Natalie looked at Lucas's injuries, then at Hanley's. Lucas clearly hadn't gotten the worst of it.
Natalie said to Hanley, “You started it by picking on Liana, and you still lost the fight. Do you really have the nerve to come crying to me?”
“Liana was blocking the way. I just wanted her to hurry up, so I nudged her a bit. She's the one who's clumsy and fell off the balance beam. How is that my fault? Then this Lucas came up out of nowhere and punched me. Was I not supposed to fight back? Mommy, do you think you're *their* mommy now? Is that why you're taking his side in everything? Am I not your real son?”
At that moment, the kindergarten teachers standing nearby started whispering among themselves.
“No matter what, you can't favor someone else's kid over your own. You should always protect your biological child.”
“See, the kids are always the ones who suffer most in a divorce. Even his own mother won't defend him.”
Lucas said angrily, “What nonsense are you teachers spouting? Is this how you handle problems? By gossiping?”
The teachers quickly dropped their gossipy attitudes. “Sorry, sorry. We misspoke.”
Lucas stood in front of Hanley and said, “It’s not that Natalie doesn’t love you. It’s that you always treated Marie like she was your real mother. You were the one who didn’t love your mommy first, so how can you expect her to love you now?”
Hanley retorted, “I’m her child, so she’s supposed to love me. That’s just how it is. Since she gave birth to me, she should be responsible for me and love me.”

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