Please Take Me Home, Daddy - Chapter 393: Chapter 393

Celia was flabbergasted. She looked at the group of outspoken girls and sneered, "Wow, such a big reaction. Aren't you guys kinda bullying me now?"
Laura raised an eyebrow, "If telling the truth is bullying, then what you did to me earlier counts too."
Everyone paused, turning to face Laura. Celia didn't get it. "When did I bully you?"
Laura's expression was stern, "You think it's no big deal that my skirt got flipped, but it matters to me. I hate it when boys flip my skirt, and you made it seem like I was making a mountain out of a molehill, right?"
She was direct, "Everyone thinks Clifford was wrong, but you don't, and around here, we welcome people who can tell right from wrong. And you're not one of them."
Other girls' eyes sparkled with admiration, "Man, she's got quite the silver tongue for someone so young."
"That's Laura's charm—she's young but talks like she's grown, understands everything."
Celia laughed out of frustration, now more puzzled than ever, "I really can't follow your logic. To me, it's no big deal if a four-year-old kid bathes outside, but get to you guys, and it's suddenly all delicate."
Laura looked right at her, unflinching, "Exactly, I am delicate because I want to protect my own safety, something my mother taught me. Did yours not teach you the same?"
Zayn just smiled, amused.
Everett whistled, "Keep at it! Hit her with the truth!"
Hearing this, Celia felt her cheeks burning hotter, "I don't need to, because I'm strong enough. I'm not fragile like you."
With a nonchalant nod, Laura said, "Okay, then do us a favor and step outside. We're about to start class."
Celia's face darkened, and anger glinted in her almond-shaped eyes. Just then, a cool female voice cut through the tension, "Laura, what's all this noise about?"
Laura turned to see her mother, her face lighting up with joy, "Mom!"
Winnie came into view, beaming, with a stunningly beautiful woman standing behind her. The woman was of petite stature, her face delicate and her skin flawless. She bowed politely to Laura, "Hello, Laura. I'm Clifford's mom. I am so sorry that my son lifted your skirt. I'm going to deal with him right now."
And with that, she walked over to Clifford, grabbed his ear, and headed for the restroom, her tender voice suddenly deepening, "Get over here, now! How are you gonna explain this to Laura's parents?"
Clifford didn't dare move, following helplessly, "Ow, Mom, I'm sorry!"
The woman was unforgiving, "Calling me mom now? Too late! What have I always taught you? And now you're lifting skirts, making people say the Graham family don't have manners."
Clifford's voice quivered with tears as he looked back at Laura, "Laura! Help me, Laura! I was wrong! I shouldn't have pinched your ear!"
Then, a deep male voice echoed, "Apologizing now? What were you doing earlier?"
Laura turned to the source. Antonio, in a suit, strode down the hallway with long, elegant steps. Behind him, Joshua, Louis, and Favian walked with stony expressions, closing in. Just as they appeared, a draft of autumn air blew down the hallway, lightly rustling their coats.
The girls were starstruck, sighing, "Wow... Here come Laura's uncles and dad to save the day."
"They're really handsome."
Clifford's mom froze, responding with an awkward laugh, "Mr. Smith."
Antonio stepped up to Clifford, hands pressing down on his shoulders, "Let me have a word with the boy. Don't worry, I won't let him suffer."
Clifford's mom twitched her mouth, "What are you planning to do?"
Favian, adjusting his glasses, raised a sixth-grade math test paper, "This is specially chosen for him. If he doesn't score a hundred, we'll have a 'little talk' with him."
Clifford thought, 'What?! My math scores are always the worst! How am I supposed to get a perfect score? This is insane!'
Yet, his mom's eyes were shining. She treasured the guidance from big shots like the Yales and Antonio. It was a perfect chance for her son to kick his bad habits.
She excitedly said, "Wait a minute, please. I need to deal with him first."
Clifford protested, "Mom! Am I really your flesh and blood?"
His mother pushed him into the restroom with a smile, closing the door behind them, and sharp scolding could be heard immediately. Antonio, hands in his pockets, waited right outside the bathroom door.
Laura, mouth agape, said to Winnie, "Mom, aren't you busy? You didn't need to bring everyone for my issue."
Joshua sneered, "Laura, he almost took advantage of you. Today, he's going to learn his lesson and think twice before messing with skirts again."
Favian elegantly pushed his glasses up, "I can call his principal anytime to make him write a reflection."
Louis, with a mischievous grin, said, "Oh, come on. They're just kids. Why be so harsh? Let's just make him take some photos in a dress and save them for blackmail later. Why be so cruel?"
Joshua and Favian were speechless.
Antonio's face showed anger, "I will handle this personally." He then turned to his three sons, "And you guys, don't just stand there, got it?"
Xander's glasses flashed with wit as he smirked knowingly; Jasper nodded with resolve; Everett thumped his chest confidently, "Don't worry, Dad."
Zayn just snorted. He thought, 'I have a bone to pick with Clifford too'
Laura prayed to herself, hoping that Clifford, with his usually dismal grades, might manage to get at least one fill-in-the-blank question right. Suddenly, she felt envious gazes from around the room. Looking up, she saw a sea of girls staring at her with shining eyes, as if looking at a treasure.
Some girls made snide remarks at a bewildered Celia beside them, "Someone with no manners was calling Laura delicate, but even Clifford's mom thinks Clifford's behavior is uncouth, putting her to shame."
Celia's face darkened, stubbornly retorting, "Cut the sarcasm. I'm straightforward. If a girl doesn't want her skirt flipped, she shouldn't wear one. How is it someone else's fault if she dresses like that?"
Everyone was speechless because this sounded like some twisted victim-blaming.
Lana, with a look of disgust, covered her ears. As an etiquette teacher, she couldn't bear to hear such nonsense—it made her blood boil.
Winnie was also getting angry but held back, asking, "You look familiar to me. Are you Simon's child?"
Celia proudly nodded, "Yes, I am."
Laura frowned at Zayn, "Zayn, it seems like she's your sister then."
Zayn paused before deadpanning, "I have no sister."