Chapter 3Lioness

I tried to push through them, but there were too many. Jessica had come prepared. There were at least a dozen other parents she had rallied. They linked arms, and I couldn't break through.

My eyes were burning with tears of rage. "Let my son go! This is child abuse! It's a felony!"

Leo's head was swelling, and his breaths were ragged. But he tried to be brave for me. "Mommy... it doesn't hurt... I'm a big boy."

Jessica let out a cold laugh. "You hear that? Your son himself says it doesn't hurt."

She turned back to Leo. "Okay, sweetie, you've apologized. Now, if you just crack open these ten walnuts with your forehead, I'll let your mommy off the hook. She won't have to get on her knees."

"Really, ma'am? You promise?" Leo asked, his voice small.

"NO!" I shrieked. "Leo, don't listen to her! Mommy said no!"

Leo hesitated, his little mouth clamping shut.

The next second, Jessica grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back. Another parent rushed to pin his arms. Leo let out a piercing scream of pain.

"You monsters! Let him go! If anything happens to him, I swear to God, none of you are walking out of here!"

"I already called the police on my way here! They'll be here any minute! Every single one of you can look forward to having this on your permanent record!"

That gave them pause. The human wall wavered. I saw an opening and was about to charge through when Jessica laughed again.

"The police? And who do you think they'll listen to? In this city, the Harrison family calls the shots!"

She gave a smug smile. "So you can all stop worrying. In fact, if you help me keep this crazy woman under control, I'll have my Mark send a few projects your companies' way. A thank you, from me."

The Harrison family? Mark?

Mark Harrison! That's my husband's name! Since when was he her Mark?

My mind reeled. A few of the parents, hearing the promise of business deals, lit up. One man lunged forward, grabbed my hair, and slapped me hard across the face.

"That's for messing with Mrs. Harrison!"

Jessica's smile widened. The others took their cue, pushing and shoving me. I was a rag doll in the middle of a vicious mob.

I screamed, my voice raw. "She's a liar! She's not Mrs. Harrison! I AM!"

Leo was on the verge of passing out, his small body limp.

"Leo's mom, lying isn't a good habit," Ms. Davis sneered. "No wonder your son is so badly behaved. He learned it from you."

I couldn't take it anymore. I spun around and slapped her across the face. "You shut your mouth!"

"You don't believe me? I can video call Mark right now!"

Jessica sauntered over, her eyes full of contempt. "A video call? In the age of deepfakes? Please. You want to prove who you are? You'll need more than that. Besides," she added, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "you've been 'calling the police' for a while now. Do you see any cops?"

It had been almost two hours since I called 911. Even with a slow response time...

My heart sank into a black pit.

She savored my expression. "Let me be clear. The Harrisons have had this whole park cleared out. No one is coming to save you. Unless... you have your precious son crack this entire basket of walnuts. Otherwise, neither of you is leaving."

She gestured to a man in a suit standing by the door. "Mr. Evans, bring in the 'dessert' I prepared for Leo."

The man walked in. When I saw his face, I felt like I'd been struck by lightning.

It was Mr. Evans, Mark's most trusted executive assistant.