Chapter 18 - Mrs. Parker TestifiesMrs. Parker entered the hearing wearing cream.
Controlled.
Composed.
She admitted dumping the food.
Called it:
“A catastrophic lapse in judgment.”
She denied intending long-term harm.
Then Ethan’s recording played.
Your family forced my son to leave school. I’m not going to leave you alone.
Her face tightened.
Counsel asked:
“Was that a threat?”
“No.”
“What was it?”
“An emotional statement.”
“Did Mia have anything to do with your son’s transfer?”
“Her family did.”
“Did Mia?”
Silence.
“Did she?”
“No.”
That mattered.
Counsel continued.
“Then why punish her?”
Mrs. Parker finally cracked.
“Because my son came home every night saying his life was over!”
Her lawyer whispered:
“Donna.”
She ignored him.
“You all act like these children are innocent. They post things. They gossip. They ruin reputations.”
Mia watched from the back.
Mrs. Parker continued.
“My son lost everything.”
Counsel asked quietly:
“What did Mia lose?”
Mrs. Parker stopped.
No answer.
“Did you ever ask?”
Her face collapsed.
But she still could not say the words.
I was wrong.
That failure became part of the board’s finding.
May you like
Not because remorse was legally required.
Because she continued to justify retaliatory treatment.
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