Chapter 34
The Rolls–Royce Phantom’s back door opened, and a man with a bold, confident vibe stepped out.
It was Zander, rushing over after Zack’s call, still wearing a mask and sunglasses that hid his sharp features.
Ruby saw him and squealed, “Daddy!”
Everyone stopped, mouths open. He was really Ruby’s dad! Even with his face half–covered, his sleek preserice hit like a lightning bolt.
Sylvia watched from a distance, a small, wry smile on her face. Zander, that guy–he actually showed up for Ruby.
Zander walked over, lifting Ruby off the ground and giving her a soft pat: Then his eyes scanned the crowd, cool and piercing. “I’m Ruby’s dad. Heard you’ve been looking for me?”
The kids swapped nervous looks, too scared to speak.
Zack, though, wasn’t impressed by Zander’s look.
He crossed his arms, frowning. “What’s your deal? Ruby’s getting picked on, and you show up like that?
“Why not show them who you are so they’ll leave her alone for good?”
Ruby’s cheeks turned pink, her little hands waving wildly. “No, don’t make Daddy take off his mask and sunglasses! Nobody can know who he is!”
“Oh, come on!” Yara’s sharp voice cut through, full of attitude. “Who do you think your dad is? Acting like he’s some huge celebrity!”
“Yeah, for real!” one of Yara’s friends chimed in. “Auntie Jonna is a legit star, and she doesn’t hide. You think your dad’s a big deal?”
A few other kids piled on, their taunts hitting Ruby like a swarm.
“Cut it out!” Zack glared at them before turning back to Zander, his voice mixed with frustration and worry.
Then he asked Zander, “Ruby’s always thinking about you, worried about your career. But you’re her dad. Nothing should matter more than her, right?”
Zander flashed a calm, easy smile. “Sorry, kid. This is just my go–to disguise for public places. But you’re right. Here at Ruby’s school, I don’t need it.”
With a quick move, he pulled off the mask and sunglasses.
Yara and her crew were ready to laugh, with Yara muttering, “Hiding behind a mask all day? Probably a total nobody.”
But when Zander’s sharp, movie–star face appeared, the crowd went quiet, like everything just stopped.
The preschool teacher gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes sparkling with awe. “Oh my gosh… you’re Zander Gage!”
Zander, still holding Ruby, gave a simple nod. “Here, I’m just Ruby’s dad.”
Yara’s glare was pure jealousy and shock. “No way! How’s this kid’s dad a superstar?” she nearly yelled.
The teacher shook off her daze and stepped in, flustered. “I’m so sorry. It’s just a little kid fight, and we
pulled you out here for it.”
She waved at the staring kids. “Alright, everyone, you’ve seen Ruby’s dad. No more talking about this, okay? The bell’s about to ring. Now go back to your
classrooms!”
Yara stormed off with her group, grumbling. “So that’s why her family form was blank. She didn’t want us knowing her dad’s a big deal. Whatever!”
Sylvia, who’d been watching from afar, felt a tug and started walking over.
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Chapter 34
“Mom, you’re here!” Ruby cheered, jumping from Zander’s arms into Sylvia’s.
Sylvia hugged Ruby close, then spoke quietly to Zander. “Showing up like this, in front of everyone… won’t that mess with your career?”
Zander shrugged, all smooth confidence. “Nah, I’m fine.”
Zack’s eyes brightened when he saw Sylvia, but then he looked down, a pang hitting him.
He wanted to be close to her, but deep down, he knew she didn’t feel the same.
Zack walked away slowly, his steps heavy. A few steps in, he couldn’t resist looking back. Sylvia was holding Ruby, talking to Zander, and a sharp sting of jealousy hit him.
It sank in hard: his mom had a new family now. She didn’t want him anymore.
For a brief second, Sylvia’s eyes caught Zack’s. Her lips moved slightly, but she didn’t say anything.
Three years had gone by, and Zack seemed more grown–up, but the sting of his past mistakes still lingered. He had some tough lessons to learn.
The school bell rang, and Ruby darted back to her classroom.
Sylvia and Zander drove off separately, meeting up at a small coffee shop.
She checked his pulse again, adjusting his prescription based on his latest health update.
“Miss Sullivan, thank you,” Zander said, his appreciation real.
If it weren’t for Sylvia, his family’s genetic condition could’ve flared up again. Now, all his health stats were back to normal.
Sylvia smiled lightly. “Honestly, I should be thanking you. You’ve realized Ruby’s dream of having a dad.”
Zander paused, his eyes resting on her. “I really like Ruby. If you two ever need anything, just let me know.”
His health issues had kept him from thinking about relationships, and the tabloids had churned out crazy rumors about his personal life.
Sylvia’s medical skills had fixed him up, and Ruby’s presence had quieted the online chatter.
He genuinely respected Sylvia, and Ruby.
After a short talk at the coffee shop, Sylvia said goodbye and headed to a major pharmacy chain.
“Sorry, Miss Sullivan, we can’t carry your medical patch,” the manager said bluntly.
Every pharmacy she tried shot her down.
At first, she thought her pricing was too high, because her patch used rare, expensive ingredients.
Still, she knew it outperformed anything else on the market.
Then, at one pharmacy, she overheard Joanna’s voice, and it all made sense.
Joanna’s family owned a major pharmaceutical company with connections to every drugstore in town.
One word from her, and Sylvia’s patch was shut out.
“Well, look who it is, Sylvia!” Joanna walked out of the pharmacy, spotting Sylvia and flashing a smug smile, not a trace of guilt.
Sylvia’s voice was cold. “Funny how that works. The people you can’t stand always seem to show up.”
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