2026-10-30 03:01:35"What are you doing up so late again? Not sleeping?" Ethan Gray asked, his voice laced with a mix of concern and amusement as he spotted the little figure in the dim hallway.
Blanche shot back without missing a beat: "Spinning yarns at the Dragon Gate, duh."Ethan blinked, puzzled. "What does that mean?"Blanche tried again: "Swapping tall tales."That only deepened his confusion. He'd vaguely heard of the first phrase but had no clue about its meaning, and this new one wa
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Chapter 065
"Bye-bye, Mr. Boss! Bye-bye!"It was midnight, and the heavy silence of the Narrow Lane was broken only by the chirping of crickets and the fading echoes of a toddler's goodbye. Iris Marlowe stood at the gate of the Little Red Pony Academy, her shoulders slumped with a fatigue that seemed to reach into her very marrow. She had just finished a grueling double shift, yet the sight of Blanche running back to give Ethan Gray one last wave brought a faint, weary smile to her lips.Ethan stood on the steps, waving back until the little girl finally turned to follow her aunt. As he watched them go, a realization settled over him. It didn't matter if the girl was four or twenty-four; the secret to winning them over was the same: take them out, feed them well, and let them see the world.He glanced toward the shadows where Millie had been picked up earlier by an officer from the District Precinct. The quiet girl had changed too. She was no longer a trembling tiny sprout who hi
Chapter 064
With the lunch plans settled and stomachs full, the group prepared to depart. As Ethan stood to pay the bill, Blanche hopped down from her chair, clutching her small ceramic bowl and a pair of chopsticks. She began marching toward the kitchen area.Ethan raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Blanche, what are you doing? You liked the food so much you're planning to steal the tableware?"Blanche gave him an indignant huff, her pigtails swaying. She ignored him, trotting toward a startled waitress. With a look of extreme solemnity, she held the bowl up as high as her short arms could reach."Sister," she chirped, "I'm all done!"The waitress blinked, looking down at the empty bowl. "Oh... do you want a refill, little one?"Blanche shook her head vigorously. "Nope. I'm givin' it back to ya."Ethan watched from the table, realization dawning on him. In the modest household of her Auntie and Uncle, Blanche was likely taught from a very young age t
Chapter 063
Back in the SUV, the atmosphere was a mix of quiet exhaustion and lingering excitement. Ethan Gray took the wheel, naturally assuming the role of the day's navigator. For the two little girls, the concept of "deciding where to eat" didn't exist; they were simply happy to be along for the ride. Berry Golding, still recovering from her "hand-holding" rejection, leaned back in the passenger seat and surrendered all logistical power to Ethan."Take your backpacks off, girls," Berry said, turning around to check on them. "You don't need to wear them inside the car. Relax your shoulders a bit."Blanche and Millie had been sitting bolt upright, their tiny legs dangling off the edge of the leather seats, still strapped into their gear as if they were about to parachute out at any moment. They had been huddled together, whispering secrets and giggling about the morning's "victories" over the donated clothes.At Berry's suggestion, they finally unbuckled the straps. Blanche dro
Chapter 062
After the Hearthfire Feast-sized breakfast, Ethan Gray gathered his keys and prepared to fetch his SUV. He left the three females—one adult and two toddlers—waiting in the courtyard of the Little Red Pony Academy.As he walked toward the garage, Berry Golding stood with her hands on her hips, looking down at the two little girls. They were currently huddled together, their heads practically touching as they were whispering secrets. Every few seconds, they would break into muffled giggles, their eyes darting toward Berry before they ducked away again. They were a closed circle, an impenetrable fortress of childhood friendship that clearly had no vacancy for a twenty-four-year-old woman.Berry felt a sudden, sharp pang of self-pity. She had volunteered for this mission with such high hopes. She had imagined herself as the "Cool Big Sister," the one the children would flock to for advice and comfort. Instead, she felt like a ghost haunting her own social circle. T
Chapter 061
Ethan Gray woke with a start, though his mind felt remarkably clear. The grogginess that usually clung to him like a morning mist was absent, replaced by a refreshing sharpness. He realized he had forgotten to close the window the night before, and he hadn't even bothered with the air conditioning. It had been a wise mistake. A gentle breeze, filtered through the thick canopy of leaves outside, drifted into the room, carrying the crisp, earthy scent of the garden. It was cool, bordering on chilly, a rare mercy in the humid climate of Riverport.He reached for his phone on the nightstand. The screen flickered to life: 6:30 AM.For a few minutes, Ethan simply lay there, staring up at the ceiling. The morning light was just beginning to reclaim the room, casting long, pale shadows across the plaster. He ran through his mental checklist for the day—meetings at the Riverport Film Studios, perhaps a check-in with the Script Review Board, and the usual chaos of the Little R
Chapter 060
"Blanche! Blanche, get over here!" Old Ashford called out from the warmth of his District Precinct-style security booth.Blanche skidded to a halt on the gravel, her blue-striped polo shirt fluttering. "How in blazes—?! What you want now, Mister?""Don't forget your munchies," the old watchman said, gesturing to a small pile on his desk."What munchies?""The ones Leah Ashford left for you. She said they were a thank-you for the water-juice."Blanche's eyes lit up as she peered through the glass. "Are they all for Blanche?""Every single one. You want to carry 'em yourself, or you want me to help?"Blanche puffed out her chest, looking like a tiny tycoon. "Millie! Millie! Get over here and help me with the haul!"She and Millie began gathering the treasures—Candied fruits, dried apricots, and some premium yogurt pouches. They marched toward the classroom like a pair of victorious explorers. At this hour, the academy was still relat
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