I RECEIVED APOLOGY

— Marta interrupted Professor Rodriguez. She laughed and said condescendingly, "Professor Rodriguez, do you insist on defending Amaranta today?"

—"Yes, Mrs. Ortega," Professor Rodriguez answered seriously, his eyes narrowed. "I slap Amaranta Cid in front of the entire class, and for a moment I analyse that this has caused great damage to Amaranta's emotional well-being."

— Martha Ortega looked at Amaranta in a haughty and arrogant manner. She was the mayor's wife, and no one dared to tell her what to do. She would not apologize for slapping this random girl.

— Martha was considered a very fashionable person in this small town. She wore red nail polish and looked great. Always wearing new clothes.

— Was there anyone in the town who had not joined, supported, or bowed to Martha Ortega all these years? Her husband was the mayor of the town. Her son had received good grades since he was a child. She had never suffered any setbacks until now… She wouldn't do it, there is no chance that she would humiliate herself before Amaranta by asking for an apology for slapping her in front of all her classmates.

— "Professor Rodriguez, can I speak to Mrs. Martha Ortiz in private?" Amaranta spoke softly.

— Professor Rodriguez didn't understand why Amaranta wanted to do so, but he still left the room. He left these two women alone. When Professor Rodriguez left, Amaranta smiled sweetly at Martha. Then, without warning, he raised his hand and slapped Martha's face.

— So without any prior notification, Martha Ortega was taken by surprise. Obviously, he didn't expect this from little Amaranta. "You… You dare to hit me?" Martha asked, totally surprised.

— However, Amaranta simply shrugged her shoulders. Yes, she dared. What would Martha Ortega do about it? Immediately, she wanted to retaliate. However, Amaranta was faster and reached out and slapped Martha once more.

— "Not only do I dare to hit you once. I also dare to hit you twice." Amaranta replied, very self-assured.

— Martha was completely shocked by Amaranta's act. She pointed with one finger at the face of the girl who just hit her, while with the other hand she held her cheek. She was too angry because she couldn't coherently gather the right words to insult Amaranta.

— Amaranta smiled. She seemed satisfied with what she was doing.- "Mrs. Ortega, do you know what you lost when you slapped me earlier?"

— Martha wanted to pull her hand away from the grip, but Amaranta held it tightly. There was coldness in this girl's eyes, and Martha Ortega for the first time panicked for some reason. She had never thought that this little girl could show such arrogance with just her cold gaze. She was suddenly afraid. What would she lose? She asked herself.

— "I won't lose anything!"

— "No. What you will lose is your marriage, your husband, and your son!" — Amaranta smiled as she pushed Martha Ortiz's hand away. She rubbed her face gently.

— "Mrs. Ortega, you should have thought things through carefully before coming to find me, accuse me, and beat me. What exactly have you done to make your son leave home without saying anything? Why did your son leave home? Do you think your husband will tolerate this?"

— Martha didn't understand men. No, perhaps, it was because her life had always been fluid. She had forgotten what it meant to be cautious and prudent. No, perhaps she always lived too confidently. She didn't know why Mayor Ortega had been so excited, she saw that Amaranta had rich relatives. There wasn't a single man who would turn down offers. It was because any man with a brain knew the benefits and recognition the proposal would bring once it was implemented. How did he lose his mind and not measure the consequences of his actions, before reflecting on the consequences of what he was doing. All because of his old jealousy towards Amaranta's mother.

— At the root of it all, men were all beings who sought their own benefits.

— Amaranta could already guess what Mayor Ortega would do after what Martha had done today.

—"Amaranta Cid, do you think my husband will divorce me because of you? You are too funny. My husband and I have been married for almost 20 years. I know what kind of person is better than you!"

—"Are you sure you know him well?"

Amaranta sat down. She looked calm and composed, as if she didn't care about Martha at all. In fact, not long after, Mayor Ortega received the news about what had happened and rushed into the office.

— Mayor Ortega had already been informed about the stupid act his wife had committed at school. When he saw Amaranta, he immediately walked towards her. "Oh, Amaranta. Are you okay?"

— Amaranta smiled softly and replied: "Mayor Ortega, it's nothing serious. It's just that your wife had slapped me in the face and.

"You have damaged my reputation. I hope your wife apologizes to me in front of the entire class."

— "Dream on!" Martha Ortega screamed. She would not do such a thing. That was impossible. She was firm. Who did Amaranta Cid think she was? She was only an illegitimate daughter who did not even know who her father was!

— "Martha, shut up!" Mayor Ortega reprimanded his wife. The mayor dragged Martha towards him and glared at her furiously. Martha was very upset. She was furious with rage.

— "Husband, she is the one who is wrong," Martha began to say meekly. "If I had not seduced…" She had not even managed to finish saying the word 'seduce', but Mayor Ortega's expression did not change. On the contrary, it became even worse.

— "Shut up, Martha! Come on! Apologize to me!" The mayor used to think that his wife was somehow useful. But now, the compliments had gone to this woman's head that she judged to be above everyone else. He could have walked a path that would lead him to wealth and glory, but this woman was about to ruin it all. Amaranta's cousin before he left for the Capital City had proposed a big business deal to her, but now this woman was ruining it all, so easily.

— Did you know what kind of benefits Amaranta and Thompson Entertainment Group could bring her?

— "I'm not going to apologize," Martha refused. "Absolutely not."

— Mayor DI was enraged. "Apologize or I'll divorce you!" He wouldn't let this big business and fame slip through his fingers.

— "What? "You want to divorce me?" — Martha was shocked.

— In a fit of uncontained rage, Martha hit her husband in front of Amaranta and Professor Rodriguez. Her son had run away from home, but her husband didn't even bother to look for his son. Instead, he was going to divorce her because she had simply hit that fatherless brat!

— "Yes?" Tell me honestly, Mr. Ortega, is this brat your illegitimate daughter?"

—"Martha, what's wrong with you, you're out of your mind!" Mayor DI was furious. He dragged Martha away, pulling her wrist.

Martha was dragged to the entrance of the classroom. The students watched the scene. Everyone was eager to witness what she would do. Mayor Ortega let go of Martha. He calmly looked at his wife, whose expression was filled with resentment. He then said, "Martha, have you thought this through?"

— Being together for almost 20 years, Martha Ortega had always thought that their marriage was happy. But today, she realized that her dignity could not match up to this man's career… She wanted a divorce.

Just because he had slapped that fatherless brat?

— Martha didn't want to enter the classroom. She wanted to tell her husband to go ahead and Martha Ortega asked for a divorce, but she didn't dare to do so. Compared to living together with him, Martha's dignity was more important. It was a pity that she didn't have the guts to do that. Everything she had today was thanks to him. If they divorced, she would have nothing. She would lose her job. She would lose her son. She would lose her husband.

— Martha Ortega slowly walked up to the podium. The students in the classroom were staring at her. Amaranta also entered the classroom. She stood in front of Martha. When she saw the smile on Amaranta's face, it made her very upset, but she couldn't do anything. Martha felt as if she was going crazy. She was the devil. She must be the devil from a deep, dark place. At that moment, for Martha, she was the embodiment of all evil in existence.

—"Amaranta, I'm sorry… I apologize for slapping you earlier. Please forgive me!" Martha's words were monotonous and dry. Her apology didn't seem sincere at all. The mayor, who was standing at the entrance to the classroom, coughed. Then Martha bowed resentfully. Her dignity was completely shattered at that very moment.

Amaranta received a public apology…

Forced, but in the end Martha had more lessons in humility…