But at the end of the day, Rona Langdon was still Vera Xavier’s biological mother. Filial piety was a deeply ingrained virtue. Anyone who dared to strike their own parent in public—even if justified—would immediately be in the wrong. They would be endlessly condemned by everyone.

And Rona Langdon knew Vera wouldn’t dare to hit her in public, which was why she could act so brazenly.

Vera Xavier used every ounce of her strength to suppress the violent rage bubbling inside her. Taking a deep breath, she let tears stream down her face as she sobbed, "Mom, how can you say that about me! The decision about Cara cheating yesterday was made by the proctor and the principal, and the official notice was issued by the Education Bureau. Are you questioning the impartiality of the Bureau’s leadership?"

The onlookers had been whispering and pointing at Vera Xavier, but now they perked up, amused. So, the girl who was disqualified for cheating yesterday was this woman’s daughter!

As it happened, the male teacher who had proctored the exam yesterday was passing by. He recognized Vera Xavier instantly. Hearing Rona Langdon’s accusations, he became furious and immediately stepped forward. "I was the teacher proctoring Cara Preston’s exam yesterday," he declared. "I can attest to what happened. It had nothing to do with this young lady. In fact, she was the victim!"

Rona Langdon flew into a rage. She pointed a finger right at the teacher’s face and yelled, "I’m teaching my own daughter a lesson! What damn business is it of yours? Get the hell out of my sight!"

The teacher’s face instantly flushed red with anger. He had only intended to step in, clarify things for Vera, and be on his way because he couldn’t stand the injustice. He never expected to be cursed at so viciously.

The teacher had a temper of his own, but as an educator, he wouldn’t stoop to her level and start a screaming match. Instead, he briefly recounted the events of the previous day, then concluded in a cold, sharp tone, "The student who was disqualified yesterday was just as unreasonable!"

The onlooking parents immediately shot Vera sympathetic glances and began to criticize Rona Langdon. "How can a mother be so biased?"

Someone in the know added, "The one who cheated yesterday was her adopted daughter. The girl getting yelled at today is her biological daughter. Everyone in our neighborhood knows she favors the adopted one and mistreats her own flesh and blood!"

Rona Langdon was utterly humiliated. Her eyes bulged as she screamed at the person who had spoken, "You damn busybody! Mind your own business!"

The person who’d been cursed at flushed, embarrassed. Rona Langdon might be shameless, but the other onlookers weren’t. No one else dared to speak up.

Seeing this, Rona Langdon’s face twisted into a smug sneer. She turned back to Vera, her finger jabbing in her direction. "You jinx! You walking curse! Not a single good thing has happened since you came back to this family! You’re the one who put your father in the hospital with your attitude! What exams are you taking? Get your ass back there right now and take care of him!"

Her behavior was utterly tyrannical, but the crowd was too intimidated by her ferocity and sheer irrationality to intervene. Not a single person dared to make another sound.

In their eyes, however, the woman was simply beyond unreasonable; she set a new low for human decency. They all felt a surge of sympathy for Vera Xavier. ’How unlucky can a girl get,’ they thought, ’to be stuck with a mother like that!’

Vera Xavier saw the shifting expressions in the crowd. Wiping away her tears, she cried out, "Mom, how can you lie through your teeth like that! When I got home from my exam yesterday, Dad was already on the floor, unable to move! You and Cara completely ignored him! I was the one who took him to the hospital..."

Hearing this, Rona Langdon lunged at her, hand raised to strike. "You ungrateful brat! Not only did you make your father sick with anger, you abandoned him to come take this exam! I’m going to tear you to pieces!"

PS: Hey dears, care to guess how Vera is going to deal with Rona Langdon? While you’re at it, share your opinions—how do you want me (the author) to torment Rona? Come on, come on, let’s vote! Bury Rona Langdon with your votes!