The Legendary Papa System: My Daughter's Pride is My Power

Chapter 2: A Small Voice That Changes Everything

"He came back inside. How completely shameless."

Victoria's voice rang out clearly from the podium as Rovan stepped back into the hall. He was not carrying a mop this time. He just stood near the back wall, in the spot he was used to every Parents' Evening. His gray uniform was still the same. His hands were empty.

Millie had just come out of the individual conference room with Miss Eleanor. The child immediately searched the crowd for her father. The moment she spotted Rovan in the back, her face lit up. She ran over, holding her classroom teacher's hand.

"Dad! Miss Eleanor said my grades are amazing!" Millie exclaimed.

Miss Eleanor smiled politely. "Millie works very hard, Mr. Miller. I am happy to share this good news in person."

Rovan nodded softly. "Thank you, Miss Eleanor."

Victoria, standing not far away, turned around. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the interaction. She raised her voice high enough for the people nearby to hear.

"So it is true. That child really is his daughter."

The mother with the pearl necklace beside her immediately added, "I was hoping it was just a rumor. Apparently not."

Millie stood near her father, holding the hem of Rovan's shirt. She looked at the two women in confusion.

Victoria took a step closer. "You," she said to Rovan. "Did you really enroll your child in this school on a janitor's salary?"

Rovan did not answer. He just placed a hand on Millie's shoulder, pulling her a little closer.

"I asked you a question," Victoria pressed. "How can you afford a tuition of forty thousand pounds a year? Or are you relying on a scholarship meant for underprivileged kids?"

A few other parents began walking over. The chatter in the hall quieted down. All attention turned toward them.

The mother with the pearl necklace smiled faintly. "Maybe he works a side job. Or... there is some other way."

"Let us not make inappropriate speculations," a man in the back spoke up, but his voice was weak.

Victoria ignored him. She looked directly at Millie. "Sweetheart, do you know your father works as a cleaner at your own school? Every day he mops the floors you walk on."

Millie frowned. "My dad works hard."

"Work hard?" Victoria chuckled. "Of course he does. Mopping dirty water and taking out the trash is very... noble work."

Soft laughter echoed from several directions.

Rovan pressed down gently on Millie's shoulder. "That is enough. Millie, wait here."

"Do not tell the child to be quiet," Victoria interrupted. "She needs to know where she belongs. And where her father belongs."

The mother with the pearl necklace added, "Exactly. This school is for families who maintain standards. Not for people who show up in dirty uniforms with hands covered in soap scum."

Millie looked at her father, then at the two women. Her lips trembled.

"My dad is not dirty."

Victoria leaned down slightly to be eye level with the child. "Oh, darling. Your father is a janitor. He cleans toilets and floors. That is his job. There is nothing wrong with that, of course. But among us, his presence is a little... contaminating."

The word "contaminating" was pronounced clearly. On purpose.

Rovan took a breath. His fingers tightened briefly on Millie's shoulder, then loosened again.

"That is enough," he said quietly.

"Enough?" Victoria stood up straight. "I am just getting started. How could you think that the child of a janitor deserves to sit in the same classroom as our children? Do you feel no shame?"

Another mother joined in. "My child asked me why there was a man always carrying a bucket in the hallway. I had to lie so he would not be confused."

"Me too," another chimed in. "It would be better if the cleaning staff were completely out of sight during official events."

Millie released her grip on her father's shirt. She took a step forward.

"Stop."

Her voice was small, but loud enough to make several people go quiet.

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "What did you say, sweetheart?"

Millie raised her face. Her eyes were wet, but her voice was steady. "Stop talking about my dad like that."

"Or what?" Victoria smiled. "You will make your dad mop our floors as punishment?"

Laughter broke out again.

Rovan reached for Millie's hand. "Millie. That is enough. We are leaving."

The child pulled her hand back. "No."

She looked around. An empty chair nearby caught her eye. Without saying a word, Millie climbed onto the chair. She stood up straight. Both of her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Everyone nearby fell silent.

"My dad is not just a cleaner!" her voice rang out loud, filling the suddenly quiet room. "My dad is a surgeon, a pilot, and the owner of this school!"

Absolute silence.

Victoria opened her mouth, then closed it again. A few parents looked at one another. Miss Eleanor, standing not far away, froze in place.

Rovan stood below the chair, looking at his daughter. At that exact second, something appeared before his eyes.

A transparent blue interface floated in the air, visible only to him.

[Legendary Dad System activated.]

[Sincere praise detected.]

[Fund transfer: 2.7 billion British Pounds deposited into a connected account.]

[Majority ownership certificate for St. Jude's Prep Foundation sent to your device.]

Rovan reached into his pants pocket. His phone buzzed once. He pulled it out. The screen lit up. Bank notifications appeared one after another. The balance that had previously been only three digits now held an absurd string of numbers. Below it, a P*F file opened automatically. The school foundation's logo. His name printed as the majority shareholder.

He looked up. Millie was still standing on the chair, her breathing slightly rushed, her face red from a mix of anger and fear.

Victoria finally found her voice. "This child... she is hallucinating."

"Or she was taught to lie," the mother with the pearl necklace said, though her voice was no longer steady.

Rovan did not say a word. He looked at the interface still floating before his eyes, then looked at his daughter, who was still standing on top of the chair in the middle of the golden hall that had suddenly fallen quiet.

His fingers gripped the phone tighter. The numbers on the screen did not change. The certificate was real. The transfer was real.

Millie stepped down from the chair. She immediately wrapped her arms around her father's waist, burying her face in his gray work shirt.

"I do not like them talking like that," she whispered.

Rovan placed his hand on his daughter's hair. He looked back at the interface as it slowly faded away, leaving only the vibration of the phone in his hand and a silence that no one in the room was ready to break.