against her shoulder, Emily curled into her side. Linda leaned back against the bed, holding them close as her own eyes drifted shut.
Minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Lee peeked quietly into the room. Their children lay entwined, sleeping peacefully. Relief softened their faces as they pulled a blanket over the trio.
For the first time that day, Linda's expression was calm, framed by the arms of the siblings who loved her without question.