?<strong>Chapter 347:</strong>


    Aurora jerked her hand away from Chuck. “What makes you so special? Isn’t it just your aunt who picks you up?”


    Chuck retorted with a sneer, “That’s different! My aunt’s taking me to dinner with my parentster. You wouldn’t understand because you don’t have that, do you? Duh!”


    Aurora’s patience snapped after enduring Chuck’s taunts all day. In a swift motion, she pushed him, disrupting the orderly line of students. The teacher rushed over, calling out Aurora’s name in a stern tone.


    Before the teacher could intervene further, Chuck’s aunt stormed through the doorway. Without a word, she pped Aurora, causing the little girl to stagger back and fall to the ground, tears welling up.


    Joelle, witnessing the scene, hurried to Aurora’s side and shielded her. “Why would you strike a child?”


    The woman faced Joelle, unrepentant. “Is this your daughter?”


    “Yes, she is.”


    Immediately, the woman shoved Joelle. “How do you discipline your child? She pushed my nephew! What if she had hurt him? How would youpensate?”


    Behind his aunt, Chuck peered out, his voice quivering. “Auntie, I’m scared…”


    “Don’t worry. Your auntie’s here to look after you!”


    Joelle, usuallyposed, now trembled with barely contained fury, yet her voice remained steady. “My daughter wouldn’t push without provocation. Let’s discuss what happened and determine the fault on both sides.”


    “I don’t have time to waste on this.” The woman pointed at Aurora, who was half-hidden behind Joelle. “You better watch it, youngdy! Touch my nephew again, and you’ll regret it!”


    Bolstered by her mother’s presence, Aurora retorted boldly, “Chuck started it! He said I didn’t have a dad!”


    Chuck barked back, “Because it’s true!”


    “It’s not!”


    Chuck’s aunt scoffed, “Ignore her. She’s just a child from a broken home. Let’s go, Chuck.”


    Joelle’s temper snapped, a rare break from her usual demeanor. “Stop right there!”


    They ignored her and continued walking away. Joelle whispered to Aurora, “Remember what you learned in self-defense ss?”


    “Mom?”


    Without waiting for an answer, Joelle slipped off her heels and surged forward, grasping the woman’s hair in a firm grip. The yground filled with the woman’s shrieks as Joelle pulled sharply. “Never touch my child again! You hit her, and I’ll defend her every single time!”


    Joelle delivered three rapid ps, leaving the woman sprawled on the ground, stunned.


    Chuck, in a fit of anger, lunged at Aurora, attempting to grab her throat. But Aurora, recalling her mother’s instructions, stepped back, shifted her stance, and delivered a sharp kick. It wasn’t powerful, but it was enough to send Chuck reeling in pain.


    Joelle gathered her belongings withposure, her gaze icy as she addressed the woman still on the ground. “My daughter defended herself because your nephew was insulting her. I pped you because you struck her. Consider yourself fortunate it wasn’t more.”


    The woman, her face flushed with humiliation and anger, shrieked, “I’m calling the police! You’ll regret this! Your daughter won’tst in this school!”


    “Call them. Each time you threaten my child, I’ll respond in kind. See if the police can stop me.”


    Joelle leaned in close to the woman, her voice low and menacing. “I’ve kept my background a secret to avoid unnecessary attention, but it seems I need to remind you who we are. My brother is Shawn Watson. You know who my daughter’s father is, don’t you?”


    The woman’s face paled with the realization of whom she had provoked. Ignoring her, Joelle took Aurora by the hand and walked confidently through the crowd.


    Concerned about Aurora’s well-being after such an incident, Joelle decided a lighter atmosphere was needed. She steered them toward a fast-food restaurant, a rare treat that lit up Aurora’s face with joy.


    “Always stand up for yourself, Aurora. If someone bullies you, push back. I’m always here, and I’ll always support you.”


    “Okay! Mom, got it!”


    Joelle nced at her with a mix of affection and concern. “Do you ever feel upset that your dad isn’t around more?”


    Aurora, still busy with her meal, paused thoughtfully. She had reached an understanding with Rafael to stay connected through video calls, respecting Joelle’s new life without him.


    “No, I don’t,” she replied confidently, a smear of ketchup on her cheek underscoring her childlike innocence. She understood that Adrian was her biological father, a concept still a bit fuzzy to her, but it also meant she had not one, but two dads. Dunn had convinced her that having two dads who cared about her made her lucky.


    “Mom, do you like Mr. Miller?”


    Joelle paused, surprised by the question. “What makes you ask that, honey?”


    Aurora nibbled on her burger, trying to seem casual. “Well, if you were thinking about finding a new dad for me, I think he would be nice.”


    Her voice was hopeful, reflecting her wish for a family unity that would shield her frombels like “fatherless.”


    “Oh, you silly girl!” Joelleughed, brushing Aurora’s hair affectionately.


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