I won’t be swayed
1248 Words
FIDELITY KIDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Benita Tan stood at the playground, watching the children run, jump, and laugh. Suzy, ever diligent, monitored the older kids playing football. Benita’s hands drifted to her stomach, her fingers brushing against her skin as a wave of longing washed over her. She had been trying for a child for over a year, but for some reason, it just wasn’t happening. It frustrated her deeply—aching for the one thing she couldn’t seem to have.
Her attention shifted as she noticed a young girl struggling to climb a swing. She hurried over, gently adjusting the child’s hands on the railing.
“There you go, sweetheart,” Benita said softly, giving the girl’s cheek a playful tap before stepping back.
“Benita!”
Her name came roaring across the playground, startling her. She turned to see Mr. Harry, the headmaster, hobbling toward her, leaning heavily on his walking stick. His face was pale, and in his hand was a document that seemed to weigh on him as much as his limp.
Benita met him halfway, worry etched across her face. “What’s wrong, Mr. Harry?”
“They want to take the school from us,” he said, thrusting the document into her hands.
“What?” Benita exclaimed, flipping through the first page. Her brows furrowed as she scanned the paper.
“The Seet Industry,” Mr. Harry explained, his voice trembling. “They want to buy this school from us. They’re saying we don’t have a choice.”
Benita froze. Her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. The Seet Industry? Of all the companies, why them?
“You were once married into their family, weren’t you?” Mr. Harry asked, his tone carrying a mix of desperation and ridicule.
“I swear, I don’t know anything about this!” Benita defended herself. “I don’t have anything to do with them anymore!”
Before Mr. Harry could respond, the sound of screeching tires tore through the playground, drawing everyone’s attention. A sleek sports car sped into the compound, skidding to a stop near the garage.
“What the hell?” Jace muttered under his breath, standing beside Benita. His eyes narrowed. “Who thinks it’s okay to show off like this at an elementary school?”
The engine cut off, and out stepped a tall, muscular man in an expensive suit, adjusting his sunglasses. Benita’s stomach twisted as recognition struck her.
Preston Seet.
Her body froze. The air seemed to thicken around her as memories flooded her mind. What was Preston doing here? Why now?
Preston scanned the area before his piercing blue eyes landed on Benita. A flicker of amusement played on his face as he removed his sunglasses and strolled toward her.
“We come in peace,” Preston said, sliding his hands into his pockets as he approached.
“What do you mean, we?” Benita asked, her voice sharp and defensive.
The passenger door of the car opened, and another man stepped out.
Damon Seet.
Benita’s heart skipped a beat. Damon—the man she had once loved so deeply, the man who had abandoned her—was standing mere feet away. Her body tensed, and she instinctively stepped back, clutching Jace’s arm.
“It’s okay,” Jace whispered, wrapping a protective arm around her waist. His comforting words didn’t help. Her emotions were a storm of anger, confusion, and longing.
Damon, for his part, seemed equally stunned. His eyes locked on Benita, filled with a mix of guilt and yearning. He hadn’t seen her since the divorce, and now, seeing her here, radiant as ever, left him speechless. But when his gaze fell to Jace’s arm around her, his heart shattered. A frown crept onto his face, the hurt in his eyes unmistakable.
“We came to discuss the school,” Preston announced, breaking the heavy silence. “If you don’t mind, we’d like to speak with the headmaster privately.”
“No!” Benita stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Preston’s chest. “If you want to discuss the school, you’ll do it in front of all of us—not just him.”
Preston tilted his head, his amusement fading. “Benita, with the little respect I still have for you, step aside.”
“I’m not moving,” she said, her voice unwavering. “This school is Mr. Harry’s sweat and blood. We’ve all watched it grow. If you’re going to say anything about it, you’ll say it to us, not just him.”
Preston’s patience snapped. He grabbed her hand to push her aside, but before he could, Damon intervened.
“Enough, Preston,” Damon said sharply, pulling his brother back. He turned to Benita, his tone softening. “I’m sorry for his behavior. We’re not here to harm anyone. We simply want to ensure the school is in safe hands. If we acquire it, we’ll maintain the current fees and improve the quality of education—”
“Your father said the same thing about the last two schools he took over,” Benita cut in, her eyes blazing. “He sold them to foreign investors and left entire communities without affordable schools. Why should we believe you this time?”
“Benita, trust me,” Damon pleaded, his voice almost a whisper.
Her eyes burned with fury. “I lost all trust in you the moment you signed those divorce papers! You’re nothing but a liar—a betrayal!”
Damon flinched, her words hitting him like a slap.
“You don’t know the full story,” he said quietly, his voice laced with pain.
“I don’t care!” she snapped. “You showed your true colors, Damon. If you can’t even take care of the woman you vowed to protect, how can we trust you with this school?”
Damon opened his mouth to respond, but Preston cut him off.
“This isn’t a debate,” Preston said coldly, pulling out a document. “Mr. Harry, this school is built on Seet property. Technically, it already belongs to us. We’ve been patient, but don’t force us to take legal action.”
“Stop threatening him!” Benita shouted.
“You used to be part of this family,” Preston shot back. “The least you can do is show some support.”
“You didn’t support me when I was thrown out,” she retorted. “Why should I support you now?”
Preston’s eyes darkened. “Because you don’t know the truth,” he said, his voice low.
“Please, Preston—” Damon tried to intervene.
“No, Damon! She deserves to know!” Preston snapped, turning back to Benita. “Damon didn’t leave you because he wanted to. He left to save your life!”
Benita’s breath hitched, her mind spinning. “What are you talking about?”
Damon stepped forward, his guilt-ridden eyes meeting hers. “It’s true,” he said softly.
Benita was stunned into silence, while Jace’s arm tightened around her protectively. The tension between the three of them was palpable, a storm of unresolved emotions ready to erupt.
She couldn’t listen to Damon! She couldn’t listen to Preston either! She couldn’t damn believe any of them! She saw the way their family treated the girls! She witnessed what Preston did to his young wife.
“Get out!” She roared. “Get the hell out of here! Both of you!”
- Writer
