Chapter 13: Tomorrow Will Be Better
“Kayla… Kayla…” The middle-aged woman raised her tear-streaked face, clutching Kayla as she cried, “My Kayla… is gone…”
“Mom, I’m right here. I’m back. Don’t be afraid, okay?” Kayla comforted Essem, holding her close and raising the lunch box in her hand. “Look, Mom, I brought a late-night snack. Don’t cry anymore, or the braised chicken leg won’t taste good, and you won’t look pretty.”
“… Kayla…” Essem slowly stopped crying, watching as Kayla opened the lunch box and tore the chicken leg into strips, feeding it to her.
Perhaps sensing the safety her daughter provided, Essem finally calmed down, lowering her head to chew the chicken slowly.
When she’s not having an episode, Mom was actually a quiet and graceful woman.
Kayla fed Essem until she was full, then watched her fall into a deep sleep. Stretching her arms, she managed a slightly tired smile.
As long as Mom is here, home is here…
It’s okay. Tomorrow will be better!
The next day, after helping Essem get ready, Kayla, as usual, asked their neighbor Eve to come over and look after her mother.
“Kayla, go to work. I’ll take good care of your mom,” Eve said, waving with a smile.
“Thank you,” Kayla said gratefully. Over the years, it was thanks to the neighbors’ help that she and her mother could live well.
Kayla was about to drive straight to the police station when she suddenly had a jolt.
Oh no!
Starting today, she had to pick up that little brat from RosenBay for school!
How could she forget!
With that thought, Kayla didn’t hesitate anymore, turned the steering wheel, and drove straight to RosenBay.
Fortunately, her house was in a central location, so the distance to either the police station or RosenBay was the same.
She just had to avoid being late!
…
“Daddy, is that woman really coming?”
Oliver, dressed in a white shirt with a light blue sweater vest and a purple bow tie, looked outside with his pretty purple eyes full of impatience.
Unlike Oliver’s impatience, Ethaniel sat calmly at the dining table, slowly savoring his coffee. “She’ll come.”
“… Okay.” Oliver slumped on the sofa, unwilling to admit he was waiting for Kayla to show up.
After a while, an old police car appeared on the road outside the villa, sirens blaring as it drove in.
“She’s here!” Oliver jumped up and ran outside in a few steps.
Watching his son’s enthusiastic reaction, Ethaniel’s lips curved slightly.
Parking the car outside the villa, Kayla got out and saw the two-story villa’s door open, and a little figure running out.
“You’re late!” Oliver immediately accused her, his small face full of disdain. “Late on the first day. I’ll have Daddy dock your pay.”
“Your daddy isn’t even paying me,” Kayla retorted, rolling her eyes and opening the car door. “Get in. I’ll take you to school.”
Oliver looked at the old, beat-up police car and took a step back. “I don’t want to!”
“Why not?” Kayla eyed her vehicle with pride. This was the car that her team leader had specially approved for her. The little brat didn’t appreciate it at all!
“It’s too old!”
“…” Kayla was speechless.
“It’s too shabby!”
“…” Kayla gritted her teeth.
“It’s too ugly!” The brat continued.
“…” Kayla felt her fists clenching uncontrollably.
Oliver proudly lifted his chin, ready to criticize more. “It’s too-”
“Ollie.” A calm, elegant voice interrupted, and Ethaniel’s graceful figure appeared from behind the door.
The morning sunlight filtered down in dappled patches, falling on Ethaniel and making his already handsome face even more radiant.
“Good morning, officer,” Ethaniel greeted Kayla cheerfully.
Gulping, Kayla cautiously avoided eye contact with him, feeling her heart race with every glance.
“… Good morning, Mr. Han. I’m here to take him to school,” she replied.
Oliver still disapproved of the old car. “I don’t want to-”
“Ollie,” Ethaniel’s calm yet commanding voice left no room for argument, “either ride in Miss Green’s car or walk to school. Choose one.”
Despite being his son, Ethaniel showed little affection.
Oliver looked at Ethaniel with a bit of fear, bit his lips, and climbed into the back seat of the police car not very willingly.
Ha, you little brat, someone can still put you in your place!
Kayla turned her back on Ethaniel, and flashed her teeth at the sulking Oliver, and made an exaggerated grimace.
Just as Oliver glared back fiercely, Kayla smugly slammed the car door shut.
However, as she spun around abruptly, she unexpectedly bumped into Ethaniel’s embrace, who was standing right behind her.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
On an impulse, Ethaniel bent down and lightly bit her startled lips.
“…” Kayla froze, turning into a statue as her heart pounded in her breast.
Ethaniel was surprised by his own action. For so many years, he had kept his distance from women, and ignoring many more beautiful than Kayla, but with her… to be precise,-specifically since she bit him yesterday-had imprinted itself on him.
Looking at the little woman in front of him who was still in a state of shock, Ethaniel’s thin lips curled up into a rare smile, “Thank you, it tastes good.”
With that, he raised his hand and gently patted her head.
“…!” The moment his fingers brushed against her hair, Kayla felt a shiver run through her body. Her previously petrified and rigid body crumbled into a thousand pieces…