Chapter 0072
Judy’s POV
“W-what are you doing here?” Matt asked, eyes wide as he stared at his father.
Gavin raised a brow, meeting his son’s gaze.
“I was called in for a parent-teacher conference,” he explained. “I was surprised to see your mother already here.”
Matt glanced at me, his cheeks turning red—matching mine.
“My… my mother…” he whispered, staring at the ground.
“Yes,” Gavin said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and running his fingers down my cheek, sending goosebumps across my skin. “I thought she had to work today and wouldn’t be able to make it. I was surprised to see her here.”
Matt lifted his gaze, confusion evident in his eyes. He looked as lost as I felt. He couldn’t believe his father was actually playing along.
“I asked her to come instead. I didn’t want you to be mad at me,” Matt admitted, shifting uncomfortably.
“I see,” Gavin said, leaning back. “And you thought I wouldn’t understand your situation?”
Matt nodded, biting his lip nervously.
“I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me,” he murmured. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
“Tell me exactly what happened,” Gavin said, his eyes locked on his son’s. “Why did you fight that boy?”
Matt hesitated, glancing at me. His cheeks flushed even deeper, and I could tell he didn’t want to say it out loud. I wondered what had happened to make him act this way, but I also knew it wasn’t my place. I wasn’t really his mother.
Come to think of it, I wasn’t even sure who his mother was. I knew Gavin’s fated mate had died in childbirth years ago, but was it during Irene’s birth or Matt’s? If it was during Irene’s, then Matt must have had a different mother. I hadn’t even known Gavin had a son until I started tutoring him—he’d been kept out of the limelight for so long that I found myself curious about the family dynamic.
“I can leave if you want to talk to your father alone,” I offered, starting to stand, but Gavin’s hand stopped me.
“Whatever you need to say to me, you can say in front of your mother,” he said, his eyes never leaving Matt’s.
Matt nodded, fiddling with his fingers before finally speaking.
“He told me I was motherless and unwanted. That not even my own father wanted me,” Matt murmured. “He said I’d never be an important part of the Landry family. I was about to leave the lunchroom, but then he pushed me and told me I didn’t deserve the last name Landry… that my mother probably killed herself because of me. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I punched him in the face. I forgot my own strength and broke his nose…”
I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands. Gavin had loosened his grip on mine as he took in the story, his eyes wide as he stared at his son.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I know I’m not supposed to fight, but I couldn’t—”
Gavin held up his hand, silencing him. I wanted to scold him for cutting Matt off, but then he turned to the principal, his expression cold enough to send a chill down my spine.
“As I said before, my son had a reason for what he did. Now, what exactly are you going to do about the boy who bullied him?”
The principal looked taken aback, glancing between Matt, Gavin, and me.
“I… I’m so sorry. I had no idea…”
“No, you didn’t,” Gavin cut in. “You didn’t even ask. You were quick to point fingers at Matthew without giving him a chance to explain. As the biggest shareholder of this school, I want that boy suspended for what he did. If he ever speaks another ill word to anyone here—especially Matt—he will be expelled. As for Matt, no punishment is warranted.”
Gavin stood, pulling me up with him.
“I’m taking him home for the rest of the day,” he said firmly.
“Y-yes, sir,” Principal Thorne stammered. “I apologize for this misunderstanding.”
As Gavin reached for the door, he paused.
“Oh, and you’ll need a new receptionist. My Beta just fired yours,” he added before pulling the door open and storming out, dragging me along with him.
