Chapter 13 Terminating the Contract

• As Camellia watched her children being led inside the classroom, she waved at them, then let out a long sigh, her eyes filled with apology.
• I’m sorry, darlings! I won’t ever get mad without asking about your reasons ever again.
• Still...
• Camellia walked to the teacher at the classroom door, then nodded respectfully as she said, “Sorry for the trouble. I’ll be fetching Kenneth and Angela to and from school from now on. If I can’t make it and ask someone else to fetch them, I’ll make sure to inform you about it. Also, if anyone else asked to see the children, please tell me.”
• The young teacher smiled as she nodded. “Don’t worry, ma’am. We’re very strict with strangers here. Still, I can understand your concern. Your children are so talented, and people already love them so much. Now that they’re viral on the net, they will get even more attention.”
• “Sorry for the trouble, and thank you for your understanding.”
• “It’s okay. I’ll watch over them properly.”
• “Thank you!” Camellia meant every bit of those words. After leaving the kindergarten, Camellia quickly crossed the road and walked toward her apartment.
• Clara was all decked out as she descended the stairs, only to see Camellia, who had a sour expression on her face.
• “What happened? Who got on your wrong side this early in the morning?” Clara glanced at her watch anxiously. “But I don’t have time to listen to your rants now. I have a meeting with a director to discuss a partnership.”
• Camellia leaned against the railing and crossed her arms. “On Ken’s and Angie’s behalf, no?”
• “You… found out?” Clara was about to land on the last step of the stairs in her high heels, and when she heard that, she almost fell over, but she managed to hold on to the railing to support her.
• Camellia glared at her. “Clara, didn’t we agree that they must never join the industry? Why did you go back on your words?”
• Dabbing her own forehead, she explained, “I never thought you’d find out this soon.”
• “Clara, I’m saying this one last time. Since I chose to partner with you, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything when I pursue my career and achieve results as soon as possible. However, no matter the circumstances, as long as you’re not giving up, I won’t give up on you either. But my children are the one line you should never cross. Cancel the partnership for them, and if the compensation is too much for you, put it on my tab, and I’ll eventually pay the whole amount.”
• Clara’s eyes went wide. “Are you crazy, Camellia? Ken and Angie are so popular now! Are you trying to nip their dreams in the bud?”
• However, to Clara’s dismay, Camellia didn’t offer room for negotiation. “This dream was never theirs. It was the dream that we adults forced on them.”
• “But! They’re so talented, and they might even suit the industry better than you.” Clara gritted her teeth as if she had made her resolve. “Okay, what about this? You retire, then focus your efforts on getting Ken and Angie into the entertainment industry.”
• “No!” Camellia declined without a second thought. “If you insist, I’ll have to take Ken and Angie back to America. Even if we had to beg to survive, we’ll definitely never return to the entertainment industry!”
• “You!” Clara’s devastation was clear on her face.
• They are such talented children, but they had to have such a stubborn and illogical mother!
• “All right, all right! I’ll get the contract terminated.” Clara didn’t dare to anger Camellia, so she had to compromise. “I’ll tell the director that the children’s mother feared that they would gain more fans than her, and she’s so jealous that she stopped her children from going further.”
• “Whatever!” Camellia walked up the stairs without a care in the world.
• As long as the children weren’t discovered, she wouldn’t mind being wrongly accused. She mustn’t be careless when it came to the possibility of her children being found out.
• Luck and chance must not play any part in the matter.