Caspar's POV:

The atmosphere in the medical room was suffocatingly tense. Mrs. Smith, the school administrator, looked nervous as she explained the situation. "Noah threw the first punch, Mr. Thornton. Mike says he was just trying to be friendly, and Noah suddenly lost his temper."

I glanced at Mike, who was hiding behind his mother’s designer skirt. "If the facts support that, I will ensure Noah takes responsibility," I said, my voice cold and firm. "But security footage has no audio. I need to hear Noah’s side before any judgment is made."

I nodded to Audrey, and she understood. We took Noah away from the crowd to his quiet art classroom.

Audrey knelt down, meeting Noah’s eyes with a patience that always seemed to calm him. "Noah, can you tell us what really happened?"

For several minutes, Noah remained a statue, his small fists clenched. Just as Audrey prepared to give him space, he reached out and grabbed her sleeve. His voice was a broken whisper.

"Mike... Mike said I was a wild kid because I have no mommy."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Rage simmered beneath my skin.

"He said mommy left me because I don't talk," Noah continued, his voice trembling. "I got so mad... I pushed him."

Audrey didn't scold him. Instead, she pulled him into a gentle hug. "Anyone would be upset by those cruel words, Noah. But next time, come to us. You don't have to fight these battles with your fists."

When we returned to the medical room, the truth came out. Confronted with Audrey’s direct questions, Mike finally admitted his taunts. His mother, Mrs. Parker, turned beet red, her arrogance evaporating instantly.

"In the Thornton family," I said, my voice carrying an undeniable weight that made Mrs. Parker pale, "we believe adults should be held accountable for the values they instill in their children."

Audrey stepped in to ease the tension. "We trust there won't be a next time. The children are still learning."

As the Parkers practically fled the building, I watched Audrey comfort Noah. I had always thought I could provide enough for my son, but seeing him nestle against her, seeking a specific kind of gentleness I couldn't provide, I realized a hard truth: Noah was searching for the motherly love he had been denied.