Ronin's face drained of colour. "David..."
David looked down at the carpet. "She came today. She was so awful. The baby was crying, and she...she was calling you names, Mum. The B-word, the W-word. Usingfucka lot. She called you a homewrecker. All my mates were there, and some of the mums and dads, too. She was a bit..." His shoulders hunched. "Crazy. I didn't know what to do."
Sage's fury rose, hot and unfiltered. "That psycho twat."
David flinched, but she was already moving, her pulse roaring in her ears. "Right, that's it. I'm going to her house right now. I'm giving that little bitch a piece of my mind—"
Ronin caught up in two strides, grabbing her wrist as she reached for the car keys. "Sage, stop."
"Don't you dare," she hissed, yanking against him. Her voice dropped, sharp and venomous, as she opened the door and launched herself towards her car. "You don't get to say anything.Youbrought this crazy into our lives."
Ronin's grip tightened on the car door as she tried to wrench it open. "I will fix it, I swear. But this is not the way."
She was swearing up and down while David watched, wide-eyed, as Ronin pulled out his phone and dialled a number. James must have answered immediately, because Ronin launched into it, low and urgent. "James, it's Ronin. We need to talk. Amanda's been harassing David after school. Today, she crossed a line."
Sage stood stiff beside him, every muscle wired as he caught James up. When he hung up, she said coldly, "That's not nearly enough. We're going to the police."
Ronin hesitated, but Sage wasn't asking. She turned to David, her tone softening. "Come on, sweetheart. We'll do this together."
An hour later, the three of them sat in the sterile glow of the police station, Sage's hand firm around her son's as he gave his statement.
The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a flat glare across the interview room. Sage sat close to David, while Ronin leaned forwards on the table, shoulders tight with tension as if bracing himself for the inevitable explanations.
He explained everything: the affair, the paternity test, the weeks of Amanda trailing David, the confrontation outside school, the shouting, the names. He half-expected the officers to exchange knowing looks, or worse, to dismiss it as "domestic drama," but they didn't. They listened carefully, pens scratching across forms, their questions measured and professional.
"Can you provide the names of the other students who were present please?" the lady officer asked.
David shifted uncomfortably, but he nodded, listing Patrick, Mauve, and two others who had witnessed Amanda's outburst. The officer made careful notes.
Midway through, the door creaked open. Another female officer stepped inside, her expression brisk as she bent to whisper something to one of the detectives. He gave a short nod before clearing his throat.
"There's a gentleman outside, a James Floyd. He'd like to have a word."
Sage's gaze met Ronin's. For a beat, neither spoke, but the unspoken understanding passed between them. Both gave a small, almost wary nod.
The officer opened the door wider, and James stepped in.
He looked different, leaner, as though the last couple of weeks had carved away more than just weight. The harsh overheadlight did him no favours, throwing shadows that deepened the lines around his eyes and mouth. His face was grim, his manner clipped as he offered them a curt nod before turning squarely to the officers.
"I have concerns for my daughter's safety as well," he said, his voice carrying an undercurrent of steel. "Amanda's behaviour isn't just erratic; it's dangerous. Jenny was present during the incident."
The officer looked between them, then said firmly, "You've both done the right thing by coming here. My advice is to follow this through legally—apply for a restraining order to protect your son, and for," he nodded at James "your daughter."
Ronin's voice was low. "I've already contacted my lawyer. She has already started the paperwork."
James gave a short, grim nod. "Same here."
The officer gathered the notes together, sliding them into a file. "We'll log the complaint and contact the school. A safeguarding officer will be made aware. If Amanda approaches your son again, you call us immediately. Understood?"
Sage squeezed David's hand once more. "Understood."
David's shoulders eased just a fraction.
The drive home was silent, pulsing with unsaid words. David sat in the back, slouched against the window with his earphones in.
As soon as they stepped into the house, Sage walked to the kitchen with Ronin following her. She gave David a reassuring smile before she closed the kitchen door behind them and turned on Ronin.
She couldn't hold it in anymore. The rage came in blistering, unstoppable waves. For so long, she'd thought she could manage, thought she could endure, thought if she just kept everything running—every chore, every meal, every tiny domestic detail—then maybe her world wouldn't implode. Butit was like boiling milk in a pan; everything was under control as long as you never looked away. And the moment you did, one second of distraction, it bubbled over, scalding, spilling everywhere, burning your hands as you tried to save it, leaving behind that sickening smell. That was what her anger felt like. And tonight, the pan had finally tipped.
