Chapter 147

The hallway outside the principal’s office was finally quiet.

Ruby had already gone back to class after receiving approximately fifty-seven goodbye kisses from Jennie and one dramatic fist-bump from Lisa that came with:

“Stay strong, comrade.”

Jennie had smacked Lisa’s arm immediately after.

Now the office door clicked shut once more.

And suddenly the atmosphere changed.

Because Ruby was no longer there.

No more soft baby voices. No more comforting kisses.

Just Jennie and Lisa sitting across from the principal and Noah’s parents.

And for the first time that meeting-

Jennie’s face lost its softness completely.

Lisa leaned back in her chair, jaw tight.

The principal cleared her throat carefully. “We truly apologize for the incident. We’ll make sure the students are reminded about kindness and respectful language-“

Lisa interrupted quietly.

“No.”

The room stilled.

“That’s not enough.”

Her voice wasn’t emotional now.

It was controlled.

Which somehow felt scarier.

Lisa folded her hands together on the desk.

“My daughter came home questioning if something was wrong with her face.”

Noah’s parents looked uncomfortable immediately.

Jennie finally spoke too.

And unlike earlier-when she was cuddling Ruby and kissing tears away-

Her tone was ice cold.

“Ruby is five.”

The principal nodded carefully.

Jennie continued, “At that age, words stay with children.”

Noah’s father sighed. “We already said Noah was joking-“

Jennie looked at him directly.

“A joke is only funny when nobody gets hurt.”

Silence.

Lisa exhaled sharply before speaking again.

“If this calling-names situation happens to my daughter again…”

She leaned forward slightly.

“We will pull out our shares here in your school.”

The principal visibly froze.

Because everyone in the room knew exactly what that meant.

Jennie and Lisa weren’t just celebrity parents.

They were major investors.

The school’s newest library wing?

Funded partly by them.

The arts program Ruby loved so much?

Also them.

The principal straightened instantly. “We absolutely do not tolerate bullying-“

“And we won’t tolerate it either,” Jennie said calmly.

Her voice stayed polite.

But her stare was sharp enough to cut glass.

“We will let this pass for now,” Jennie continued. “Because children can learn from mistakes.”

Then she looked toward Noah’s parents.

“But if my daughter gets called names again…”

Lisa finished the sentence coldly.

“We won’t hesitate.”

The room went dead silent.

Even Noah’s mother looked shaken now.

Because the threat wasn’t loud.

It wasn’t dramatic.

It was worse.

It was calm.

The principal quickly nodded. “We understand completely. We’ll handle this properly moving forward.”

Lisa’s expression didn’t soften.

“Good.”

Jennie stood first, smoothing out her coat gracefully.

Then she smiled politely.

A terrifyingly polite smile.

“Ruby is very loved at home,” she said softly. “So we expect her to feel safe here too.”

Noah’s parents looked guilty now.

Especially after hearing that.

Because despite Ruby’s dramatic little protest revolution…

At the center of it all was just a little girl who got hurt over being called “fat.”

Lisa grabbed Jennie’s hand as they walked out together.

The second they were alone in the hallway, Lisa groaned quietly.

“I wanted to bite them.”

Jennie sighed tiredly.

“I know, babe.”

“They made our baby cry.”

Jennie’s expression softened immediately at the thought.

Because seeing Ruby ask: “Not big?”

Had genuinely shattered her heart.

Lisa rubbed her face.

“She loves her cheeks…”

“I know.”

Jennie smiled faintly.

“She got them from me.”

Lisa immediately looked offended.

“No she didn’t.”

Jennie blinked.

“…Excuse me?”

Lisa pointed dramatically.

“Ruby got YOUR face but MY emotional support clinginess.”

Jennie snorted.

“That’s unfortunately true.”

They both walked quietly for a moment before hearing tiny footsteps running toward them.

“MOMMYYYYYY!”

Ruby came sprinting down the hallway.

Apparently her teacher had let her take an early snack break.

The little girl launched herself directly into Jennie’s arms.

Jennie caught her instantly with practiced ease.

“There’s my baby.”

Ruby clung tightly around her neck.

“I missed you already…”

Lisa placed a hand over her chest dramatically.

“Oh my God. She’s literally me.”

Jennie laughed softly before kissing Ruby’s cheeks repeatedly again.

Ruby squirmed happily.

Then she whispered loudly: “I told my friend Sofia that Mama almost fought somebody.”

“RUBY,” Jennie gasped.

Lisa looked proud.

“What? Accurate statement.”

Ruby giggled.

Then her tiny hands grabbed Jennie’s cheeks carefully.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, baby?”

“…Can I still be fluffy mandu?”

Jennie’s entire face melted instantly.

She hugged Ruby close and covered her face with kisses again.

“You’ll always be our fluffy baby mandu.”

Lisa nodded firmly.

“The fluffiest.”

Ruby beamed proudly.

Then she whispered:

“I think Noah is just jealous because my cheeks are famous.”

Lisa nearly collapsed laughing against the hallway wall.