After Leaving Me for the Nanny Chapter 1

When Mrs. Thompson called both Peyton and me to her office, the two kids were standing against the wall, faces marked with scratches and bruises.

He spoke first. "Long time no see."

I replied politely, "Long time no see."

Mrs. Thompson's words floated past lightly, and she had us each take our child home.

I turned right with my daughter.

He turned left with his son.

This was our first meeting six years after the divorce.

......

I was in the middle of a site inspection when the call came.

Even the roar of the excavator couldn't drown out Mrs. Thompson's piercing voice.

My daughter had gotten into a fight at school.

With the school board chairman's son, no less.

By the time I arrived at the school, the other parent was already there.

A tall figure in a suit, his back straight and refined.

I glanced down at my mud-splattered shoes and the jeans ripped by a nail during my site rounds.

Silently regretting my choice.

I should have changed into something more presentable.

Mrs. Thompson waved me over when she saw me.

The other parent turned around at the sound.

The person I thought I'd never cross paths with again appeared before me without warning.

"Long time no see."

I responded politely.

"Long time no see."

Mrs. Thompson let out a long sigh of relief.

"The two children had a little disagreement."

"Since you and Chairman Hart already know each other, why don't you settle this privately?"

As soon as we left the school building, my daughter told me that Maxwell Hart used his father's position as the school's investor to bully other students regularly.

I asked softly, "Did he bully you?"

My daughter paused.

"He said I'm a bastard, a kid without a father."

"I got angry and fought with him."

I paused for a moment, then gave her a thumbs up.

"Good for you."

Peyton dragged Maxwell over, chasing after us.

He pressed down on Maxwell's head, demanding he apologize to my daughter.

A sharp, affected voice cut through the air.

"Why should my son apologize?"

Serena clicked over in her high heels, her face flushed with urgency.

She had transformed completely from before.

Draped in designer labels from head to toe, no trace left of her former awkwardness.

When she saw it was me, she froze for a moment.

"I already asked the teacher about this."

"Our Maxwell was just having a normal conversation with a classmate."

"This little girl suddenly rushed over and pushed him!"

She looked up at Peyton.

"If anyone should apologize, it's her to our son."

My daughter pulled her hand from mine and looked at Peyton too.

"He said I'm a bastard, that I don't have a father."

"That's why... I pushed him."

Peyton's eyes flickered across from us.

"Sweetie, who says you don't have a father?"

A calm, measured voice sounded beside my ear as a hand gently took my trembling one.

Warmth spread from that broad palm, bringing an inexplicable sense of security.

"Dad!"

My daughter rushed toward Zach, who caught her up in his arms.

"I've just been busy with work lately and haven't had time to come to school."

"I had no idea my daughter was being called fatherless."

Silence stretched the moment out.

Peyton looked at me and spoke slowly.

"Today was our fault."

"I'll make sure to educate him properly when we get home."

I nodded.

I ushered Zach and my daughter into the car.

"Vivian Hart, this time we'll let it go."

"But don't go around calling people dad."

"Call him Zach."

I turned to Zach.

"How did you get here?"

Vivian covered her phone watch.

"When our Sweetie gets bullied, I have to come back her up."

Zach turned around and winked at her.

The two of them laughed together, sweeping away the gloom from the school incident.

I glanced out the window where Serena was still saying something.

Peyton ignored her, looking annoyed as he turned left out of the school gate with his child.

Zach jerked his chin in their direction.

"Is that her?"

I nodded.

Back then, she was just our housekeeper.

Yet she made Peyton divorce me without a second thought.