Chapter 25

Shirley's face was swollen from the slap, her foot was scraped, and a large chunk of her hair had been pulled out. She was in so much pain that she felt dizzy. Yet, Randy didn't show any concern for her condition; instead.he started blaming her right away.

Fury and frustration welled up inside Shirley, and she mustered all her strength to slap Randy across the face.

Randy spun around from the force of the slap, staring at her in dibelief."Are you out of your mind? How dare you hit me? Randy, you jerk! After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me?"

Randy, not one to back down, kicked at her. "I'm your man. No matter what, you can't lay a hand on me. Otherwise, we're done."

Shirley never imagined that the man she had fought so hard to win back,enduring all the scorn, would treat her like this.

"Fine! Now that you're back with the Berkeley Family,you think you can use me and then dump me? If I take our child to the Berkeley Family and cause a scene, do you think you'll come out unscathed? They'd kick you out, and we can go down together," Shirley warned.

Randy hesitated, knowing he hadn't secured his position in the Berkeley Family yet. If things got ugly, it wouldn't end well for him.

"It's because you were making such a scene that I lost control," he said,his tone softening.

"You're an idiot. Did it never occur to you that this was all Kathie's plan to humiliate us and turn us against each other?" Shirley snapped back.

Randy didn't understand what she meant until Shirley showed him her phone's call log. "Yesterday, when you went to see her, she called me and

made sure I overheard your conversation. You thought she wanted to get back together, but she was just playing you."

Randy finally realized the truth. He had thought Kathie still loved him,but she had been making a fool of him.

Fuming, he immediately called Kathie.

Kathie saw the call and knew what it was about, but she answered anyway.

Randy roared, "Kathie, were you just messing with me? You never intended to get back together; you just wanted to humiliate us."

Kathie laughed heartily. "Looks like you're not as dumb as I thought. You finally figured it out. Seeing a scumbag like you makes me sick! You think we could ever get back together? Dream on!"

Randy's chest heaved with anger. He had thought he could control Kathie,but she had outsmarted him.

"Listen. Kathie, your three illegitimate kids won't get into Elite Tots Academy," he said angrily.

"Even if my kids can't get into Elite Tots Academy, I can find other schools. If you think you can threaten me with that, you're delusional."

"I'll make sure they can't get into any school,Just watch."

"If you try anything,I'll destroy you."

After hanging up, Kathie felt a mix of emotions.She had vented her anger,but the issue of her kids' schooling remained unresolved.

She had lost her temper, and now she needed to find another solution.

In the backyard of Kathie's villa in Eldoria, Jonathan was with the three kids, having a kite-flying contest to see whose kite could fly the highest.

Eileen, the smallest. struggled to keep her kite in the air.

"Sir, why won't my kite fly?" Eileen said, a bit disappointed.

Jonathan held her tiny hand. "You need to run with the wind and let out the string when there's a breeze. That way, it will soar."

Kyle,the most perceptive, had his kite flying the highest. "Look, mine's higher than all of yours."

Jonathan noticed that these kids were smarter than most their age,especially Kyle and Zachary, who were quick thinkers. Even he had been outsmarted by them a few times.

Eileen. though not as sharp as her brothers, had an impressive talent for drawing that amazed him.

"I'm catching up to Kyle," Zachary said, not wanting to be outdone.

When Kathie returned, she saw the three sweaty kids and a man in a wheelchair arguing in the yard. The scene was almost comical.

"What are you all doing?" Kathie asked.

The kids turned and waved excitedly. "Mommy, you're back! Come judge whose kite is flying the highest!"

Kathie looked up and saw four kites in the sky, all at similar heights and equally unattractive.

"Seven,did you make these?" Kathie asked.

Jonathan nodded proudly. "I have some skills, you know."

Kathie teased, "They're ugly and uneven."

Jonathan fell silent, feeling deflated. "At least they're flying high. Now we need to rank them. Who do you think is first?" Jonathan passed the tough decision to her.

Zachary held his string. "Mommy, mine's the highest, right?"

Eileen chimed in, "Mine's the highest."

"You cheated. Seven helped you get it up there. You just held the string."Zachary exposed her.

Since the kids had gotten to know Jonathan, they all called him by the nickname Kathie had given him, Seven.

Eileen retorted, "It still counts as mine."

Kathie couldn't help but laugh. She had to be fair. "Zachary's is first. Seven's second. Kyle's third, and Eileen's is the best."

With the rankings settled, they reeled in the kites. Kathie noticed their clothes were soaked from playing outside.

"Everyone go inside and change clothes, or you'll catch a cold," Kathie said with concern.

The kids went inside, and Kathie turned to Jonathan. "Seven, you're an adult. How could you let them play outside in the sun for so long? They could get heatstroke."

Jonathan shrugged. "You coddle them too much. Kids need sunlight. Look.they played all day and they're fine."

Kathie sighed, but he had a point. "Your face is dirty too. Go wash up."

Jonathan slumped in his wheelchair. "I'm too tired. Push me inside."

Kathie knew he was faking. "You might as well give up your hands then." Jonathan immediately sat up straight. "Suddenly, I feel better. Dr.Cavendish, your medical skills are amazing."

Kathie didn't want to banter with him. Just then, her phone rang. It was Melinda.

Melinda excitedly told her, "Kathie. I have great news. Your kids' school applications have been approved."

Kathie was overjoyed. "Really? I thought they needed identity verification and home visits."

"All those requirements were canceled today. They said they were inhumane. You got lucky."

"That's fantastic! I'll get everything ready and take the kids to school as soon as possible."

"Great. Let's have a party to celebrate."

"Absolutely."

After hanging up, Kathie shared the good news with the kids. Kyle and Zachary remained indifferent, while Eileen clapped happily.

Eileen's eyes lit up as she exclaímed, "I get to go to school! I'll make lots of friends and learn so many new things."

Kyle frowned. "Mommy, can't we go straightto elementary school?Kindergarten isn't suitable for Zachary and me."

Their intelligence was advanced enough to skip elementary school, so going to kindergarten felt like a step back.