Rebirth: Love me Again - Chapter 223

Chapter 223: A Slap That Shook the Halls
“Enough!”

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, and the group scattered like startled animals. Daniel collapsed against the lockers, clutching his ribs and breathing heavily.

Through his blurred vision, he saw a woman rushing toward him, her expression a mix of shock and concern.

“Daniel! Are you okay?” she asked, kneeling beside him.

He didn’t answer immediately, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Finally, he looked up and saw, none other than Lina Fay.

“I’m fine,” he said hoarsely, though the pain in his body told a different story.

Lina’s sharp heels clicked against the polished hallway floor as she approached, her gaze narrowing at the group of boys surrounding Daniel. Her presence alone was enough to make them stiffen, their earlier bravado wilting under her piercing stare.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Lina’s voice was cold and commanding, slicing through the tension like a blade. Her eyes flicked over the boys, who shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny. “Beating a defenseless man? How brave of you.”

The tallest boy took a step back, his confidence visibly shaken. They exchanged nervous glances, silently questioning their next move. This wasn’t just anyone scolding them—this was Lina Fay.

One wrong move and it could spell trouble for them.

One of the boys swallowed hard. “Uh. . . w-we weren’t—”

“Save it,” Lina cut in, her voice like ice. She stepped past them and crouched down to help Daniel to his feet. Despite his injuries, Daniel’s grip on her arm was steady, his pride refusing to let him lean on her too much.

The boys looked on, their confusion growing. Lina Fay? How did Daniel—this nobody—know her?

“Miss Fay,” came a mocking voice from behind. The group turned to see Lily Ashford strolling into the scene, her clique trailing behind her like shadows.

Lily’s lips curled into a smirk as she crossed her arms. “What a surprise. Isn’t this a little far from your school?”

Lina straightened, her expression unreadable. “And who are you?” she asked calmly, her voice void of interest.

Lily gave a short laugh and performed a mock curtsy. “Lily Ashford,” she announced with exaggerated politeness. “And this?” She gestured toward Daniel dismissively. “This is none of your business, Miss Fay. Why don’t you run along and tend to whatever brought you here?”

Her gaze shifted to Daniel, and her smirk deepened into something more sinister. “As for you, Daniel, how’s school treating you? Regretting your choices yet?”

Daniel wiped the blood from his lips, glaring at Lily with unbridled anger. “This won’t make me like you,” he said, his voice steady despite the fire in his eyes. “What you’ve done—spreading those lies about my family—I’ll never forgive you.”

For a fleeting moment, something akin to pain flickered in Lily’s eyes. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by a twisted sneer. “Like me?” she scoffed, her voice dripping with contempt. “I don’t need someone like you to like me. Who do you think you are? You’re nothing but a mistress’s son.”

Lily sneered. “Don’t flatter yourself, Daniel. I would never stoop so low. Why would I want anything to do with someone like you—a disgraceful reminder of your mother’s shame? Your mother’s a homewrecker, and you—” she jabbed a finger at him, her tone rising, “you’re the disgusting proof of her sins. You should never have been born.”

Daniel’s fists trembled at his sides. “That’s enough, Lily,” he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

“Or what?” Lily taunted, crossing her arms as she stepped closer. “Did I strike a nerve? Face it, Daniel. I’m just telling the truth. You’re nothing more than a mistake, and your mother? A whore.”

Something snapped inside Daniel. Insulting him was one thing—he could endure that. But dragging his mother into it was an entirely different matter. His hand shot up, trembling with rage, the weight of his anger surging forward, ready to strike.

Lily flinched, her eyes widening as she instinctively took a step back. She couldn’t believe that Daniel would really hit her. But before Daniel could follow through, a slender hand caught his wrist midair.

“Daniel.” Lina’s voice was soft yet firm, a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the hallway. “No matter what she says, she’s still a woman.”

The calmness of her tone cut through the storm in Daniel’s mind. He blinked, realizing what he’d almost done. For a petite woman, Lina’s grip was surprisingly strong, grounding him.

Lily’s lips curled into a smug grin as she recovered from her momentary panic. “That’s right, Daniel,” she scoffed. “We wouldn’t want you to be as classless and brutish as you are pathetic. Just like your mother.”

Lina turned to face Lily, her expression still calm, but her eyes were like fire. Without a word, she raised her hand and struck Lily across the face. The sound echoed down the hallway, sharp and shocking.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as Lily staggered, clutching her cheek. She stared at Lina with wide eyes, her disbelief quickly turning to fury. “You . . . you slapped me?”

Lina tilted her head slightly, her soft smile mocking. “Daniel might not be able to lay a hand on you because he’s a man,” she said, her tone as sweet as honey, “but I’m not bound by such rules.”

Lily’s face contorted with rage, but the fire in her eyes was extinguished by the icy calm radiating from Lina. The hallway remained silent, the tense of the moment pressing down on everyone present.

“Consider this a warning,” Lina continued, her voice dropping to a whisper that was somehow more terrifying than a shout. “Your words have consequences, Lily. Be grateful it was just a slap.”

Lina turned to Daniel, gently guiding him away from the scene. The crowd parted for them like the Red Sea, stunned into silence by what they had just witnessed.

And as Lily stood there, humiliated and clutching her stinging cheek, it was clear to everyone that Lina Fay had somehow favoured Michael Daniel Foster, a mistress son.

Those who witnessed the incident were both curious and baffled, speculating about the nature of their relationship. Before long, rumors began spreading like wildfire.