Mom threw out the bait.
"My daughter is first in her grade. She can tutor your daughter for free."
Savannah's mother bit her lip, weighing the offer. A long pause. Then she nodded. "Okay. Since Sarah likes it so much, I'll give it to her."
Mom took the leash. A cold, calculating glint flickered in her eyes—the look of a scheme snapping into place.
Just then, Sarah and Savannah walked out through the school gates.
Sarah hurried over, her face lifting with rare, unguarded joy. "Mom? You're finally allowing me to keep a dog?"
Mom's lips curled.
Right in front of Sarah, she lifted the little toy poodle high into the air—
And slammed it onto the concrete.
*Thud.*
The dog's skull cracked against pavement with a wet, sickening sound. A miserable yelp. Then nothing but twitching.
"Ah!"
Sarah's scream tore through the air. Her hands flew to her mouth. Beside her, Savannah burst into loud, wailing sobs.
Mom looked satisfied. Relieved. As if a heavy burden had finally been lifted. She pointed a shaking finger at the dying animal.
"You are in your senior year! You need to focus on your studies! Don't let these cats and dogs drain your energy." Her voice boomed across the crowd. "They are stumbling blocks on your road to success. They will only drag your grades down!"
Savannah's mother rushed forward, face deathly pale, covering her daughter's eyes with trembling hands.
"How could you do that? Is your daughter's mental health worth less to you than her grades?"
Mom lifted her chin. Looked down at the woman with utter contempt.
"Do you know why Savannah's grades are trash? It's because she has a mother who indulges her every whim!"
"You—" Savannah's mother choked on her own fury. She grabbed Savannah's arm and pulled her away. "Let's go. Don't ever play with that family again."
Sarah watched her only friend being dragged off, tears spilling over. She looked ready to shatter.
But Mom stood there, chest puffed out like a victorious rooster, and launched into a mocking, singsong lecture.
"I told you long ago not to mix with the bottom of the barrel. You are going to Tsinghua or Peking University. These people aren't worthy of breathing the same air as you."
Her volume drew a crowd. Parents and students formed a loose circle around us.
Tears streaked Sarah's cheeks. "Mom, will you only be satisfied when I have no friends left in the world?"
*Slap!*
Mom's palm cracked across Sarah's face.
"Stop acting precious! Did I tell you not to make friends? I said make friends with people who study well and come from good families!" Her voice rose higher. "You lack the ability to make high-quality connections, and you dare blame me?"
She leaned in close. Her voice dropped to a venomous hiss. "Didn't the doctor say you have depression? But I saw you smiling just now. I think you're faking it—pretending to be sick to force me to give in. Not a chance!"
I tugged at Mom's sleeve, trying to whisper, "Mom, please, everyone is watching..."
She didn't even acknowledge me. She grabbed Sarah's arm and shook her. "Liar!"
Sarah shook her head desperately. The movement made the school uniform jacket she'd tied around her waist slip loose and fall to the ground.
"I didn't lie! I'm not a liar!"
A student in the crowd pointed. "Look at her pants!"
Sarah froze. Realization hit her, and she panicked, dropping into a squat to snatch the jacket back and cover herself.
But Mom was faster.
"Stop!" Mom barked. "What is that on your pants?"
Sarah clutched the jacket to her backside, eyes darting around the crowd, humiliation flooding her face.
Mom's voice turned shrill. Piercing. "I said stop! Let me see what that is!"
She shoved Sarah forward like a criminal caught red-handed.
