CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75: JESSE ELLISON’S DAD ARRIVES

"I didn’t push him, he fell on his own."

Jesse stepped forward and glared at Arthur Ashford; she wasn’t afraid at all. Why should he falsely accuse her?

"You pushed me, you definitely pushed me down. You’re a wild child, and a bad child too."

Arthur struggled in his dad’s arms, trying to get down. He couldn’t lose to a girl, it was too embarrassing.

Jean Ellison naturally believed that Jesse wouldn’t push anyone. She stretched out her arm to shield Jesse by her side and said to the teacher, "Check the surveillance then."

The teacher hesitated and advised, "Children playing around, bumping into each other, there’s no need to make a fuss about who’s right or wrong."

Jean didn’t respond, her expression cold.

Seeing her determination, the teacher had no choice but to look over at Arthur Ashford’s parent, "President Grant, don’t you think so? Checking the surveillance will delay everyone’s play time, and Arthur isn’t hurt..."

"It’s not about who got hurt, but someone is falsely accusing my daughter."

Jean interrupted her, raising her chin slightly, her gaze sweeping over to Arthur Ashford.

Arthur was a little scared and shrank his head into his dad’s embrace.

He just didn’t want to admit that he started it. If his mom found out he was bullying other kids in kindergarten, she’d definitely tan his hide.

His mom should be in a meeting right now and won’t come over until later.

"Dad..."

"Let’s do as Jesse’s mom says and check the surveillance."

He didn’t expect it; his dad actually didn’t stand by him. Wasn’t his dad the one who loved him the most?

He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Jesse is the worst. I only pulled her hair a little, and she wanted to strangle me."

Arthur was the little tyrant of the kindergarten, mischievous and unruly. The other kids avoided him, not daring to tell the teacher even if they were bullied, but Jesse wasn’t afraid of him.

His dad gave him a sharp look, and he dared not speak again.

"Both parents, please come with me."

The teacher had no choice but to take them to look at the surveillance, hoping that Jesse’s mom was reasonable and wouldn’t blow up this small quarrel between kids.

The teacher knew in her heart that even without checking the surveillance, she could guess that Arthur started it.

The kindergarten’s surveillance was always on, day and night, but for some reason, it suddenly malfunctioned today, the screen was black.

"I’m sorry, I’ll immediately have someone come fix it, maybe the wires got pulled when setting up the lawn."

The teacher went out to make a phone call.

Michael Ashford looked at the woman in front of him, pondering for a moment, and asked, "Jesse’s mom, have we met before?"

He found this woman somewhat familiar.

Jean held her breath, quickly avoiding his gaze, silently pulling her hair to the front on one side.

Years ago, when Michael Ashford’s company was just starting, they had business dealings with the Caldwell family, and he had visited them, where he saw her.

"We’ve never met, I just came here not long ago, I’ve been living in Mount Pullen before."

"Mount Pullen, I’ve been there, it has a nice scenery, the pea jelly is a local specialty."

"Yes."

Jean nodded in agreement.

The conversation between them was particularly brief, abruptly ending, yet Michael Ashford kept glancing at her with a scrutinizing look.

She looked like someone, like the fat lady from the Caldwell family.

"Excuse me, I need to make a call, the child’s dad might be busy and caught up on the way."

Jean walked out of the office with Jesse, took out her phone, and glanced at the time, it was already ten o’clock.

The parent-child activities on the kindergarten lawn started on time, sounds of laughter echoed one after another.

She had told Philip Paxton to come by 9:40, it’s already twenty minutes past, and he still hadn’t arrived.

She felt a bit uneasy, dialing the phone number.

The phone rang until the beeping sound came without anyone answering.

Calling again, she was informed the other party was on another call.

"Mom, will Uncle Paxton still come?"

Jesse gently swung her arm, her eyes like round black grapes, expectantly asking her.

If Uncle Paxton didn’t come, she really wouldn’t have a dad, and Arthur would definitely call her a wild child again.

"Uncle Paxton is very busy with work, he’s catching bad guys."

"Today, it’s just mommy playing games with you. Don’t be sad, okay, Jesse?"

Jesse lowered her head, softly responding.

She kind of missed Uncle Holden.

Matthew Ashford came out of the office, dressed in a custom luxury suit, standing over six feet tall.

"Isn’t Jesse’s dad coming?"

Jean saw him approach, putting her phone away, "Um, he’s busy with work."

"To be honest, my wife is also a workaholic, often missing out on our child’s parent-child activities."

Matthew Ashford smiled and crouched in front of Jesse, warmly saying, "Uncle apologizes for Arthur. He shouldn’t have led in bullying you, let alone pushing you."

"Did you see the surveillance?"

Jean retorted.

"No, the teacher told me it broke down, but I understand my own child."

"Arthur was raised by his grandparents since young. They indulged him too much, can’t beat or scold him. He only behaves in front of his mom."

When Arthur came out, he heard his dad criticizing him, making him even more unwilling.

He leaned against the door, making a face at Jesse.

"Nanny nanny boo boo, wild child with no dad."

Matthew Ashford stood up upon hearing this, grabbed him to stand in front, raising a hand to spank him.

He darkened his face without a word.

Arthur wailed and cried, "Grandma, grandma, sob, dad hit me."

Jesse quietly raised her hand, covering her eyes, leaving a slit between her fingers.

She’d never been spanked in her life.

For Arthur, getting spanked seemed as common as a meal, the moment the hand was about to come down, he’d call for grandma for help reflexively.

Jean quickly intervened upon seeing it.

"Enough, don’t hit him, the kid is still young and just doesn’t understand."

It’s not a big deal when kids lie if they realize their mistake.

She wanted the surveillance checked not to pursue anything, just to prevent Jesse from being wronged. She didn’t push anyone and shouldn’t be scolded.

Matthew Ashford pulled his son up, pointing to the wall beside them, "Face the wall until your mom comes to pick you up."

Arthur remained defiant, sniffling, slowly moving to stand facing the wall.

He wiggled his bottom; it still hurt a bit.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll take Jesse outside."

Jean didn’t want today’s parent-child activity disturbed, it was her first time playing games with Jesse.

"Please go ahead."

Matthew Ashford made way for them, letting the mother and daughter past.

He watched Jean’s back, frowning slightly, pondering, could it really not be Claire Caldwell? It shouldn’t be, she’s been in prison for six years, according to the timeline, she’s not released yet.

Even if she was prematurely released, she wouldn’t have time to get married and have a child.

Outside on the lawn, there was a game for three, requiring cooperation between mom, dad, and the child to transport balloons together.

Jesse stood aside, realizing something, looking up at her mom.

"Mom, let’s play the next game."

"Alright."

Jean gently patted her head, smiling sweetly, yet the bitterness remained deeply buried underneath.

Suddenly, a kindergarten teacher waved at them from the entrance, a colorful flag in hand, smiling cheerfully, and loudly announced,

"Jesse’s dad is here."