The two of them, father and son, were so much alike.
“Hanley, don’t pretend you don’t understand me. I can’t attend your conference because your father has custody, and your grandmother explicitly told the school staff not to let me near you. I can’t show up as your legal guardian. The school principal won’t allow it.”
“I already said I can explain it to the principal! Why are you so insistent on not going? It’s because of Lucas and Liana, isn’t it? You’re not coming to my conference because you’re protecting them.”
“You were never this desperate for me to attend before. Why don’t you just ask Marie to go this year, like always? Then you wouldn’t have all this trouble.”
“Mommy, I can’t believe you’re so petty and vindictive. I already apologized, and you’re still holding a grudge. I told you, Marie has gone so many times. I wanted to give you a chance this time, but you won’t even take it. If you don’t come, I’ll never acknowledge you as my mother again.”
“If you truly don’t want to acknowledge me as your mother, I can’t force you.”
“You’re just awful! I don’t have a horrible mother like you!”
Hanley turned and ran. Natalie quickly chased after him, grabbing his arm. “Hanley, where are you going?”
“Wherever I go, it’s none of your business! You’re a bad mother who won’t even come to my parent-teacher conference.”
At that moment, people on the street started to stare at them.
“No matter how busy you are with work, it’s for your kids. Can’t you just take a day off for a parent-teacher conference? Look how upset the poor child is, his face is all red.”
A passerby criticized Natalie, who didn’t bother to explain.
Seeing that he had an audience, Hanley raised his voice. “You’ll go to someone else’s kids’ conference, but not your own son’s! You became a stepmother and forgot all about me, your own child!”
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