Cute little punishment

In the early morning light, Emma woke up beside Alex, who was still immersed in sleep. She attempted to rouse him gently, but he remained undisturbed by her efforts. Deciding not to disturb his peaceful slumber, Emma freshened up and made her way to the kitchen for a comforting cup of coffee.

As the aroma of coffee filled the air, Lily, with sleepy eyes, approached her. "Good morning, Mama," she greeted, yawning.

"Good morning, Lily! Papa is in my room. Try waking him up," Emma suggested with a smile.

With newfound excitement, Lily rushed to Emma's room, shouting, "Good morning, Papa!" She playfully jumped on his stomach, prompting Alex to wake up with a sudden start. Emma couldn't help but burst into laughter at the lively morning scene unfolding in their home.

After the cheerful morning, Emma took on the role of the responsible parent, getting Lily ready for school. They shared a quick breakfast together, and Emma ensured Lily had everything she needed for the day. As they walked to the school, Emma listened to Lily's animated chatter about her plans for the day.

As Lily excitedly approached the school gates, Emma knelt down to her eye level, gently hugging her. "Pay attention in class, my little sunshine. I'll pick you up later, okay?" she whispered, planting a kiss on Lily's forehead. With a radiant smile, Lily joined her classmates, her heart brimming with the joy of the day's celebration.

Emma turned and walked towards the metro station, her mind filled with the responsibilities of the day ahead. She navigated the bustling metro, finding her way to the office, where Charlotte greeted her.

"Good morning, Em!" Charlotte's cheerful voice echoed.

"Morning, Char!" Emma replied, her expression warm.

Charlotte, always curious about Emma's life, asked, "How was the weekend?"

Emma chuckled, "Well, I had to play nurse for the sick duo after their snow fight."

"Sounds like you had fun," Charlotte teased.

Emma's eyes twinkled, "Well, kind of."

Upon settling into her office desk, Emma immersed herself in the tasks at hand, meticulously checking documents and attending to her professional responsibilities.

In the midst of her office tasks, Emma's phone rang, interrupting the rhythm of her work. She swiftly answered the call, and a voice on the other end inquired, "Is this Emma? Lily's mother?"

"Yes, this is Emma," she replied, curiosity and concern lining her voice.

"We are calling from her school. Can you please come to the office this evening?" they requested.

Worry crept into Emma's thoughts. "Did something happen to Lily?" she asked, her concern palpable.

Reassurance came as they responded, "No! It's nothing. It's regarding her academics."

"Okay, I will be there this evening!" Emma affirmed, her mind already contemplating the reasons behind this unexpected summons.

As Emma prepared to leave for the school, she informed Charlotte about her destination.

"Em, where are you going?" Charlotte inquired.

"To a parent-teacher meeting at Lily's school," Emma responded.

"Okay! I will take care here!" Charlotte assured.

"Thank you, Char!" Emma expressed her gratitude before heading out, her thoughts lingering on what might unfold at the school meeting.

As Emma entered the school and approached the teacher's office, the class teacher greeted her.

"Good evening, Miss Emme! I am your daughter's class teacher," he said.

"Good evening! What's the issue, sir?" she asked, her concern growing.

"Well, it seems someone is doing your daughter's homework," he revealed, showing her Lily's homework book with different handwriting.

"What?" Emma exclaimed.

"Yes, madam. Additionally, she got low marks in the last test, and when we sent the report card, someone called Alex already signed it without questioning marks," he explained.

Emma, taken aback by the teacher's revelation, examined Lily's homework book with a furrowed brow. The differing handwriting and the unauthorized signature left her perplexed and concerned.

Alex signed without questioning marks? Emma queried, her worry deepening.

Yes, madam. We assumed it's her father, but we thought it's better to confirm with you. The teacher explained.

Emma, now realizing the gravity of the situation, assured the teacher that she would look into the matter and address it appropriately.

Thank you, Miss Emme. We believe in maintaining a fair and transparent academic environment for all students. The teacher expressed his concern.

Emma nodded and left the teacher's office.

Meanwhile, Lily was waiting for her mother outside, unaware of the meeting. When she spotted Emma, she excitedly approached her.

"Mama! Let's go home!" Lily said.

"Okay, sweetheart! And also, I will give you and Alex a sweet treat at home!" Emma replied with a grin.

"Yay! Thanks, Mama!" Lily exclaimed, thrilled by the prospect of a sweet treat.

As Alex reached home after a day at the office, he slumped into the couch, seeking a moment of relaxation.

He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up as a means of unwinding. The room filled with a faint scent of tobacco as he took a contemplative puff, momentarily lost in his thoughts.

"Seems like you're having a good time, huh!" Emma's cold voice cut through the air from behind, causing Alex to break into a nervous sweat.

"I promise I will quit smoking!" Alex swiftly discarded the cigarette, immediately turning back to face Emma with an apologetic expression.

Emma, with a stern expression, handed over Lily's report card to Alex, and he took it, puzzled.

"What's wrong with Lily's report card?" Alex asked, glancing at the grades.

Emma pointed to the signature section of Lily's report card. "Take a closer look, Alex," she urged.

As Alex examined the document, realization struck him. "I didn't sign this. Someone forged my signature!"

Emma's expression turned serious. "Really?" She approached him with a stern gaze.

Feeling guilty, Alex admitted, "I am sorry! I signed it."

With that revelation, Emma directed both Alex and Lily to kneel down and sit on their legs. The atmosphere became tense as Emma stood before them, her expression clearly conveying her disappointment.

"Now explain it to me!" Emma demanded with a frustrated tone.

Alex sighed, realizing he had no excuses left. "Well, Lily asked me to sign with a cute face. I couldn't resist that charm."

Emma shifted her attention to Lily's homework. "And what about her homework?"

"I am sorry," Alex confessed, acknowledging his lapse in judgment.

As Issable arrived home, she sensed the tense atmosphere and the sight of Alex, and Lily in a somewhat awkward position on the floor raised her curiosity.

"What happened here?" Issable inquired, concern evident in her voice.

Emma, with a heavy sigh, explained the situation, recounting the incident with Lily's forged signature and Alex's unwitting involvement. Issable listened attentively, absorbing the details.

As Emma concluded, her stern gaze shifted towards Issable, and she issued a firm order, "Don't bother making dinner for both of them tonight. Consider it their punishment."

Lily, ever the charmer, couldn't resist a plea. "Wait, noo! Mama, please," she said, attempting to work her usual cute charm.

But Emma wasn't swayed. "Your charming tactics won't work this time," she declared, maintaining her authoritative stance.

In the midst of this, Alex, ever the schemer, leaned towards Lily and whispered, "We can still have dinner outside, you know." Lily's face lit up with a hopeful smile.

Emma caught wind of the whispered exchange and promptly intervened. "Alex, I'm taking your wallet today. No dining out for both of you," she declared with a note of finality.

As Alex started to protest, Issable couldn't help but laugh at the unfolding family drama, finding a hint of amusement in the unexpected turn of events.