"If you have a problem, take it up with me. Smearing a child's mother right in front of him? Are you even human?"
"I don't know how many times you need us to explain this. Lambert and I may have known each other since we were young, but there has never been anything inappropriate between us."
"We're both women. You open your mouth and spread filthy lies about me without a shred of proof. Aren't you afraid that kind of karma will come back to bite you?"
People instinctively sided with the underdog, and the crowd gathered at the school gates was mostly mothers with children of their own. Grace's words struck a nerve.
"If someone talked trash about me in front of my kid, I'd rip her mouth off."
"Ha. She's got the nerve to mess with the wife of the richest man in Pinecrest. Must have a death wish."
"If you ask me, she's just jealous that Mrs. Weiss is more popular. I mean, if your own husband and daughter can't stand you, there's clearly something wrong with you."
Amid the barrage of accusations, Lambert refused to be outdone. He charged forward and kicked me hard to the ground.
"The biggest regret of my life is marrying you!"
"Grace is the love of my life. No one gets to slander her in front of me."
His fists rained down. I couldn't fight back. All I could do was curl into myself, shielding what I could.
"Stop!" An aged but commanding voice cut through the chaos like a blade from heaven.
Lambert's eyes were bloodshot, too far gone to even look before he whipped around and snarled, "Where'd you come from, you old hag? At your age, you should know better than to stick your nose where it doesn't belong. Get lost!"
Before the last word left his mouth, several bodyguards rushed in and pinned him to the ground.
Finally freed, I slowly uncurled my limbs and let out a long, shuddering breath.
Through the haze of blood clouding my vision, I saw Grace's face drain white in an instant. Her voice trembled.
"Mom, what are you doing here? Did something happen to Rod? I'll bring Rory home right away."
Lambert lifted his head in disbelief, his voice thick with terror. "Mrs. Weiss?"
