Chapter 10 - THE TEACHER’S PRICE
Mrs. Carter asked Harper to remain after school four days before the party.
The classroom emptied slowly.
Lily Park gave Harper a worried look before leaving.
Harper placed the new tablet in her backpack with the camera activated.
Mrs. Carter closed the door.
“I hear your birthday celebration is continuing.”
“Yes.”
“After your recent behavior, I’m surprised.”
“My dad said we should try to be a family again.”
Mrs. Carter watched her carefully.
“And your grandmother?”
“She went home.”
“That’s good.”
Harper sat at her desk.
Mrs. Carter placed a test in front of her.
A red F covered the top.
“I didn’t take this.”
“It was completed online through your student account.”
“I was at Grandma’s hotel.”
“Your account records say otherwise.”
Harper remembered the payment list.
D.C.
Dolores Carter.
“What did Evelyn promise you?” Harper asked.
Mrs. Carter’s face hardened.
“You need to stop this obsession.”
“Money?”
“Your grades reflect your effort.”
“A job?”
“Enough.”
“Did she promise you the principal’s office?”
Mrs. Carter slammed one hand on the desk.
“You think you know everything because adults spoiled you after your mother died.”
Harper flinched but remained seated.
The tablet recorded from her backpack.
Mrs. Carter walked to the window.
“I spent twelve years in this school. Twelve years watching less qualified people promoted because they knew the right families.”
“Evelyn said she could help?”
Mrs. Carter turned.
“She said your father would fund a new academic program after the property transfer.”
“So you changed my grades.”
“I documented concerns.”
“You lied.”
“I followed instructions provided by your legal guardian.”
Harper’s heart pounded.
“Evelyn isn’t my legal guardian.”
“She will be when the review is approved.”
The words hung between them.
Harper whispered, “You already filed it.”
Mrs. Carter realized her mistake.
She crossed the room and grabbed Harper’s backpack.
Harper held on.
“Give me that.”
“No.”
Mrs. Carter pulled harder.
The zipper opened, and the tablet fell onto the floor.
Its camera screen displayed the classroom.
Mrs. Carter stared at it.
“You recorded me.”
Harper ran toward the door.
Mrs. Carter caught her arm.
“You manipulative little liar.”
The door opened.
Lily’s mother, Dr. Mina Park, stood outside.
She had returned because Lily forgot her violin case.
Her gaze dropped to Mrs. Carter’s hand around Harper’s arm.
“Let her go.”
Mrs. Carter released Harper.
“This is being misunderstood.”
Dr. Park picked up the tablet.
“Then perhaps the recording will clarify it.”
Mrs. Carter lunged for the device.
Dr. Park stepped back.
Harper ran into the hallway.
The principal arrived with two administrators.
Within minutes, Mrs. Carter had transformed again into the concerned teacher.
She claimed Harper had provoked her, illegally recorded her, and taken her comments out of context.
But this time, another adult had seen the truth before Evelyn could rewrite it.
Dr. Park refused to surrender the tablet until Bennett arrived.
Evelyn came with him.
When Harper saw them walking together, fear returned.
Evelyn’s gaze went immediately to the device in Dr. Park’s hands.
“What happened?”
Dr. Park answered.
“Mrs. Carter physically restrained Harper after discussing a legal guardianship review.”
Evelyn displayed perfect shock.
“A guardianship review?”
Mrs. Carter stared at her.
“You told me—”
Evelyn interrupted.
“I have never discussed any such review with you.”
Mrs. Carter’s face collapsed.
“You promised the program.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You said Bennett would sign after the party.”
Everyone became silent.
Bennett looked at Evelyn.
“Sign what?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“She is panicking because she was caught mistreating Harper.”
Mrs. Carter pointed at her.
“You paid me.”
Evelyn’s voice sharpened.
“Be careful.”
The principal called security.
Mrs. Carter began shouting.
She accused Evelyn of arranging the false grades, providing Bennett’s digital signature, and promising fifty thousand dollars after the house transfer.
Evelyn denied everything.
As security escorted Mrs. Carter away, she twisted toward Harper.
“You think the video saves you?” she cried. “Ask Evelyn what happened to the first child who found the butterfly files!”
Harper froze.
“What first child?”
Mrs. Carter laughed bitterly.
Evelyn’s face turned white.
Bennett stepped toward the teacher.
“What did you say?”
But Mrs. Carter was dragged through the doors.
That evening, Bennett confronted Evelyn in the library.
Harper listened from behind the wall.
“Who is the first child?” he demanded.
“I have no idea.”
“Why did you react?”
“Because she is unstable.”
“You used that word about Harper.”
“And I was wrong.”
Bennett laughed without humor.
“You don’t admit mistakes.”
“I am trying to keep this family together.”
“You forged my signature.”
“No.”
“You paid her.”
“No.”
“You knew about the review.”
Evelyn’s voice softened.
“Bennett, the firm is three days from default.”
“That doesn’t answer me.”
“Victor has buyers ready. The transfer saves two hundred jobs.”
“You manufactured my daughter’s failure to force me.”
“I gave you a reason to make a necessary decision.”
Harper covered her mouth.
Bennett’s next words were barely audible.
“Get out of my house.”
Evelyn replied calmly.
“It isn’t your house.”
A door slammed.
Harper hurried upstairs before Bennett saw her.
On her pillow lay one of Laura’s stolen letters.
The envelope had been opened.
May you like
Inside, Laura had written only one sentence.
The first child is alive, and Evelyn knows where they took him.
