Dumping The Ice King His Mini-Tyrant novel Chapter 406

Clarissa’s face twisted, her features contorting in anger. “I did not! What apology letter? There’s no such thing!”

“Dafina! You’ve gone too far!” She shot a glare toward where Selene was sitting and stormed off in her direction, clearly intent on confronting her.

Meanwhile, Altair pulled out his phone, opened an app, and pressed a button.

Suddenly, the school auditorium’s control booth screen lit up with a music interface. A triumphant march thundered from the speakers, prompting the children to instinctively clap along with the beat.

The entire hall burst into lively commotion. Over the sound system, an AI-generated voice announced:

“Let’s give a warm welcome to Clarissa—Ms. Vaughn—to the stage!”

Selene couldn’t help but laugh, a giggle slipping out. She reached over and affectionately ruffled Altair’s hair.

“You’re amazing, Little Star!”

Now all eyes were on Clarissa. If she refused to apologize, there’d be no easy way out of this.

Altair turned to Selene, his gaze meeting hers, and for a moment it was as if galaxies sparkled in his dark eyes. He rarely smiled, but when he was with Selene and Daph, his laughter was light and unguarded, as a boy his age should be.

In the row behind them, Dames watched Selene and Altair sharing a smile, and his little heart twisted in jealousy. His stubby fingers fidgeted with the drawstring of his hoodie, and he pouted in frustration.

Altair is just too much!

Anger flared up inside Dames, burning away all the peaceful moments he had spent with Altair lately.

Meanwhile, the applause in the hall grew louder. The music kept playing, filling the space with excitement. Parents turned to look at Clarissa, waiting to see what she’d do next.

Quentin shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Maybe you should just go up there?”

Clarissa clenched her jaw. “Why should I? I didn’t do anything wrong! How could Selene let her daughter treat me like this?”

Standing abruptly, she strode toward Selene. “Tell your daughter to get off that stage!”

Selene met her gaze calmly. “Didn’t you promise Daph that if she won first prize, you’d go up there and apologize in front of everyone?”

She pressed on. “Have you finished your apology speech, Ms. Vaughn? If you’re heading to the stage, you’d better be ready—not make a scene.”

Clarissa shook with rage, as if someone had drenched her with ice-cold water. She’d torn up the apology letter ages ago, and couldn’t even remember what it had said.

She let out a bitter laugh. “Me? Apologize? Not a chance!”

The event host, seeing Clarissa leave, realized things were quickly spiraling out of control. She hurried over, gently pressing a hand to Daph’s shoulder, trying to usher her off the stage.

“Dafina, maybe you should step down for now. Asking an adult to apologize to you on stage… that’s not really appropriate, is it?” she whispered.

Abbey Hargrove, the senior dance instructor for the oldest group, stood at the side of the stage, partially hidden by the curtain. Arms crossed, she scoffed at the scene, her own disappointment at not winning the grand prize for her Swan Lake routine momentarily forgotten.

“Dafina, don’t push your luck! You’ve already won the grand prize—why insist on making Mrs. Vaughn apologize?”

Daph’s face grew more and more blank, confusion clouding her features.

“Watch your words!” Luke Holloway, who’d been scrolling through his phone, snapped coldly at Abbey.

The force of his presence made Abbey flinch.

Out in the audience, Carmel couldn’t hold back any longer. “How could she act like that?!”

“Clarissa!” Selene called after her, just as several children from the senior class sprang into action, forming a human barricade and blocking Clarissa’s path.

Clarissa stopped short, startled to see the children standing hand-in-hand, eyes wide and determined as they barred her exit.