CHAPTER 237

"Tell Mom where it hurts, Quincy. Are you injured?" Madeline's heart was aching.

She had never once laid a hand on them, and she had never felt so distressed before either. It was as if someone had stabbed her in the heart.

"Don't worry, Quincy's mother," Ms. Brooks comfortingly said. "The nurse had checked the kids. They are not hurt at all."

"Not hurt?" Leigh glared at Ms. Brooks with reproach in her eyes. "You mean to tell me the bump on Joel's forehead is not an injury?"

"That is not what I meant." There was an unpleasant look on Ms. Brooks' face. "If you think the bump is an injury, then the other three kids must be severely injured."

Quincy and Joel were a pair of twins that skipped grades. They were beautiful and smart children. Even though they were five years old and studying materials that were a few years ahead of what they should be studying, they had excellent grades and knew everything they were meant to be taught that year. No question would stump them.

Although they were equally cute, the older twin was rather aloof and did not like to speak while the younger twin was very cute and obedient. Hence, everyone loved Joel.

For some reason, the two brothers suddenly got into a fight with their classmates. Even though they were shorter than the other kids, they were able to deal a lot of damage. The other kids all had bruises on their faces.

Madeline was likely nearby as she arrived soon after their call, for the parents of the other three kids were not there yet.

Even so, which parent did not treasure their precious darlings?

Joel only had a little bump on his head, yet his mother was already fuming with anger. The other kids had bruises and bleeding noses. What was she going to say to their parents if she acknowledged the bump as an injury?

Due to her anxiety, she had spoken harshly with her displeasure audible to all.

Leigh had watched Quincy and Joel grow up into boys that drew everyone to love them. She loved them as a godmother would. She was initially angry that Joel was hurt, but upon hearing the tone in Ms. Brooks' voice that implied the bump on his head was nothing, her anger burned brighter.

She shot up to stare deep into Ms. Brooks' eyes as she coldly said, "Ms. Brooks, correct? I have a question; why did the boys fight with the other three kids? I know them. They have great tempers and personalities, and they have been raised right. They would not pick a fight without any reason. Also, they are five years old. The other kids in your class are at least eight or older, yes? Three eight-year- old kids attacked two five-year-old boys. Joel is also a weak kid who reached his growth spurt later than usual, making him shorter than the other kids his age. Are you telling me that our boys took advantage of the other kids, making them suffer?"

Ms. Brooks flushed red at the accusation.

The logic was correct and sensible, but the other three kids had certainly suffered...

Flustered, she was unable to speak for a few minutes. With red cheeks, she finally spat out, "The other kids did suffer worse injuries. I can show you if you don't believe me."

She then left the room and returned with three boys around the age of eight.

All three boys had bruises on their faces and nose. They were also limping. It was clear that they suffered worse injuries than Quincy and Joel. exclusive content.

When Madeline saw the three boys, her first reaction was gratitude that her twins did not look as bad. Otherwise, she would be beyond distressed.

At that, she also remembered that these boys were also beloved by their parents. There was no way their parents would be okay after seeing those injuries.

Just as that thought came to her mind, a screech rang out from behind her as a woman in high heels flew past her toward the three injured boys. The woman then dragged one of them into her embrace.

"What happened?" Her shriek was shrill enough that it pierced through their ears. "Who did this to my son?"

The woman then glared at Ms. Brooks. "What happened here? Why was my son attacked?"

The chubby little boy that was the woman's son had been on the verge of tears. His mother's appearance prompted him to burst out sobbing. "Mom, they hit me! The two of them ganged up on me! You must avenge me, Mom!"

"Who? Whose beastly children were rude enough to do this to my son?" questioned the woman.

This entire situation was so awkward for Ms. Brooks.

After all, Madeline was standing right there in the room.

No matter how much she cursed her bad luck, the only thing she could do was de-escalate the situation. "Jayden's mother, it is not that bad," she said with an apologetic smile. "Kids have short memories. They might fight today, but they will play together tomorrow. Calm down, ma'am. Quincy and Joel did not mean to do it. They..."

"Quincy and Joel? Queenie Gaston, the chubby boy's mother, turned to look at Madeline, Leigh, Quincy, and Joel. Her face had clouded over with anger.

The sight of them incited a little guilt in her, but then she straightened up and angrily asked Madeline, "Did your sons do this to my son? What did you even teach them?"

"I think I have taught them very well, but you might not have raised yours well." Madeline coldly stared back at her. "We do not even know the facts of the situation yet the first thing you do is scream and shout at other people. It would be hard for your son to be raised right."

"What do you mean we don't even know what happened? Just look at our sons!" Queenie screeched as she pointed at Joel before pointing at her son. "Look at the difference in their injuries! Are you saying I cannot scold your son after what he did to mine? If you do not want him scolded, you had better control your son and stop him from attacking other kids! No one had ever laid a hand on my baby since the day he was born but look what your son has done! This cannot be ignored!"

"Do you think you're in the right just because you're weaker?" Madeline sneered. "That era is in the past. Now, it is the person who attacks first who is in the wrong. The one who picked a fight deserved to be beaten up. Even if he is injured, he asked for it. It had nothing to do with other people!"

She knew her sons. They grew up in the Taylor Residence, so they were cautious kids who excelled in self-restraint. They would not start a fight or ask for one.

The only reason they would beat the other kids up this badly was that the other kids made them angry.

He who started the fight was at fault.

How dared Queenie blame Madeline's children because the former's kid was the weaker fighter! He deserved to be beaten up!

Before Queenie could respond, Madeline turned to Ms. Brooks. "Please explain to us why the five boys were fighting."

"We do not know yet," Ms. Brooks reluctantly admitted. "I was preoccupied with getting the kids to the nurse's office after seeing their injuries. I had yet to ask them why they were fighting."

"Well, ask them now!" Leigh knelt down, held Joel's hand, and softly asked him, "Tell me, Joel, why were you guys fighting?"