Chapter 5: The Woman Behind the Game
The meeting began at two that afternoon.
By two-ten, everyone was shouting.
I sat beside my father at the long conference table while parents argued around us.
Adrian's father called the videos "childish stupidity.""
Lucas's mother kept asking whether her son had actually uploaded anything.
Mrs. Whitmore said almost nothing.
That bothered me most.
She sat across from us, perfectly calm.
Chloe sat beside her.
No apology.
No tears.
Just silence.
Principal Harrison raised his hands.
"Please. One person at a time.""
Mr. Vale slammed his palm against the table.
"My son made a mistake!""
Sarah's mother answered from the other side.
"Your son laughed while a blind child crawled across the floor!""
"He didn't push her!""
"He stole her cane!""
My father remained silent.
I leaned toward him.
"Dad?""
"I'm listening.""
"To what?""
"Who is defending children.""
A pause.
"And who is defending reputations.""
Then the door opened.
Elena entered with a school attorney.
"We have confirmation," she said.
The room quieted.
Principal Harrison asked, "Confirmation of what?""
"The group existed.""
Mrs. Whitmore finally moved.
She crossed one leg over the other.
"A group chat existing proves nothing.""
Elena continued.
"Twenty-seven videos have been voluntarily provided by students and parents.""
The room erupted.
I heard chairs scraping.
Someone cursed.
Another parent began crying.
Elena kept speaking.
"The earliest verified material dates back approximately twenty months.""
Principal Harrison whispered, "Twenty months?""
My father turned toward him.
"Still surprised?""
"I swear I didn't know.""
Mrs. Whitmore interrupted.
"Then perhaps this meeting should end until attorneys are present.""
My father tilted his head.
"You've wanted this meeting to end since Sarah started talking.""
Her voice sharpened.
"Careful, Vincent.""
My father didn't react.
Instead, he asked Madison, who sat near the end of the table,
"Tell them about the money.""
Her mother squeezed her hand.
Madison began trembling.
"I never got any.""
Chloe suddenly laughed.
"Because you were terrible at it.""
The room froze.
Mrs. Whitmore grabbed her daughter's wrist.
"Chloe.""
But it was too late.
Madison turned toward her.
"You said whoever got the most views would win five thousand dollars.""
Chloe shrugged.
"It was a joke.""
"No, it wasn't.""
"Prove it.""
Madison stood.
"You showed me the envelopes!""
Mrs. Whitmore rose instantly.
"This meeting is over.""
My father stayed seated.
"Why?""
She didn't answer.
He continued.
"Your daughter just admitted knowledge of a reward.""
"She admitted nothing.""
Chloe's confidence vanished.
"Mom?""
Mrs. Whitmore looked at her.
"Don't speak.""
That was the moment I understood.
Chloe was scared of her mother.
Not my father.
Her mother.
My father noticed too.
He softened his voice.
"Chloe.""
Mrs. Whitmore snapped, "Do not address my daughter.""
But Chloe whispered,
"I didn't start it.""
Mrs. Whitmore's chair scraped backward.
"Chloe!""
My father said nothing.
Neither did I.
Chloe began breathing faster.
"I just kept it going.""
Mr. Harrison asked, "Kept what going?""
Chloe's voice cracked.
"The Bellmont Challenge.""
A parent whispered, "What is that?""
Chloe started crying.
Suddenly she didn't sound like the cruel girl who had mocked me.
She sounded twelve.
"The seniors started it years ago.""
Mrs. Whitmore grabbed her purse.
"We're leaving.""
Chloe pulled away.
"No!""
Everyone froze.
It was the first time I'd heard her shout at her mother.
"You told me it was harmless!""
Mrs. Whitmore's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Stop talking.""
"You said everybody did it!""
"Chloe.""
"You gave me the money!""
Silence.
Absolute silence.
My father slowly stood.
Mrs. Whitmore's breathing changed.
Chloe realized what she had said.
"Mom?""
My father spoke.
"You funded it?""
"No.""
Chloe stared at her mother.
"But you—"
"Quiet!""
Mrs. Whitmore's composure finally shattered.
She pointed toward my father.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it? Frighten a child until she says something she doesn't understand?""
My father didn't move.
"I haven't threatened your daughter once.""
"Your presence is a threat.""
He nodded slowly.
"Then let's remove me.""
Everyone looked confused.
He turned toward the school attorney.
"Interview the children without me. With their parents, lawyers, counselors—whatever procedure protects them.""
Mrs. Whitmore stared at him.
My father continued.
"But preserve every statement.""
He took my hand.
"We're leaving.""
I was surprised.
"Dad?""
He guided me toward the door.
Then Principal Harrison called after us.
"Mr. Moretti.""
My father stopped.
The principal's voice was strange.
Almost ashamed.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
Harrison opened a drawer.
I heard paper slide across the table.
"This arrived six months ago.""
My father didn't touch it.
"What is it?""
"A complaint.""
"From whom?""
Harrison hesitated.
"An anonymous parent.""
Mrs. Whitmore suddenly said, "Don't.""
My father's voice dropped.
"Why would you care about an anonymous complaint?""
Nobody answered.
Then Harrison read the first sentence aloud.
And my father stopped breathing.
Because the complaint didn't mention Chloe.
It mentioned Mrs. Whitmore.
May you like
And beneath her name was another one.
Vincent Moretti.
