"Do you have any clue who I roll with? Brad Wyatt. Big name around Eleywood. One word from him can oust you from the city! You'll regret crossing me."

Still reeling from the unexpected slap, the teacher, emboldened by her influential connections, dialed a number. Hanging up, she shot a challenging look at Lilah.

Lilah smirked. “Eager to see how you plan to oust me from Eleywood."

Time ticked by until a sleek Rolls-Royce purred to a stop. Out stepped a man, sharp as a tack and reeking of power. His presence was unmistakable and commanded attention.

The teacher had encountered many important figures before, and she immediately recognized that this man was no ordinary person. Her confidence faltered as she shifted to a fawning smile. But she was in for a shock when he wrapped an arm around Lilah. "Let's go," he said.

“Has your backer arrived, Miss? I've got places to be," Lilah quipped.

The teacher's face grew pale when she saw the influential man alongside Lilah. While she recognized the power the newcomer held, she was banking on Brad's influence in the school.

Then, a sleek Porsche came to a halt, and out stepped Brad. As he locked eyes with Gerard, a noticeable shift occurred in his demeanor.

But the teacher was too engrossed in her emotions to register this change.

She rushed to Brad, her voice shrill with indignation. “Darling, they mistreated me! You need to stand up for me!"

In a sudden move, Brad shoved her back with a stinging slap. "Fool!

You think Mr. Harris, with his reputation, would stoop to your level?

Perhaps you brought this on yourself."

Turning to Gerard, Brad quickly said, "Mr. Harris, please accept my apologies for this commotion. It won't go unnoticed."

Gerard, already piecing together the events, replied with a frosty look, "Ensure she never sets foot in any educational institution again."

“I assure you..."

Brad watched as Gerard and Lilah departed with young Jerrold. Once they were out of sight, he unleashed his fury on the teacher. "How thoughtless can you be, antagonizing Gerard Harris? By tomorrow, you'd better vanish from Eleywood and stay away from any teaching post."

The weight of his words sent the teacher reeling.

The Harris family? The very name sent chills down her spine as the realization dawned on her.

Meanwhile, as Lilah got into Gerard's car with Jerrold in her arms, she suddenly realized something was wrong. Setting the child down, she offered Gerard an awkward grin. "Well, you should head back. I'll go back to the hotel myself."

Jerrold's eyes filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty as he looked back and forth between Lilah and Gerard.

Gerard noticed and said gently, "Please stay, Jerrold seems to want you here."

Jerrold blinked in surprise, not expecting his father to voice his feelings so openly.

Silly dad!