I Hope You Will Never Regret

On Monday morning, Aunt Bridgette took her car keys, and then she walked to Avery’s bedroom. Avery smiled brightly at her and said, “Good morning, Aunt Bridge. Did you sleep well?”

Aunt Bridgette smiled and replied, “Good morning, Sweetheart. I slept well and you?” Avery told her that she slept well. Then she took her school bag. They headed to the ground floor.

When they reached the ground floor, Mrs Martins and Lily were in the living room waiting for them. Mrs Martins looked at Bridgette and said, “You don’t have to drop Avery at school today. I am accompanying Lily to school, and then I will drop her off as well.”

Avery looked at Aunt Bridgette, and then they laughed out loud. They ignored Mrs Martins and left the house laughing. Mrs Martins was so embarrassed she asked Lily to follow her to the car.

Aiden was already in the car waiting for Lily. He was surprised to see his mother getting in the car because Lily’s registration was already done.

Aiden looked at his mother with questioning eyes. Mrs Martins smiled and replied, “I am going to ask Principal Glen to move Avery back to Grade 9 and move her to commerce class.”

Aiden laughed out loud and said, “Mommy, you are wasting your time. Do you know why Avery is doing Grade 12 this year?” His mother looked at her son and replied, “Isn’t it because your father bribed the teachers to allow her to skip Grades?”

Aiden shook his head and replied, “It’s because my father asked Principal Glen not to promote Avery anymore because it was putting a lot of pressure on me. In fact, I held her back.”

Mrs Martins was dumbfounded when she heard Aiden’s words and asked, “Is she very intelligent?” Aiden nodded his head and replied, “She is a genius, Mom. She won all the competitions for the school. Avery has a photographic memory.

At the age of five, she self-studied Mathematics books, Science books, and Commerce books up to the university level.

For the past nine years, she has won the Mathematics Olympiads, the National Science Olympiads, and the National Accounting Olympiads.”

Mrs Martins sneered, “If she is so brilliant, why she is refusing to help Lily? Lily lost her parents; so, she needs all the help she can get.”

Aiden looked at his mother and asked, “Who helped Avery when she lost her mother? Mom don’t waste your breath. Principal Glen would not allow you to interfere in Avery’s education.

You have never attended even a parents’ meeting for her. Principal Glen treats Bridgette as Avery’s mother.”

Mrs Martins was fuming but she didn’t refute her son’s words. Even though she wasn’t there for her daughter, it didn’t mean that she was not her biological mother.

The family driver dropped them outside the school gate and waited for Mrs Martins. She greeted the security guards, and then she told them that she had an appointment with Principal Glen.

The security guard escorted Mrs Martins and Lily to Principal Glen’s office. Mrs Martins knocked on the door, and then Principal Glen’s secretary, Miss Brenda Carr, opened the door.

She smiled and asked, “Good morning, Madam, how may I help you?” Mrs Martins smiled brightly and replied, “I am Avery Martins’ mother, and I would like to see Principal Glen.”

Miss Carr asked them to come inside and said, “Let me go and see if Principal Glen is not busy.”

A few minutes later, Miss Carr ushered them to Principal Glen’s office. He smiled broadly and shook their hands. He looked at her and asked, “Mrs Martins, how may I help you?”

Mrs Martins looked at Principal Glen smiling and replied, “Principal Glen, I have a request. Please move Avery back to Grade 9 to assist her cousin. My niece, Lily, lost both of her parents and needs all the help she can get.”

Principal Glen was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe his ears. He asked his secretary to fetch Mr Gray and Miss Martins. While they were waiting for them, Principal Glen quickly dialed Mr Martins’ number.

When it was connected, he said, “Good morning, Mr Martins, I have your wife with me. She requested the school to move Miss Martins back to Grade 9 to help her cousin.”

Mr Martins laughed out loud and replied, “She is not her mother. Don’t listen to her, Principal Glen.” Then they hung up.

A few minutes later, Mr Gray and Avery were ushered into Principal Glen’s office. Mr Gray greeted the guests politely and said, “Principal Glen, are you looking for us?”

Principal Glen looked at Mr Gray and nodded his head. Then he introduced Mr Gray to Mrs Martins and Lily. He smiled broadly at Avery and asked, “Miss Martins, is this lady your mother?”

Avery looked at Principal Glen and replied, “She is not my mother, Principal Glen. My mother passed away giving birth to me. Aunt Elizabeth is my father’s wife and Aiden’s mother.”

Mrs Martins was so upset that she looked at Avery with cold eyes and said, “Are you cursing me to die? What nonsense are you spouting?”

Avery ignored her. She looked at Principal Glen and asked, “Principal Glen, can I go back to class? I am not related to her.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Principal Glen smiled and replied, “Mrs Martins asked you to be moved back to Grade 9 to help your cousin. Even if she was your mother, I would never listen to her request.

What kind of a mother who chooses her niece over her daughter? You are not your cousin’s keeper. Please go back to class.” Avery smiled brightly at Principal Glen, and then she left the principal’s office.

Principal Glen looked at Mrs Martins coldly and said, “Mrs Martins, I am so disappointed in you. Even if you are Miss Martins’ stepmother, you failed to play your role as her stepmother.

I’ve known Miss Martins since she was four years old, but I have never seen you attending even a parents’ meeting. It means you still holding a grudge against Miss Martins’ mother.”

Mrs Martins was dumbfounded when she heard Principal Glen’s words. However, she didn’t refute that she had neglected her role as Avery’s mother since birth. She disappointed her niece again.

Principal Glen asked Mr Gray to take Lily to the Grade 9 Commerce class. Then Miss Carr escorted Mrs Martins out of Principal Glen’s office. Mrs Martins was fuming with rage when she left school.

She got into the car and slammed the door hard. She was overwhelmed with resentment and embarrassment. Her hatred towards Avery was deep and she vowed that one day she would avenge herself.