The Fake Bag Exposed Her Real Family
CHAPTER 1 - The Fake Bag
Chloe Mercer grabbed Mia Lawson's old shoulder bag and threw it onto the grass.
Students gathered around them.
Chloe lifted her own beige handbag and smiled.
"Look at this. She really thought that bag was cute."
Her friends laughed.
Mia had endured Chloe's insults for almost a year. She had ignored the comments about her clothes, her secondhand shoes, and the lunches her mother packed.
But that bag had belonged to Mia's mother.
"Pick it up," Mia said.
Chloe laughed harder.
"Seriously? You're pathetic."
Something inside Mia broke.
She slapped Chloe, struck her shoulder, and kicked her onto the grass. The cheering stopped immediately.
Chloe stared up at her in shock.
Mia picked up both bags. When she opened Chloe's handbag, she saw the crooked stitching and the misspelled label.
LUCCI.
Mia gave a cold smile.
"Nice fake Lucci."
Several students looked at Chloe's expensive shoes and jewelry. For the first time, they began wondering what else might be fake.
"Next time, keep your hands off me," Mia said.
A teacher arrived moments later.
Both girls were taken to the principal's office. Chloe claimed Mia had attacked without warning. Mia admitted hitting her but refused to apologize for being humiliated.
Principal Hart suspended Mia for one week. Chloe received three days for bullying and taking Mia's property.
"Both of your parents will attend a disciplinary meeting tomorrow," he said.
Chloe smirked.
"My father will destroy this school if you punish me."
Mia's mother, Laura, arrived first the next morning. She wore the simple gray uniform of the retirement home where she worked.
Chloe entered with a tall, well-dressed man.
Laura saw him and stopped walking.
The color disappeared from her face.
"Daniel?"
The man froze.
Mia looked from her mother to Chloe's father.
She had seen that face in old family photographs.
Her voice became unsteady.
"Why is my father standing beside her?"
