NovelEnglishChapter 537 By now, Mila had lost all interest in small talk. She exchanged a few polite words with the principal, firmly declined his offer to escort her, and made her own way out.
She stepped out of the academic building.
It was the end of class, and the playground nearby was swarming with children. Teachers stood at the edges, keeping a watchful eye on their students. The air was thick with laughter, shouts, and the sheer, deafening volof kids at play. It was less a cheerful background and more a wall of noise.
Mila quickened her pace.
"Hey, you're Adrian's mom, right? Where is that guy?" She was almost past the playground when a voice called out behind her, and someone tugged at the hem of her coat.
She turned around.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtA boy she recognized stood there, glaring up at her-a face she knew all too well. It was Parker McKenna, the kid from the McKenna family who'd once gotten into a fistfight with Adrian and hurled insults that could rival a sailor's.
Still, he was just a child. Mila saw no reason to hold a grudge. She replied calmly, "He's resting at home. He won't be coming to school for a while." "Why?" Parker blurted out, then added, "Is it because of Julian?" Mila froze.
She hadn't expected even this kid to know.
"Parker, what are you doing off the playground? I told you, you're only allowed to play inside!" A teacher spotted them from across the field and hurried over. She gave Mila an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Mrs. Sutherland. Kids say the darndest things-please don't mind him." Mila didn't visit the school often, but everyone knew who she was-she'd attended last year's big fundraising gala as the board chair, and Adrian was, well, infamous for his antics. With everything going on lately, the staff were especially on edge.
They were clearly worried Parker might say something out of line.
"It's quite alright," Mila replied, unbothered. Now that the teacher was here, she gave a polite nod and was about to leave, when Parker suddenly spoke up again.
"He wouldn't do something like that." Mila turned, surprised.
Parker shook off the teacher's hand and took a few steps forward, chin raised defiantly. "Adrian wouldn't do something like that. If he's mad, he'll just punch someone. He's not sneaky-he'd never do that kind of thing!" Mila was speechless.
He sounded like he was defending her son, but somehow the defense didn't feel entirely reassuring. Still, it was well-meant.
She reached out and ruffled Parker's hair, her voice softer. "Thank you, Parker." Parker stiffened, then scowled and slapped her hand away, glaring. "Don't touch my head!" Mila couldn't help it-she let out a silent sigh.
Kids really were impossible to figure out.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Sutherland..." The teacher grabbed Parker, who was now red with anger, and apologized again.
"It's fine. I shouldn't have touched his head without asking." Mila was resigned. No wonder those two boys fought so much-wasn't just the insults; they both had hair-trigger tempers. How could they not clash? hen She was about to walk away Parker yanked free from the teacher and caught up to her, grabbing her sleeve. "Hey, is he coming back of not? He still owesa fight- haven't gotten even with him for last time!" sŵ He practically bared his teeth as he glared at her. "You're such a clueless mom. He hitfirst-I only called him names! He's lying, and you believe everything he says! He was still nursing a grudge about their last scrap.
His dad hadn't listened to his side of the story either, and he'd been grounded for it. If Adrian didn't cback, who was he supposed to get even with? Mila didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
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Getting lectured by a child-why did kids hold grudges so fiercely these was lying, she days? As for who Tercely these honestly don honestly didn't know what to believe. Parker's insults had been pretty foul, but he'd just defended Adrian, too. Kids' friendships really were complicated.
Still, at heart, he wasn't a bad kid.
After a moment's thought, Mila gently stopped the apologetic teacher from dragging Parker away. She crouched down, so she was eye-level with him, and offered a warm smile.
"How about this-when I have sfree time, would you like to comen over? If you and Adrian still have issues; you can talk it out in front of me. Sound fair?" Parker averted his eyes, scuffed his shoe on the ground, and muttered, "Whatever," before turning tail and running back to the playground.
That was as good as a yes, she supposed.
Not too hard to win over, after all.
Mila shook her head, smiling to herself. She said a quick goodbye to the still- startled teacher, then hurried off toward the hospital.
She had no choice-her phone hadn't stopped ringing, and a certain someone was blowing it up like their life depended on it.
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