Estella's hand throbbed with pain after her fall, and a surge of resentment welled within her. She instinctively massaged her small hand, close to tears. After a while, she sniffled, stood up, took a notebook from her desk, and began to write.

The other children weren't surprised. Since Estella was mute, she usually communicated by writing. However, she rarely did so, as she had few playmates.

After finishing, she showed her notebook to Tammy.

Tammy, hands on hips, snorted at the word "apologize." "How dare you ask me to apologize? You're asking for it, Estella!"

She advanced toward Estella, nose in the air, hand outstretched, intending to shove her again.

Estella was unprepared for another attack. Frozen in place, she couldn't react.

Archie and Benny had been watching. They hadn't seen Tammy's first shove, only Estella's fall. Seeing Tammy about to push her again, they intervened.

"Enough! How can you bully her?" Archie stepped in front of Estella, glaring fiercely.

Tammy was stunned.

Archie said sternly, "Didn't your mother teach you to apologize? You shoved her; you must apologize!"

His imposing demeanor, fueled by Tammy's bullying, surprised her. Apprehensive, Tammy looked around for support. Finding none, she mumbled guiltily, "I-I" She was speechless.

Seeing Tammy blush crimson, Benny stepped forward. "You shouldn't hurt anyone. It's bad behavior! We shouldn't fight. Apologize, okay?"

Benny's voice lacked Archie's authority, but it was firm.

Tears welled in Tammy's eyes.

Benny softened. "Don't cry. You'll look ugly crying. Bad kids look ugly, and only bad kids hurt others. If you don't want to be a bad kid, apologize sincerely. You'll be a good kid again when she forgives you!"

Tammy sniffled, fighting back tears. No way! I don't want to be an ugly girl! she thought. But bad kids do look ugly

After much hesitation, she apologized, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you. Please forgive me?"

Estella looked at Tammy for a moment before nodding.

Benny grinned. "That's right! We're classmates; we should get along!"

Tammy nodded awkwardly. The other children echoed Benny's sentiment. Archie turned to Estella. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

Hiding her injured hand, Estella shook her head.

Benny leaned closer, suspicious. "I saw you fall on the desk. You're not hurt at all? Let me see!"

He grabbed Estella's hand. She tried to pull away, but the small red mark on the back of her hand was visible.

Archie asked again, "You don't feel any pain?"

Estella shook her head, though her eyes were red-rimmed.

Archie and Benny frowned. The redness was spreading; it was already swelling.

"We'll take you to the teacher and the school nurse," Archie declared.

Benny held Estella's hand and they went with Archie to the staff room.

Seeing Estella's injury, their teacher learned what happened and rushed them to the school nurse.

Estella's injury wasn't serious, but the nurse treated it carefully, spraying medicine and gently massaging the wound. Afterwards, impressed by the boys, she asked their teacher, "Are these your new students? They're adorable! Girls will adore them! And that little girl resembles them. Are they siblings?"

Archie and Benny exchanged glances and looked at Estella. They weren't surprised; Estella was their half-sister. People often commented that their eyes didn't resemble their mother's.

Estella also looked at them, wondering, Do we look alike?

After the nurse treated Estella, the teacher left with them. Back in class, Estella followed Archie and Benny closely.

Archie and Benny, initially relieved, found Estella shadowing them constantly, even stealing glances during class.

Archie, finally losing patience, asked intently, "Why are you following us?" His tone was emotionless.

Estella looked away, then glanced back. Archie frowned.

He had a soft spot for Estella, but she was his father's daughter with another woman. Helping her would be betraying his mother. He was speechless, though, when he saw her pitiful gaze.

Before he could tell her to leave, she wrote in her notebook: I want to be friends with both of you. She held up the notebook, hiding her face, revealing only her bright eyes.

The final sentence, "Search the FindNovel.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality," is an advertisement and has been removed.