Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law
Chapter 57: Preach

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Preach

“Hi, Dad,” Michelle said nervously. “What are you doing here?”

Gareth raised one eyebrow and gave his daughter a level look. “I’m here for your parent-teacher conference. I am your father, after all. I was surprised to find that your mother was already here when I arrived.” He tilted his head toward me.

“Um...my mother,” Michelle murmured.

I could practically hear her brain working on overdrive as her eyes darted to me.

I nodded and widened my eyes by just a fraction, hoping that she would just go with it.

I noticed that Michelle wasn’t looking her father in the eye. She probably thought that she was about to be grounded for the rest of her life for trying to pull a stunt like this.

But Gareth lifted my hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it, causing me to let out an embarrassing squeak of surprise.

When he gazed at me with an adoring look, I had to fight the urge to snuggle into his warm side.

Michelle’s mouth dropped open in surprise. A mix of shock and relief crossed her face. She probably couldn’t believe that her father was going along with this crazy plan.

I shrugged since I was equally confused as to why Gareth was helping us deceive the principal.

“Dad, I asked...Mom to come for the parent-teacher conference because I didn’t want to...” Michelle swallowed and looked down at her feet. “I didn’t want to disappoint you. I didn’t want you to be angry with me.”

Gareth sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Did you really think that I wouldn’t want to hear your side of the story or advocate for you?”

Michelle rubbed her arm nervously and nodded.

Gareth stared at his daughter with an unreadable expression.

I noticed that there was disappointment in his eyes. But I didn’t think that was directed at Michelle. I believed that Gareth was disappointed in himself since his daughter felt like she couldn’t confide in him.

“Why don’t you sit down, Michelle?” Gareth offered.

Michelle sat, and my heart panged when I noticed how young she looked at this moment.

“Why did you fight those girls, Michelle?” he continued calmly.

Michelle bit her lip and stared at her father. Then, her green eyes went to me.

I nodded encouragingly.

Her shoulders slumped. “The other girls have been messing with me for weeks...months even,” Michelle began with a hint of embarrassment. “The other day at lunch... I just couldn’t take their incessant teasing anymore.” Michelle tightly gripped the edge of her plaid skirt.

Gareth and I exchanged a look.

When she didn’t say anything else, I knew I would have to help her tell her story. This wouldn’t be easy for her.

“How exactly did they tease you, Michelle?” I asked gently.

“The girls would call me a...bastard child,” she whispered the last two words and stared at the floor. “They said that I brought shame to the Laken family, and that’s why my dad keeps me hidden from the world. They said that my father would discard me soon since he already had one perfect daughter.” Michelle paused and let out a shaky breath. “That once Isabella has a child of her own, I’ll be kicked out of the family.”

The room was silent as we absorbed what she’d just revealed.

My heart ached for Michelle. How could those girls be so cruel?

“I know that Grandma doesn’t like me for those exact same reasons.” Michelle finally looked at her dad. “Those girls were just saying what everyone thinks, I guess.”

My stomach stiffened with shock. How could Gareth’s mother not like Michelle? How could someone not like this intelligent, creative, and vibrant girl? Michelle was so full of life.

But what was even more awful was that it was true that Gareth kept Michelle’s existence a secret from the general public. There were no pictures or mentions of her in the media. Most shifters believed that Gareth Laken had only one daughter.

I wondered if he had an ulterior motive for this.

“Those girls surrounded me in a circle and just kept calling me these awful names.” Michelle wasn’t finished. “I wanted to just leave the cafeteria, but their leader shoved me and said that I didn’t deserve the Laken name. She also said...” Michelle’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused to even let one fall. “She said that my mother probably killed herself because she...because she had me.”

My teeth clenched, and Gareth’s hand tightened in mine.

“It felt like everything was closing in on me. So, I...I just started throwing punches,” Michelle explained. “I sort of freaked out and forgot my own strength. I didn’t mean to hurt them that badly, I promise.” Her green eyes were brimming with unshed tears and sincerity. “I felt awful once I learned that I broke Chelsea’s nose and cracked Kayla’s wrist.”

The whole situation filled me with horror, and I stood up, wrapping my arms around Michelle. Her body was trembling, and I knew that she was close to tears.

I looked back at Gareth. His eyes were wide with shock. He clutched his heart for a moment as if Michelle’s sad story had shattered it. Then, he glared at the principal and pointed an accusing finger at him.

“My daughter has been tormented for weeks! Months even!” Gareth said in outrage. “How is that possible? How did no one on your staff notice?”

Principal Thompson’s face grew redder than a tomato.

“I-I’m sorry, sir,” he stuttered. “Honestly, I had no idea.”

“Save your weak excuses and fake apologies.” Gareth lifted his hand to stop him. “You preach about zero tolerance for fighting, but what about vicious bullying? How could you not know that one of your students was being mentally abused? I should sue you for negligence.”

Gareth’s nostrils were flaring with anger, and if looks could kill, the principal would be dead.

“I want every single girl who was bullying Michelle to be suspended immediately,” Gareth continued, seething with rage. “If not, I’ll pull Michelle out of school, and if she leaves, so does all of my funding.” Gareth leaned closer to the desk threateningly. “You need to pay attention to what’s going on in your school instead of harassing innocent mothers. Michelle won’t be coming back here until you suspend those girls.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” the principal said, immediately groveling. “I’m so sorry for all the trouble, sir.”

That man made me sick. As soon as Gareth mentioned money, he was practically on his knees, begging for forgiveness.

“Let’s go, ladies,” Gareth said, taking my hand and Michelle’s. “Oh, and you will need a new receptionist too,” he said, before slamming the door in his face.