Just then, Micah sprinted out of the school, grinning as he threw himself into my arms.

"Ms. Lanford! You're picking me up? Thank you!" He unzipped his backpack, pulling out an empty container. "The cookies you made were amazing! My classmates couldn't stop talking about them—they ate every last one!

"You're a great teacher, an amazing cook, and so kind. Everyone's jealous I have you as my tutor!"

I smiled, ruffling his hair. But just as we turned to leave, terrified screams ripped through the air.

Chaos erupted. My head snapped around—there, by the school gate, a man wielding a knife was attacking people at random.

"Help! There's a murderer!"

Adrenaline hit. I scooped Micah into my arms and ran.

Behind me, Talia's panicked screams rang out. "Bianca! Help me!"

I glanced back. She was on the ground, the knife-wielding man closing in fast. Bianca? She was already gone, bolting for her own life without a single glance back.

Talia turned to me next. "Fat woman! Come back and save me! If you do, I'll forgive you!"

I didn't stop. Holding Micah tight, I kept running.

Minutes later, the police arrived and took down the attacker. Once things calmed, I took Micah to the hospital—only to run into Talia being brought in by the authorities.

Her arm was slashed, and both Bianca and Hudson were hovering over her.

"Why did you run and leave me behind? And why did you push me before you ran?!" Talia screamed, hysterical. "I trusted you! I was so good to you! How could you do this to me?!"

"I..." Bianca hesitated for half a second before throwing herself into Hudson's arms, sobbing dramatically. "Hudson, I was terrified! Gabriel still needs me—I couldn't afford to get hurt! I didn't do it on purpose!

"Talia, please forgive me! If you don't, I might as well die—"

Hudson pulled her close, his face full of sympathy. "That's enough, Talia. Stop overreacting. You're fine, aren't you?

"Bianca already feels awful, and Gabriel's still sick. Do you really want to push her over the edge?"

Talia looked ready to explode, but his sheer stupidity left her speechless. With nowhere to direct her anger, she just broke down crying.

Then Bianca spotted me passing by.

"Talia's mother was there too," she sniffled, covering her face. "I thought a mother's bond was unbreakable, so of course she'd save Talia!

"How could I have known she'd run off on her own? If I had known, I never would've left Talia behind!"

Immediately, all eyes snapped to me—sharp, accusing.

Hudson stormed over, face twisted with rage, and slapped me.

The force sent me to the ground. A sharp ringing filled my ears as the world spun.

"You worthless wench! Talia is your BIOLOGICAL daughter! Bianca has Gabriel—if she didn't save Talia, fine, that's understandable. But you? How could you abandon your own child and run for your life?!"