Karma Doesn’t Sleep: The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 300

“What are you even talking about?” Jacob’s mom finally snapped out of it, her cheeks red as she stormed over to Jinx. “My son would never steal your allowance. Get your parents here right now!”

Before any of the adults could move, Penny jumped in front of Jinx, chin up, standing guard like a tiny superhero.

She’d promised to protect Jinx, and she meant it.

Penny stared the adults down. “Jinx doesn’t have parents. If you have something to say, say it to me!”

Amelia almost burst out laughing, shaking her head as she gently tried to cover Penny’s mouth.

“Honey, don’t make things up,” she scolded quietly, but her eyes drifted to the two boys at the back, both throwing sneaky little fists at Jinx when they thought no one was watching.

Jinx flinched, grabbing onto Penny’s shirt, her eyes wide and scared.

Amelia’s heart sank. She knew for sure now—Jinx wasn’t lying.

Jacob’s mom was losing her patience. “Don’t think that just because some dirty little girl shows up and makes up stories, we’re going to forget about Penny hitting my son. We need an explanation, and it better be good!”

If Jinx hadn’t spoken up, this would have been simple—Penny hit someone, end of story.

But now...

Ms. Arnold pushed up her glasses, her voice calm and firm. “Let’s be clear, Jacob’s mom. If Jacob and Roberto have been bullying Jinx, we’re going to get to the bottom of it. Our school does not tolerate bullying. If it’s true, they’ll be expelled.”

“Ms. Arnold, watch what you say. Don’t go around accusing my son without proof,” Roberto’s mom shot back, wrapping her arms around her chubby, squirming son and giving Ms. Arnold a pointed look. “My husband just donated a new building to the school. He and the principal are very close, just so you know.”

Amelia noticed something on Jinx’s backpack—a bright, new keyring, but no toy hanging from it.

“Jinx, where’s your stuffed animal?”

Jinx pressed her lips together, her voice barely a whisper. “Someone took it at lunch…”

“Tell me, sweetie, who took it?” Amelia knelt beside her, her hand waving between Jacob and Roberto.

The two boys grew paler by the second. Amelia narrowed her eyes, her tone serious. “Should we call the police? Let them take the thief away and lock him up in a dark cell with rats?”

Kids this age were terrified of the police. Amelia had been through this before with Penny. She knew it worked.

Roberto froze, shaking as he prepared to give up the backpack.

But Roberto’s mom lunged forward, scooping up her son and the backpack, shielding them both.

“What do you think you’re doing? Ganging up on my son?” she snapped, but her voice wobbled. She knew her kid better than anyone.

Ms. Arnold stepped up. “Roberto’s mom, let us look in the backpack. If Jinx’s stuffed animal is there, we need to know.”

Roberto’s mom clung to the bag, her tone defensive. “That’s his personal property. You have no right to search it. I’m warning you, if you traumatize my son, we’ll have a real problem.”

Jacob’s mom was starting to put the pieces together. The security cameras had caught Penny hitting the boys, but both her son and Roberto had fought back. If it came out they’d teamed up to bully another girl, things would get ugly. Expulsion was a real possibility.

She grabbed Jacob, trying to sneak him out.

But Amelia stepped in their path before they could leave.

“Roberto’s mom. Jacob’s mom. Why don’t we parents step outside for a quick chat?” Amelia smiled sweetly, her pretty face and small frame making her look soft and harmless, almost fragile.