Later that evening, Dinah arrived home. She saw her daughter Sarah, who immediately ran toward her, clearly agitated.
"Mom, you have to hear what happened to Laurel!"
Dinah was surprised and turned to look at Laurel, who looked as if she had been crying.
An hour later, when Quentin arrived home, he spoke immediately."I came back as fast as I could. Tell me right now what happened."
Dinah looked at him calmly and said, "Sit down. Laurel, tell your father everything you told me."
Twenty minutes later, Quentin was practically blind with rage.
"Children ambushing a little girl on her way home, pulling a knife and using it against another child," he shouted. "I will make sure those kids—and their parents—do not get away with this. I'm calling them immediately."
Dinah stepped closer and placed a hand on his arm."Calm down, Quentin. First, we need to take care of Laurel. Tomorrow, we'll go to the school together."
Mike – POV
He had finished assembling the laptop and successfully planted the listening device on his father's phone. As Mike gathered the remaining scrap to throw it away, he thought:
The bug is already in place. Every call he makes will be recorded. Now I just have to wait for the right moment.
The next morning, several parents had come to the school—including Quentin and Dinah. A heated discussion seemed to be taking place.
Mike, who had treated his wound himself with a small bandage, kept it hidden and sat next to Tommy.
"Morning, Tommy," Mike said. "Why are there fewer people here today?"
Tommy looked at him and replied, "It seems Laurel, Derek, and his friends are all sick today."
Mike already had a good idea what was going on when a voice came over the loudspeaker:
"Michael Silver, please report to the principal's office."
Tommy glanced at him."I hope you didn't do anything stupid."
Mike shrugged slightly."Don't worry. It's nothing serious."
He stood up and headed toward the principal's office.
General POV
Inside the principal's office sat Derek's parents and Laurel's parents, arguing intensely about the incident. The principal had decided to call in the boy involved as well.
Just as Quentin was about to speak again, there was a knock at the door.
Mike entered.
He looked at Principal Brooks and said politely,"Sorry for the interruption. I was called here."
Before he could say anything else, Derek's mother screamed at him:"YOU BROKE MY SON'S NOSE! HE CAME HOME CRYING!"
Quentin frowned deeply."That's enough. It was your son who got too close to my daughter. If you don't want me to launch an official investigation into your failure as parents, you should remove your son from the school my daughter attends."
The principal cleared his throat."Please, everyone. I called Michael here so he could tell us what happened from his perspective. Michael, since you were involved, I will be calling your father to inform him."
Mike nodded calmly."I expected that."
Quentin felt a wave of gratitude toward the boy. He looked at Mike and said,"I'm thankful that you helped my daughter. Please tell us what happened."
Mike met his gaze."You're Laurel's father. She speaks very proudly of you. I'll gladly explain."
Ten minutes later, Derek's mother screamed again:"STOP LYING, YOU BRAT! IT'S OBVIOUS YOU WERE THE ONE WHO HURT HIM!"
Dinah, who had been watching silently, spoke up."You should control yourself better. If this is how you behave at home, I'm not surprised your son treats his classmates the same way."
Mike looked at her, then back at the others."If you don't believe me, believe the video."
He took out his phone and handed it to the principal.
Principal Brooks accepted it."Thank you, Michael. This will help us clarify the situation. I'll send it to myself. You may go now."
"No problem," Mike replied.
Before Mike could leave, Quentin stopped him."One more thing. Laurel told me you were injured by a knife. Show me the wound."
Mike hesitated briefly, then nodded."It's not as bad as it looks."
He pulled down his collar and removed the bandage, revealing a cut on the side of his neck.
Quentin's eyes widened."You see? My daughter told the truth. Your son and his friends are a danger to the children at this school. This boy is the reason my daughter is safe—and you have the audacity to blame him."
The principal's expression hardened."Michael, please go to my secretary. She'll give you a fresh bandage."
Mike nodded and left.
The parents watched the video. Dinah covered her mouth in shock, while Quentin boiled with anger—but also admiration. The boy had come out of nowhere and saved his daughter. He was hardened, capable, and had taken down the attackers alone.
The principal shared similar thoughts.
Later, during recess, Mike told Tommy everything.
Tommy stared at him in amazement."Wow… you beat all of them by yourself and saved Laurel."
Mike smiled faintly."It was nothing. Derek and his friends are weak idiots."
After school, Mike headed toward training—but Quentin was waiting for him.
"There you are, Michael, right?" Quentin said. "Get in. Laurel told me you always walk home alone. I'd like to talk."
Mike hesitated. He didn't like the idea of being driven home in a police car.
"Alright," he said carefully. "But I don't go straight home. I usually go to training after school."
Quentin nodded and started driving.
"That could have ended fatally," Quentin said. "If the knife had gone a little deeper, you'd be dead. Why did you do it?"
Mike looked at him calmly."Mr. Lance, I helped your daughter because she asked me for help with homework after school. I declined. Those boys mocked her for it and started a fight. Thinking about it now… they went after her because of me."
Quentin stopped at a red light."And why would you put yourself in danger for a girl you barely knew?"
Mike answered quietly."I'll tell you what I told Laurel. I'll never understand why one human causes another pain. But I know this: you don't need a reason to do something good. In moments like that, there's no room for logic."
Quentin shook his head and sighed."You're quite the smartass for your age," he said. "But I'm grateful you helped my daughter. I hope nothing like this happens again. And I hope you'll keep an eye on her at school."
Mike smiled slightly."I'm just a kid. But I can help every now and then."
Quentin chuckled to himself.This boy is truly something special.
When Mike arrived home later, he showered and got ready. When his father arrived, he looked furious.
Without a word, Jeffrey punched Mike in the face and beat him until Mike whispered,"Why?"
"You little bastard," Jeffrey snarled. "I told you not to cause trouble at school. And what do you do? You get into fights. If I hear about this again, you'll dig your own grave."
Mike trembled. He had forgotten how little Jeffrey cared.
Jeffrey noticed the knife wound and tore the bandage off."Don't think this makes you tough. If you disrespect me again, I'll sell you to child traffickers. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Mike said in fear.
Jeffrey nodded and went to bed.