When their eyes met each other, Luca wondered if she was sitting too far away and that was why she


    could not see clearly.


    Luca could feel the fear in Mrs. Hudson''s eyes when they exchanged nces with each other.


    Why did the arrogant woman who threatened to get Tommy expelled from school yesterday have a


    fearful look in her eyes when she saw Luca today?


    Luca saw Mr. Hudson open his mouth. It was as though he said something really short. Then, the two


    of them walked toward her.


    Ashley seemed to be afraid of Mrs. Hudson. She immediately leaned on Luca.


    Luca held the two kids in her arms, one on the left and another one on the right.


    She had to protect them.


    Mrs. Tuffey came in when the two of them had just taken two steps forward. Mrs. Tuffey smiled as she


    stood on the podium. “Dear parents, please be quiet and return to your seats. The parent-teacher


    conference is starting soon."


    Mrs. Hudson turned around and nced at Mrs. Tuffey. She eventually pulled the man to Charlie''s seat


    and sat down on the chair.


    Charlie''s seat was a few rows away from Tommy''s.


    Luca no longer looked at them.


    Mrs. Tuffey waited for the parents to sit down. Then, she said, "ss, please wee the principal of


    the school to give his speech."


    After that, Mrs. Tuffey connected theputer to the projector. The principal appeared on the screen.


    The principal''s speech was mostly about how much they were concerned about the students''


    development and how to improve the students'' learning abilities. They also taught the parents how to


    cooperate with the school to educate their children well.


    It was always the same thing. Luca listened to it absentmindedly.


    Atst, the principal announced that the school would be building a new academic building, and he told


    everyone to look forward to it.


    Then, the principal ended his speech.


    Luca frowned. Was the principal making the implication that he was asking for sponsorship when he


    told everyone to look forward to it?


    Tommy''s school was a private elite school. The teachers were professional, and the students and


    parents were wealthy too.


    It was an easy task for them to build a new academic building for the school.


    Still, she did not know what Luke would do.


    When Luca was lost in thoughts, Mrs. Tuffey said, “Thank you for your patience. Next, I''d like to talk


    about how the students have been doing in schooltely. I hope everyone can cooperate with me.


    Thank you."


    Mrs. Tuffey started to y the slideshow after that.


    The slideshow basicallyplimented the students who excelled in their studies and were well-


    behaved.


    Luca watched the slideshow, and this was the part she paid the most attention to during the


    parentteacher conference. She could know how her child had been doing in school.


    Luca noticed that Tommy''s name was on everymendation list.


    Even though Tommy was naughty, he behaved himself and performed well at school.


    Luca was so happy that she stroked Tommy''s head.


    Ashley tugged Luca''s sleeves and called her, "Ms. Luca."


    "What''s the matter?" Luca turned to look at her and asked in a soft voice. She tried not to disturb the


    other parents listening to Mrs. Tuffey''s speech.


    "Mommy isn''t here yet. Can you please take photos of the slideshow? I''d like her to see them," said


    Ashley. Ashley''s name was on themendation lists too.


    "Sure." Luca quickly took her phone out and took photos of the screen when Ashley''s name appeared.


    After Mrs. Tuffey gave her speech, it was the other teachers'' turn to give their speeches.


    The teachers'' speeches were no different from Mrs. Tuffey''s. They emphasized their professionalism in


    the subjects they taught and which students had performed well.


    Tommy''s name was on every teacher''smendation list.


    Ashley was good too. All the teachersplimented her except the Math teacher.


    "Ms. Luca, am I good?" Tommy could not wait to hear Luca praise him.


    "You''re good. You''re the best, Tommy. Keep up the good work," encouraged Luca. Thest teacher


    finished giving her speech. Thus, Luca spoke a little louder.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "Of course. Lanie is my role model. I wish I to be as smart as Lanie," said Tommy. Lanie was his role


    model.


    Luca smiled and replied in a soft voice, "Alright. You''re both smart."


    When thest subject teacher ended her speech, it would be time for parents and teachers to talk to


    each other.


    The parents could leave if they had nothing to ask.


    Luca had nothing to ask. The teachers said that Tommy was doing well in his studies. He was a role


    model to the other students, and the teachersplimented him.


    Hence, there was nothing more she could ask.


    Mrs. Tuffey and the Math teacher walked toward Luca. Then, she said, “Hello, you came on behalf of


    Tommy''s parents—" "Yes. His parents are busy with work. His great-grandfather has difficulty walking.


    That''s why I came," exined Luca. She noticed that Charlie''s parents were standing not far away


    from her.


    They kept a certain distance from her, but Luca could see the expression on their faces.


    Mrs. Hudson no longer had the arrogance she had yesterday.


    Luca thought it was strange. Logically speaking, Charlie''s parents should have embarrassed her in


    front of everyone today.


    Mrs. Hudson thought Luca was poor and that they spent all their money to send Tommy to this school.


    "Hello, this is Mr. Collins, Tommy''s Math teacher. He''d like to discuss something with you," said Mrs.


    Tuffey.


    "Alright, Mrs. Tuffey. Nice to meet you, Mr. Collins." Luca stopped looking at Charlie''s parents. Instead,


    she rose to her feet and greeted Mr. Collins.


    "Nice to meet you. You''re Tommy''s..." Mr. Collins asked politely. He heard Luca saying that Tommy''s


    parents were busy working a moment ago.


    "Aunt," replied Luca. She told Mrs. Tuffey that she was Tommy''s aunt. There was no way she could


    address herself as someone else in front of Mr. Collins.


    "Great. Well, Tommy passed Math with flying colors. I think he has a knack for it. So, I was wondering if


    Tommy can participate in the Mathematical Olympiad for elementary schools that will be held in April.


    But before Tommy can participate in thepetition, he has to attend the training program which starts


    next week. The training program will take an hour, and it''ll be held after school from Monday to Friday,


    which means Tommy will have to go homete. I''d like to ask for your permission. Will you allow


    Tommy to participate in thepetition?" If Tommy was participating in thepetition, he had to stay


    at school for another hour. That was why Mr. Collins would like to ask for Luca''s opinion.


    "Um, I''d have to ask his father first." Luca did not agree to it right away.


    It should not be a problem for Tommy to stay in school for another hour, but it was hard to tell if the


    child was willing to do so. Besides, Zander would have to make another trip to pick him up.


    Hence, Luca was reluctant to do so.


    However, it was Luke who had to make the decision.


    "Alright. Please inform us in the school parent group after his parents decide for him," said Mr. Collins.


    "No problem." Luca nodded and agreed to it.