Chapter 575

Teresa sighed heavily, her reluctance softening into a pout. She puffed her rosy cheeks and asked with earnest, “Manley, why did you say my mom hit you?”

“I saw her hit me, my skin turned red where she pinched me, that’s the proof!” Manley’s eyes were stubborn and livid, his little chubby body shaking with the intent to usher Teresa and Hayes out.

“We’re not friends anymore! Don’t come looking for me! I don’t wanna hang out with jerks!” Hayes and Teresa were pushed towards the door, both of them clinging to the doorframe, refusing to leave.

Teresa rolled/her eyes cunningly, a shrewd glint passing through them as she decided to provoke Manley, “We’re not jerks! Liars are the real jerks! You lied! And you pinched yourself and then blamed everything on my mom! That makes you the jerk!”

Teresa hadn’t spent much time with Manley, but she had noticed one thing at the hospital last week-

Manley hated being called a jerk.

As soon as someone described him with that word, he would argue his case fiercely, Sure enough, as soon as Teresa finished her accusation, Manley’s eyes brimmed with tears, “I didn’t! I did not pinch myself! I didn’t lie, and I’m not a jerk!”

Manley was confused and anxious inside. He was the one who had been hurt, so why were Teresa and Hayes picking on him and misunderstanding him?

His mom had already forbidden him from playing with Hayes and Teresa, but to prove he wasn’t lying, his voice rose sharply, his words tumbling out amidst sobs, “Last night I saw your mom storm into my room, wearing a white dress, hair all wild, like some kind of ghost! She said my mom was the other woman, that my dad didn’t love me, he only loved you and Hayes! I got so upset, we started arguing!

Next thing I knew, your mom was pinching my arm and spanking me! I was hurting all over, my head was throbbing! Your mom hit me so hard I started seeing stars! And… and her face was so, so scary!

She was all snarling and hissing, like a mad lioness!”

As Manley spoke, he lifted his sleeve to reveal bruised skin, fooking rather shocking.

Hayes’ eyes widened in disbelief, fixated on Manley’s bruises and his tear-streaked face.

Teresa, on the other hand, grew angrier with every word. Although her mom had repeatedly warned her not to argue with Manley, she couldn’t stand him throwing all these accusations at her mom.

“Manley, shut up! Who are you calling a lioness? I won’t let you talk about my mom like that!”

With that, Teresa rolled up her sleeves and charged at Manley.

Hayes, startled, grabbed Teresa’s arm and whispered urgently, “Don’t do anything rash! Manley might not be lying!”

The situation was tense, and Hayes didn’t even realize that he’d managed to speak a complete sentence so smoothly! And Teresa, caught up in her fury, pushed everything else aside.

“Hayes! What are you doing? How could he not be lying? My mom would never hit him!” she stomped her foot, fuming.

Hayes pursed his lips, his gaze serious and defiant, “Stay back, I’ll handle this.”

Letting go of Teresa, he walked over to Manley and examined his head closely from all angles.

Alright! Good, there were no wounds.

Manley, puzzled by Hayes’ actions, tried to push him away, his chubby face smeared with tears.

“Don’t touch me! Get out! I never want to see you guys again!”

Hayes’ resolve strengthened, his eyes fierce and determined.

He was going to clear Teresa’s mom’s name and resolve this misunderstanding with Manley!

But first, there was something he had to figure out.