When My Husband Bought the School

My son had his leg broken at school by the chairman of the school board's son, all because he accidentally spilled soda on his limited-edition sneakers.

To smooth things over, the school gave my son a suspension instead.

The other party's mother, that woman dripping in designer labels, pointed at me in the principal's office and said:

"Do you know how much those shoes cost? Forty-two thousand dollars! Your son's entire college fund couldn't cover it! The fact that we're not demanding his immediate expulsion shows how generous our family is being."

The principal nodded along beside her. "Mrs. Williams is absolutely right. We will handle this strictly according to school policy."

I suppressed my rage, looking at their self-righteous faces.

That woman pulled out her phone and contemptuously brought up a photo. "Take a good look. This is Commissioner Williams from the State Education Committee. My uncle. You think you can go against our family?"

In the photo, that commissioner was slightly bowing as he shook hands with my husband.

I pulled out my phone and called my husband.

"Honey, that Commissioner Williams in your committeehis niece just had someone break our son's leg."

When I rushed to the hospital, my legs were so weak I could barely stand.

My son Lincoln lay in the hospital bed, his right leg wrapped in thick plaster, elevated high.

That face that always wore a sunny smile was now pale as paper, his lips cracked and dry.

The doctor held up the X-ray, his tone grave.

"It's a comminuted fracture. We've performed surgery, but the bone was shattered quite severely."

"The recovery will be very long, and it may affect his height development."

After staying with my son all night, the next morning I received a call from the school principal.

On the phone, his tone was formal, saying that the offending student's parents were willing to "negotiate amicably" with me.

I rushed to the principal's office.

A woman in a Chanel suit, wearing a diamond ring the size of a pigeon egg, was impatiently scrolling through her phone.

She was Zachary's mother, Quinn Williams.

The principal was serving her tea and water.

When she saw me enter, Quinn barely lifted her eyelids, the contempt in her eyes unconcealed.

"You must be Lincoln's mother. Sit."

She pushed a document in front of me.

"This is a settlement agreement. Sign it."

"We'll cover all medical expenses, plus an additional three hundred thousand in compensation."

"Don't waste my son's time. He has an equestrian lesson this afternoon."

Her tone was like she was giving alms to a street beggar.

My mind exploded. The image of my son lying in the hospital bed moaning in pain overlapped with her arrogant face.

I grabbed that agreement, tore it to shreds, and threw it hard in her face.

"In your dreams!"

The mockery on Quinn's face grew thicker.

"Three hundred thousandfor ordinary families like yours, that would take years of saving every penny, wouldn't it?"

"Your son just has a broken leg. It's not like he died. People need to know when they're well off."

The principal rushed over to mediate. "Mrs. Lincoln, please calm down. Mrs. Williams is being very sincere."

Sincere?

I was shaking with rage.

"My son was beaten by your son and had his leg broken. The school doesn't punish him, but instead gives my son a disciplinary mark. This is your sincerity?"

Quinn calmly smoothed the wrinkles on her clothes and smiled.

"The disciplinary actionI told him to give it."

"Who told your son to be so blind and spill Coke on my son's new shoes?"

"Those shoes are globally limited edition, worth three hundred thousand! You couldn't afford them even if you sold your son!"

"The fact that I'm not having him expelled shows how charitable our family is!"

The principal nodded and bowed beside her. "Mrs. Williams is absolutely right. Rest assured, we will definitely handle Lincoln's case seriously."

I looked at their vile faces singing in harmony, my anger nearly consuming me.

Quinn took out her phone from her Herms bag, contemptuously pulled up a photo, and shoved it in my face.

"Look closely. This is Commissioner Williams from the State Education Committee. My uncle."

"You think you can fight me? Are you even worthy?"

In the photo, that so-called Commissioner Williams was bowing respectfully to a tall figure, his posture humble.

That figureI knew it all too well.

It was my husband, Hudson.

I took out my phone and, right in front of them, called Hudson.

When the call connected, my voice was ice cold.

"Honey, that Commissioner Williams in your committeehis niece just broke our son's leg."

On the other end of the line, Hudson was silent for two seconds.

Then his steady voice came through.

"I understand."

"Where are you? I'll be right there."

Quinn heard my words and froze at first, then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, this is killing me! Commissioner in your committee? You think you're in a TV drama?"

She pointed at my nose, tears of laughter streaming down her face.

"Which committee is your husband an advisor for? Tell me so my uncle can look after him!"

The principal also wore a pitying expression, sighing as he tried to persuade me.

"Mrs. Lincoln, stop talking nonsense. The Williams family's power is beyond our imagination."

"Just sign the papers, take the money and get your son treated. That's what matters."

I hung up the phone and looked at them coldly.

"I told you, I won't sign."

"That disciplinary action must be withdrawn. Zachary must publicly apologize, then get out of this school."

Each of my words fell heavily in the silent office.

Quinn's laughter stopped abruptly, her face instantly darkening.

"Getting cocky, are we?"

"Looks like three hundred thousand doesn't satisfy your appetite. Fine, I'll add another hundred thousand. Four hundred thousandis that enough?"

Her eyes were full of disdain.

"Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. If you piss me off, you won't get a single penny, and I'll have your son expelled immediately!"

The principal was sweating profusely, grabbing my arm.

"Mrs. Lincoln, why make things difficult for yourself! You can't win against them! For your child's sake, just back down!"

I shook off his hand and stared directly at Quinn.

"Keep your money to buy your son a coffin."

"You!" Quinn's chest heaved violently with rage, her pointing finger trembling.

"Fine, just fine! I'll show you today what power really means!"

She immediately made a call and put it on speaker.

"Uncle Williams, I'm at the school. There's a parent here causing trouble who doesn't know her place. Tell the principal to kick her son out!"

An oily male voice came through the phoneit was Commissioner Williams from the photo.

"Quinn dear, do you even need me for such a small matter? Just have the principal handle it directly."

"Who's so blind they'd dare to offend my precious niece?"

Quinn smugly lifted her chin and held the phone toward the principal.

The principal immediately put on an ingratiating smile, nodding and bowing to the phone.

"Hello, Commissioner Williams. Rest assured, I will handle this properly and make sure your niece is satisfied!"

After hanging up, the arrogance on Quinn's face was practically overflowing.

"Did you hear that? Now, even if you kneel and beg me, it's too late."

She turned to the principal and commanded imperiously, "Right now, immediately, process Lincoln's expulsion!"

The principal wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at me with difficulty, ultimately yielding.

"Mrs. Lincoln, this... there's nothing I can do. You..."

I ignored him, only quietly watching the office door.

Hudson said he'd be right here.

He never spoke empty words.

Under Quinn's urging, the principal tremblingly picked up the phone on his desk, preparing to notify the registrar's office.

My heart rose to my throat along with that lifted receiver.

Just then, Quinn's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and a doting smile appeared on her face. It was her son Zachary.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong? Missing mommy?"

The voice on the other end was arrogant and domineering.

"Mom, has that poor kid's mom shown up yet? You didn't waste time talking to her, did you? Tell her to get lost. Just looking at her is annoying."

"Oh, and the latest gaming console is out, globally limited edition. Remember to buy it for me!"

Quinn beamed. "Okay, okay, okay. Mommy will buy it for you as soon as I'm done here. Be good in class now."

After hanging up, she glanced at me contemptuously.

"Did you hear that? That's the difference."

"My son has had everything he could want since childhood. And your son? He's dragging his parents down and getting kicked out of school."

"I guess that's just fate."

Her words stabbed into my heart.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my flesh.

The office door was suddenly knocked.

The principal's secretary poked her head in frantically, her face pale.

"Prin... Principal, this is bad!"

"Several major shareholders of the school, and... and Director Clark from the board, they've all suddenly arrived!"

"They're in the conference room, saying they're calling an emergency board meeting!"

The phone in the principal's hand clattered to the floor.

"What? Director Clark? Why is he here? Why didn't I receive any notice?"

Quinn frowned impatiently and waved her hand.

"What nonsense. A bunch of old men having a meetingwhat's the big deal?"

"Principal, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and process the expulsion!"

The principal was completely dazed, standing in place, at a loss.

The atmosphere in the entire office instantly became strange.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

It was a text from Hudson.

"I'm downstairs. The new school director wants to meet you. I'm sending him up."

I raised my head, looking at Quinn's face twisted with impatience, and slowly held up my phone.

The call connected. I put it on speaker, my voice not loud but clearly filling the entire office.

"Honey, are they here yet?"

"Yes, they're here." Hudson's voice was as steady as always.

I looked at the ashen-faced principal and the stunned Quinn, and said word by word:

"Good. Send him up."

"It's time to replace the principal."

As my words fell, the entire office became deathly silent.

The principal stared at me with wide eyes.

Quinn froze at first, then burst into even more piercing laughter.

"Replace the principal? You? Who do you think you are? God almighty?"

She laughed so hard she was bending over, the disdain in her eyes almost tangible.

"Let me tell you, this school's principal got his position because my uncle put in a word for him! No one can replace him!"

The office door was suddenly pushed open forcefully.

Hudson walked in.

He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, his posture upright, his aura powerful.

As soon as he appeared, the air in the entire space seemed to be sucked out.

Behind him followed a white-haired but vigorous-looking elderly man, and several middle-aged men with equally impressive presence.

The moment the principal saw that elderly man, his legs went weak and he nearly collapsed to his knees.

"Dir... Director Clark! Why... why are you here?"

The man called Director Clark didn't even glance at him, walking straight toward me.

He bowed slightly, his attitude respectful to an unbelievable degree.

"Mrs. Hudson, I'm sorry you and your child have been wronged."

Hudson walked to my side, took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders, asking gently, "Are you okay?"

I shook my head.

Quinn's laughter was still frozen on her face. She looked at me, then at Hudson, then at Director Clark who was being so respectful to us, her brain completely crashed.

"You... who are you?" she stammered.

Only then did Hudson turn his gaze to her.

"Weren't you just showing off your uncle?"

He said lightly.

"He's right outside the door. You can ask him right now who I am."

As soon as he finished speaking, two black-suited bodyguards dragged in a sweating fat man.

It was none other than Commissioner Williams from the photo.

The moment Williams saw Hudson, his face turned deathly pale, sweat pouring down like rain.

He broke free from the bodyguards and crawled on his hands and knees to Hudson's feet.

"Mr... Mr. Hudson! It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"

"I didn't know... I really didn't know it was your son!"

This dramatic scene left everyone in the office petrified.

Quinn was even more thunderstruck, staring blankly at her uncle kneeling on the ground in such an undignified state.

"Uncle Williams... you... what are you doing?"

Williams heard her voice and turned to slap her across the face.

"You idiot! Are you trying to get me killed!"

He pointed at Hudson, his voice trembling.

"Do you know who he is? He's Hudson! He's the chairman of Apex Capital! He's the Governor's honored guest!"

"And you dared to offend his family?!"

Chairman of Apex Capital, Hudson.

The principal's eyes rolled back and he collapsed limply in his chair.

Quinn's face instantly drained of all color.

Quinn stood there stupidly, covering her face, completely stunned.

Williams kept kowtowing to Hudson, begging for mercy.

"Mr. Hudson, I was wrong, I was really wrong! My niece was blind. Please, in your magnanimity, spare me this once!"

Hudson didn't even glance at him, only saying to Director Clark, "Director Clark, it seems both the State Education Committee and this school need a thorough cleaning."

Director Clark immediately understood, nodding seriously.

"Mr. Hudson, rest assured. I will give you and Mrs. Hudson a satisfactory resolution to this matter."

He turned, his gaze sharp as a knife as it fell on the principal slumped in his chair.

"You, as principal, have distorted the truth and aided evil. Effective immediately, you are fired."

Then he looked at the trembling Williams.

"As for you, Commissioner Williams, I believe the State Attorney General's office will be very interested in your activities over these years."