Chapter 9
Our homeroom teacher Mr. Sterling waited with me at the hospital for almost five hours before Dad finally showed up with Quinn.
Mr. Sterling and Dad were classmates, so he’d heard some things about my family situation.
“Lincoln, I’m not trying to lecture you, but you can’t abuse your own child just because you’ve got a new woman.”
“You know what the doctor just told me? He said the child fainted from hunger. You’re not even feeding your kid!”
“If you’re really too poor to raise a child, I can talk to our classmates and we’ll all chip in to help you through tough times.”
Dad’s face turned red as Mr. Sterling scolded him.
This guy had always overshadowed him in school, and now that they’d finally graduated and entered society, his own daughter
ended up in Sterling’s class.
It made Dad feel inferior whenever he saw Mr. Sterling.
I lay in the hospital bed, and when I heard enough, I weakly defended Dad: “Mr. Sterling, don’t blame my dad. I forgot to ask him for spending money. It’s my fault.”
Dad looked at me gratefully, and I sneered inwardly.
He climbed right up the ladder I’d given him: “I’ve been neglecting the child. I promise you, this will never happen again.”
Hearing my explanation, Mr. Sterling’s stern expression softened, and he said something heartfelt to Dad: “Lincoln, Sienna’s your only child. When she succeeds, it reflects well on you too.”
“When you’re old, you’ll be able to enjoy your children’s success.”
Dad was moved and agreed repeatedly.
Quinn was smart this time too-she didn’t make a scene outside and embarrass Dad.
I gestured to Charlotte and Dante, who were hiding outside the hospital room observing, indicating the mission was complete and they could go home.
This time when I “fainted” in Mr. Sterling’s class, as my desk partner, Charlotte had timely informed the worried teacher that I hadn’t eaten all day when he rushed me to the hospital.
Dante didn’t have a speaking role-just a friendly cameo accompanying Charlotte.
Given Mr. Sterling’s intelligence and his knowledge of Dad, he could naturally guess what kind of dire straits I was living in at home.
I was also giving Mr. Sterling an excuse to stand up for me.
I figured after this, Dad would never withhold my spending money again.
Sure enough, when we got home Dad gave me five hundred dollars, telling me to “spend it carefully.”
Even though Quinn’s displeasure was written all over her face, Dad pretended not to see it.
For the first time, I had defeated Quinn in Dad’s house.
My peaceful life lasted less than half a month before it was shattered by the sound of Quinn throwing up.
Quinn was pregnant.
