Learnly didn't get its ten million dollars. Not from us, and not from anyone else.

Word gets around in the education world. Once people knew where the demo lessons had come from, the other investors went quiet. Preston's co-founder left. The lessons were taken down by Friday.

I didn't tell anyone what happened at the dinner. I didn't need to. I didn't want to.

Four months later, an email came through BrightPath's family support system. Ben forwarded it to me with a single word. Look.

It was a request for a math tutor. For a nine-year-old girl called Lily Vale. Struggling with multiplication. Very upset. Thinks she's stupid.

At the bottom, there was a note from the parent.

Please could she have a real teacher? Not an app. She needs somebody to sit with her. – Preston Vale.

I read it three times.

Then I found the best tutor we had for nine-year-olds. A retired third-grade teacher from Queens called Mrs. Abbott, who has the patience of a saint and a laugh like a bell.

A month later, Preston sent me a second email. Just three lines.

Lily got 100% on her times tables. She says Mrs. Abbott never once gave her the answer. I owe you an apology, Grace. And Mrs. Delaney too, whoever she is.