Chapter 1168 All an Act
“Mommy, they’re the ones who bullied me first. I was trying to leave after the competition, but the older boys wouldn’t let me leave. They even insisted that I serve them.”
Gregory’s tears spilled out and his voice trembled as he spoke. All in all, he looked aggrieved and pitiful.
Many of those who were present already had their doubts about the whole situation, and after hearing what Gregory had to say, they were more inclined to believe him.
After all, the chubby boy and his friends were all a lot older than Gregory, who was alone and such a young kid too. He didn’t look like someone who could beat up anyone else.
The female teacher was one of those who felt this way.
Meanwhile, the chubby boy and his friends were shocked by the sudden turn of events.
“You’re lying! You’re the one who hit us!” the chubby boy refuted as soon as he could wrap his head around it.
The other kids piped up as well.
“That’s right! That little brat hit us.”
“Don’t be fooled by how he looks. He knows how to fight.”
Gregory didn’t offer a rebuttal. He simply stood there and wiped his tears away silently, which only served to make the onlookers’ hearts ache even more for him.
Quinton was protective as well. He immediately declared, “You still refuse to own up to your mistakes and you’re trying to frame another child! Due to your poor behavior, I hereby announce that all of you have been disqualified from the competition!”
He ignored the bunch of parents who had unpleasant looks on their faces and turned to say to Tessa, “Why don’t you take Gregory back first, Madam Tessa?”
Tessa nodded and left with the still-crying Gregory in her arms.
Along the way, her heart was breaking at the sound of his sniffles and sobs.
Even when they got in the car, Gregory was still crying.
Tessa was beside herself. She peppered him with kisses as she consoled him. “Don’t cry, Gregory. The naughty kids will all be punished.”
Nicholas couldn’t stand seeing his wife being tricked by their son.
He eyed Gregory sternly. “There’s no one else around. You can stop now.”
Gregory, who had been sniffling away, immediately put a stop to the waterworks.
Tessa was shocked by his sudden change.
“W-What’s going on?”
“I’ll let Gregory explain himself to you.”
Nicholas took Tessa’s hand and gave Gregory a look.
Tessa gazed at Gregory doubtfully.
Gregory stuck his tongue out mischievously before explaining, “I’m sorry, Mommy. I lied to you just now. I did teach those older boys a lesson, but it’s only because their comments crossed the line. Plus, I didn’t actually hurt them.”
Tessa finally realized what happened.
Gregory was pretending to be pitiful earlier. He had misled them.
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Even so, she didn’t forget to clarify the situation. “What did they say that made you want to fight them?”
“Before the competition started, they mocked me for being young, but I ignored them. Then, when the competition ended, they blocked my way and refused to let me leave. They wanted me to kneel in front of them and serve them like a master, and if I didn’t, they would hit me.”
Gregory wrinkled his nose and regaled the whole sequence of events.
After hearing what he had to say, Tessa didn’t blame him for his reaction.
After all, it was the older boys who bullied him first.
That being said, she was still worried and advised him patiently, “Although you only acted in self-defense, if you ever encounter this sort of situation again, I’d prefer if you told a teacher at once instead.”
These kids didn’t learn self-defense, but if Gregory ran into those who did, then he would be the one who suffered on the account of his age.
Gregory nodded obediently before clinging to Tessa’s arm with a sweet smile. “You’re awesome, Mommy. You didn’t scold me.”
“Why would I scold you? You’re not the one in the wrong.”
Tessa chuckled and kissed Gregory’s forehead affectionately.
However, Nicholas disagreed. “While you did a pretty good job with your acting just now, during these circumstances, you shouldn’t lie to your family, and you shouldn’t have kept up with the facade afterward to trick your mommy.”
