As I heard her question, I lost interest in dragging it out any longer. I simply looked at Mrs. Baker. “Mrs. Baker, can I leave now?”

I thought she was just venting for her daughter.

And now that the truth was out, she would let me go.

To my surprise, she just pinched Cecilia’s cheek with affection. “Are you crazy? You risked your own integrity just to slander her?”

Cecilia pouted and whined, “Mom, it’s my fault! I resorted to this tactic because I had ...