Chapter 13
Edward sent the family’s butter to Francisco Memorial Preschool, and with the teacher’s help, he quickly spotted fury on the sports fald
It was recess, and Ruby sat neatly on a small chair, watching the other kids run around and yell. “Ugh, kids she thought, rolling her eyes
“Hey, kiddo,” the butler said, kneeling down with a friendly grin. “Your mom asked me to messtre you for new clothes. Can you stand up for me?”
Ruby pulled the little phone hanging from her neck and called Sylvia to check.
After getting the go–ahead, she giggled, jumped up, and stretched out her chubby arms, letting the butler measure her,
The buller chuckled at Ruby’s cute antics. After he was done, he played with her for a bit before leaving
“Yara, where’s that annoying kid you mentioned? A stocky boy named Shane Brock stomped out of the classroom, Vara right behind him.
Yara pointed at Ruby, her cheeks puffed out in a huff. “That’s her! Don’t let her size trick you–she’s awful She’s been picking on me nonstop. You’un got to set her straight!”
Shane was bigger than most kids his age, with a gooly, show–off attitude, Yara was the class princess, and when she complained about being bullied, Shane felt like a here ready to save the day.
“Don’t worry, Yara,” he bragged, thumping his chest. “I make sure she’s sorry she over messed with you!”
Yara smirked, following Shane as they headed toward Ruby.
“Hey, you!” Shane stood over Ruby, his voice loud. “You’re messing with Yara?”
Ruby, who’d just sat back down, looked up, puzzled. “Messing with Yara? Who’s Yara?”
Yara stuck out her chin. “I’m Yara, you little dork!”
She gave Ruby a smug glare. She’s so small–Shane could make her cry in one second
But Shane frome, his eyes wide, staring at Ruby with a mix of surprise and something else.
“Big puy, what’s the holdup?” Yara poked him, annoyed
Ruby looked Shane in the eye, letting out a cheeky little huff. “Go ahead, ask him if he’s brave enough to do this.”
Yara almost laughed. Shane was fearless–her loyal sidekick who’d do whatever she wanted.
But Shane’s forehead wrinkled, his mind spinning. Something about this girl seemed familiar, but he couldn’t pin it down.
Then it clicked: last year, when he’d traveled abroad with his dad for treatment. He’d met this girl before
His face it up. “Hold on… is your mom Sylvia?”
Ruby grinned, tossing her head. “Good guess.”
Back then, Shane’s dad had been really sick, and ho doctor could fix him…
A friend told them about someone who could help, so they’d gone overseas. That’s when Shane met Ruby. Her family saved his dad.
It had been a year and Shane still recognized Ruby
And then, to Yara’s total shock, Shane paused, bowed deeply, and said, “Nice to see you again, miss!”
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Yara’s mouth fell open. is he nuts? She tugged at Shane’s arm, but he pushed her away
His face turned red as he mumbled, “Lay off, Yara! My dad said to show respect”
Ruby waddled over to Shane, her toddler steps shaky but sure. In a sweet but firm voice, the said, “Okay, stand up ”
Shane got up fast, his cheeks bright red. Ruby might be small, but his dad’s order was serious business.
Pointing at Yara, Ruby said, “And you–stop hanging out with her.
Shane, loyal and stubborn, nodded quickly. “Got it. I’m done with her
If Ruby’s mom hadn’t saved his dad, the Brock family would’ve been in big trouble. Shane wasn’t going to forget that
“Yara,” he said, burning and shaking a chubby fist, “if you keep messing with Ruby, you’ll have to answer to me!”
Yara was steaming, practically stomping back to the classroom with her teeth gritted. She threw a few nasty looks over her shoulder at Shana, but be didn’t bother following her.
“Shane, you’re just as bad as that little brat! We’re done!” Yara’s shout rang down the hallway.
Shane just shrugged, tagging along behind Ruby with a dopey grin. Ruby, though, wasn’t even paying attention.
She waddled straight toward the elementary wing, peeking into a classroom with her head tilted.
“Little Knight’s adorable,” she whispered.
Inside, Zack was hunched over a book, skipping recess to read.
Speaking peeks at Zack during breaks was pretty much the best part of Ruby’s school day.
A few days later, Ruby was getting the hang of school life.
But after lunch one afternoon, as she trudged back to the classroom, a sharp pain twisted in her stomach.
Soon, the room filled with cries. Kids grabbed their stomachs, whimpering in pain.
The teacher’s face went Light–sho knew something was off. Probably food poisoning. She didn’t waste a second, grabbing her phone and making an emergency call.
Ambulances roared into the schoolyard soon after, but there weren’t enough stretchers for all the kids. Chaos broke out.
Panicked parents swarmed the campus, screeching into the parking lot in their cars, desperate to grab their kids.
“Yara just called me, said she’s in awful pain. I hope Zack’s okay,” Joanna said, hopping out of her car and glancing at Byron.
Byron had been at a conference when he ran into Joanga. She told him about the school’s food poisoning mess.
He quickly called Zack, confirming the primary school wing was fine–their cafeteria was separate.
Relieved, Byron sped to the preschool with Joanna riding along.
As he jogged through the chaotic campus, Byron’s eyes caught a classroom. He stopped dead. There was Ruby,
His chest tightened, a rush of feelings hitting him hard. Without thinking, he sprinted into her classroom.
Ruby was slumped over a desk, her face pale, one tiny hand clutching her stomach.
Byron’s heart sank. He knew she was Sylvia’s kid with another guy, but a fierce, unexplainable ache gripped him–worry, protectiveness, something he
Chapter 13
couldn’t pin down.
Ruby had called Sylvia. She was already there, kneeling beside Ruby, pressing Ruby’s damach to ease the pain.
“How’s she doing?” Byron asked. hurrying to Sylvia’s side.
Sylvia looked up, surprised.
“Byron, Yara’s in bad shape–she can barely stand!” Joanna burst in behind him, out of breath, “Please, help me get her to the car. I can’t carry her by
myself”
Byron glanced at Sylvia. “Stay here. I’ll grab Joanna’s niece, then come back to take them both to the hospital.”
Sylvia’s eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. “No need. Unlike some people, I can find the hospital just fine.”
Byron’s jaw tightened, annoyance flaring. The old Sylvia would never have bitten his head off like that.
He couldn’t understand; he just said he wanted to save Yara’s niece first, and she was making a big deal out of this.
AD
