Chapter 192

Chapter 192:
That morning at the preschool entrance, Ari froze. Millie knelt beside her, gently pulling down her mask to reveal a soft, reassuring smile.
“What is it?” she asked kindly. “Are you scared?”
Ari gave a hesitant nod, but then quickly shook her head. Conflicted.
Millie didn’t rush her. She simply waited, calm and steady. After a long silence, Ari looked up, her small voice barely a whisper.
“Mom…”
Then she immediately dropped her gaze, as if unsure she had the right.
“Do I have to call you that?” she asked, almost too quietly to hear.
Millie reached out and gently smoothed Ari’s hair.
“Only if it feels right,” she said softly. “If it’s too soon, you can call me Miss Bennett, or just Millie.”
Ari blinked, visibly relieved. She nodded quickly, her lips curving into a shy smile.
“Miss Bennett,” she said in a quiet voice, wrapping her arms around Millie for a quick embrace before dashing inside.
Millie stood still for a moment, watching as Ari reached the classroom door. The little girl turned around, gave a small wave, and then disappeared inside.
That fleeting second—Millie without her mask—was all it took for the cameras to capture her. Despite all her efforts to remain unnoticed, someone had managed to snap the photo.
The guardianship paperwork was still in progress, which meant Millie was allowed to accompany Ari to school, but couldn’t yet bring her home. But it was only a matter of time now. On average, the paperwork was processed within thirty business days.
With that thought in mind, Millie turned to speak.
“She has no ties with the Watson family. So don’t worry. She won’t be there to fight for your family’s inheritance or property.”
She slipped her hand out of Brandon’s grasp. A soft wind stirred the air, and the faint warmth of the alcohol she had consumed earlier returned, leaving her slightly lightheaded. Without a word, she stepped out of her heels and stood barefoot on the grass, her back to him.
“That’s all there is to say,” she continued calmly. “You’ve heard enough. I’ll tell your grandparents the same thing tomorrow. And if you doubt anything I’ve said, go and check for yourself. I have no reason to lie, Brandon.”
She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and walked away.
“Millie!” Brandon called after her, his voice tense with emotion. “Does it really have to end like this?”
She didn’t pause. She had already made her choice.
“We had a child once,” Brandon called out again. “You let her call you ‘Mom’… so what about me? What am I supposed to be?”
The words echoed through the quiet grove, his voice carrying a weight it hadn’t held before. The trees around them seemed to hold their breath.
“Or maybe this was your plan all along,” he added, suspicion creeping into his tone.
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.
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