Chapter 28

Kelly POV

It had been a long, grueling day at work, one of those days where every decision seemed to amplify the pressure. The Ethics Committee had been circling, their discussions hinting at censure or worse, expulsion. Somehow, I managed to convince them to hold off for now. I couldn't entirely blame them; the controversies surrounding me had been so much. Still, the last thing I wanted to do was address any of the scandals.

By the time I arrived at Harper’s school, I could feel the tension in my neck, the tightness in my chest. I’d tried to ignore it, tried to convince myself it was just another normal day. But the flash of cameras in the distance told me otherwise. The paparazzi were here, and they had found Harper.

As I stepped out of the car, my heart pounded. It wasn’t the first time my privacy had been invaded, but seeing them camped out near the gates of my daughter’s school felt like a line had been crossed. A group of photographers stood, cam