I was stunned by the slap, my face burning with pain.
Rylee glared at me fiercely. "You're just a teacher hired by our family. You should feel lucky to even talk to me.
"Ms. Elliott, where are you? Come out! How could you let someone like this into the kindergarten?"
Anger surged in my heart, and I couldn't take it anymore!
I was just about to start yelling when Iris pulled me behind her.
She said, "Fiona, the parents at our kindergarten are all wealthy and influential. We can't afford to offend them."
"I know you've been wronged, but her husband is the richest man in Los Angeles. With just one word, he could destroy our future. You better endure it."
Seeing Iris's submissive attitude, Rylee became extremely smug.
She sneered, "Ms. Elliott, at least you know your place. My son doesn't have to give a speech today."
She gave me a sarcastic glance and continued, "But you better discipline these teachers properly, so they don't offend big shots like us!"
My face turned bright red, and my fists clenched tightly with a cracking sound.
The teachers around me quickly grabbed my arm. "Ms. Owens, don't act impulsively! I just secretly glanced at her phone wallpaper—it really is a photo of her and Nolan. She truly is his wife!"
I trembled all over.
So she really is Nolan's lover!
Iris humbled herself and said a few more words, finally smoothing things over.
I stepped aside to call Nolan, but no one answered for a long time.
My palms were sweaty, and I couldn't stop trembling.
Just then, Rylee's scolding voice came from the playground again.
She shouted, "Why should my son run the last leg? He must run the first!"
Iris wiped her sweat and tried to explain, but she wouldn't listen to anything.
She said, "My son must be first in everything. Making him run last, are you trying to ruin him?"
Iris explained, "Ms. Fuller, that's not the case. The last leg is also very important."
"This is just a friendly match; winning or losing isn't that important."
"Winning or losing isn't important?" Rylee glared fiercely at the parents present. "Who said winning or losing isn't important? Do you know my son's status?"
The parents frowned, starting to complain unhappily.
"Ma'am, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Can you not waste our time?"
Rylee's face darkened. "Do you people still want to survive in Los Angeles? Do you know the consequences of offending me?"
Iris's face turned pale, and she hurriedly stepped in to mediate.
The other teachers also rushed over to apologize.
Rylee still wore a dark expression. "If my son can't run the first leg today, your kindergarten might as well shut down!"
Hearing her words, everyone started speculating about her identity.
I couldn't take it anymore and stepped forward to confront her. "Ms. Fuller, have you caused enough trouble? Who do you think you are?"
She stared at me intensely, as if hearing the biggest joke. "Who am I? With just one word, I can decide your fate."
"Do you believe I can make one call and have you kicked out of this kindergarten immediately?"
Her words instantly froze the atmosphere.
Iris panicked and quickly pulled me. "Fiona, stop it! Or even I won't be able to protect you!"
The surrounding teachers turned pale, their eyes filled with worry.
Rylee sneered, "You're determined to resist, aren't you? Unless you bow and apologize to me now, you and all the teachers in this kindergarten will be fired!"
Our kindergarten offers the best benefits in the country. Facing unemployment, the surrounding teachers were on the verge of tears.
I crossed my arms and snorted coldly, "I’d like to see who you really are!"
"Didn't you say you could kick me out? Fine, prove it to me now!"
Her eyes turned cold as she sneered, "Overestimating yourself."
With that, she pulled out her phone and dialed without hesitation.
"Please, Fiona! Don't drag everyone down! Apologize now!" someone pleaded shakily.
I stared intently at Rylee.
The call connected, and she spoke pitifully, "I was bullied! Do something about it!"
Nolan's cold voice came through the phone. "Who dares?"
As soon as he spoke, the parents were instantly in an uproar.
"It's really Nolan! We're doomed!"
"Messing with Mrs. Garrett, Ms. Owens is doomed!"
"No wonder she's so arrogant, turns out she's Nolan's wife!"
Rylee glanced at everyone smugly, but her voice was soft. "It's a teacher from Morning Star Kindergarten, and she actually defied me."
Nolan's voice softened. "Don't cry, I'll stand up for you. If you cry your eyes out, it will hurt me."
The voice in the microphone suddenly got closer.
Footsteps came from behind us, and Nolan appeared at the school gate.
He said coldly, "Who is so ungrateful? Step forward!"
"Didn't you hear what Rylee said? Apologize to her immediately! Or I'll make you disappear from this world!"
The teachers shrank back, even their breathing became cautious.
I coldly pushed through the crowd, staring at him expressionlessly. "Are you sure you want me to kneel and apologize?"