003-- Standing up for her Son

Sophia stood outside Daniel's room, her heart heavy with the realization of how much she had neglected her son in her past life. The echoes of laughter and joy that once filled the house were now mere memories, replaced by silence and distance. She turned away, heading to her own bedroom to collect her thoughts when her phone buzzed in her pocket.

The ringtone startled her, and a sense of foreboding crept over her as she glanced at the screen. It was Daniel's school.

Her breath hitched. She remembered this moment from her previous life. Daniel had gotten into a fight defending her, but instead of supporting him, she had lashed out, demanding that he apologize to the other child. The image of his tear-filled eyes and trembling figure had haunted her during her final moments. This time, things would be different.

Sophia answered the call, her voice steady. "Hello?"

The teacher's voice came through the line, laced with frustration. "Mrs. Carter, we need you to come to the school immediately. Your son, Daniel, was involved in a physical altercation with another student. It's quite serious."

Sophia's grip on the phone tightened, her determination hardening. "I'm on my way."

She ended the call and turned to the maid standing nearby. "Prepare a meal for my son and husband," she instructed firmly. "I'll be bringing Daniel home soon."

The maid's eyes widened in shock. Sophia had never shown such concern for her family before. Usually, she dined alone or spent her evenings at Lucas's house, far removed from her responsibilities as a mother and wife. This newfound attentiveness left the household staff bewildered, but Sophia didn't have time to address their reactions.

Grabbing her car keys, she made her way to the garage. The drive to Daniel's school was a blur, her mind racing with thoughts of how to handle the situation. She would not repeat the mistakes of her past life. This time, she would stand by her son, no matter what.

When she arrived at the school, the receptionist directed her to the principal's office. Sophia walked in to find Daniel sitting in a chair, his head bowed and his small fists clenched. His uniform was slightly disheveled, and there was a faint scratch on his cheek.

Across from him sat another child and his parents, who were glaring at Daniel as if he were a delinquent. The teacher stood by the principal, her expression stern and disapproving.

Sophia's heart ached at the sight of her son. She had failed him so many times before, but not today. Not ever again.

"Mrs. Carter," the teacher began, her tone sharp. "Daniel was involved in a fight during recess. He—"

"Stop," Sophia said, her voice cutting through the room like ice. She stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the other parents and the teacher. "Before you continue, I want to hear what my son has to say."

Daniel's head shot up in surprise, his wide eyes meeting hers. He was clearly taken aback by her presence, let alone her willingness to listen to him.

"Daniel," Sophia said gently, kneeling in front of him. "Tell me what happened."

The boy hesitated, glancing nervously at the teacher and the other parents. Sophia placed a comforting hand on his knee, her touch reassuring. "It's okay," she said softly. "You can tell me."

Daniel swallowed hard before speaking. "The other boy was saying mean things about you, Mom," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "He said… he said you didn't love me or Dad. That you cared more about other people. I told him to stop, but he kept saying it, so I…" He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor.

Sophia's chest tightened. She could feel the weight of her son's pain, the heartbreak she had caused him. She turned her attention to the other child, who was sitting smugly in his chair.

"So, your son insulted my family, and when Daniel stood up for himself, he's the one being blamed?" she asked, her tone sharp.

The other parents bristled. "Your son resorted to violence," the father said indignantly. "That's unacceptable."

"What's unacceptable," Sophia shot back, rising to her full height, "is your son targeting mine with cruel words. My son was defending himself and his family. If your child hadn't provoked him, this wouldn't have happened."

The room fell silent, the weight of Sophia's words hanging heavy in the air. The teacher opened her mouth to speak, but Sophia cut her off.

"And you," she said, turning to the teacher. "You're supposed to be a neutral party, ensuring that all students are treated fairly. Instead, you've already decided who's at fault without considering the full story. If this is how you handle conflicts, I have serious concerns about the environment you're fostering for these children."

The teacher's face turned red, and she stammered an apology, but Sophia wasn't interested. She knelt down again, cupping Daniel's face in her hands.

"You did the right thing standing up for your family," she said firmly. "I'm proud of you, Daniel."

The boy's eyes filled with tears, and he threw his arms around her neck, holding her tightly. Sophia hugged him back, her heart swelling with love and determination.

She stood, taking Daniel's hand. "We're leaving," she announced, her voice brooking no argument. "I'll deal with this further if necessary, but for now, my son is coming home with me."

Without waiting for a response, she led Daniel out of the office and back to the car. He was quiet during the drive, glancing at her every so often as if trying to understand this new version of his mother.

When they arrived home, Sophia walked inside with Daniel in tow. The smell of food wafted from the kitchen, and the staff froze in shock at the sight of her holding her son's hand.

"Go wash up," Sophia told Daniel, smiling down at him. "Dinner will be ready soon."

The boy hesitated, then nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

As he disappeared upstairs, Sophia turned to the maid. "Thank you for preparing the meal," she said sincerely. "Make sure to set the table for three. We're having dinner as a family tonight."

The maid's mouth fell open in surprise, but she quickly nodded and hurried to carry out the instructions.

Sophia took a moment to collect herself, her heart racing with the events of the day. She had taken the first steps toward rebuilding her relationship with Daniel, and she wouldn't stop until she had earned his trust completely.

Her mind drifted to Ethan. He had always been the glue holding their family together, even when she had been too blind to see it. Winning back his trust would be even harder, but Sophia was ready for the challenge.