2026-10-31 03:00:26Blanche was dressed in a blue athletic tracksuit—the kind with the colors of The Crimson Star Banner—and she went bounding down the stairs with a rhythmic, heavy thud. The vibration of her small feet was enough to trigger the motion-sensor lights in the hallway, waking them up one by one in a series of dim, amber flashes.
When she reached the landing at the turn of the stairs, she paused for a brief second and looked up. She caught Ethan Gray's eyes and offered him a wide, ge
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Chapter 067
"Wait... is Serena Waverly looking at us?"Celestine Oakley—The Grand Mystic himself—straightened his spine instinctively. A surge of excitement sparked in his eyes, and he offered a casual, practiced wave toward the red carpet. In his mind, it made perfect sense; a top-tier critic and a top-tier actress acknowledging each other's presence. But Serena's gaze only brushed past him before anchoring firmly on Ethan Gray."She... she really seems to be looking at Ethan," Liam Ashford muttered, his voice trailing off in disbelief. He turned to Ethan, his brow furrowed. "Do you two actually know each other?"Ethan didn't answer immediately. He began to turn away, moving toward the theater doors. "How would I know a superstar like her? She was probably looking at you, Liam. You're the one in the fancy suit.""Me?" Liam's heart skipped a beat. He puffed out his chest, staring back into the crowd with renewed vigor. But before he could catch her eye again, the
Chapter 066
By late August, the fierce heat of the summer had reached its peak, blanketing Riverport in a heavy, humid haze that felt almost solid. It was the fever pitch of the summer blockbuster season, that frantic window where the cinema industry squeezed every possible crown from the pockets of students and vacationing families before the autumn chill set in.Ethan Gray's latest side project—a series of high-energy promotional campaigns for the teen romance flick Tomorrow's You—had finally reached its conclusion just as the movie prepared to catch the tail end of the season.Liam Ashford, the marketing lead at Evergreen Entertainment, proved to be a man of his word. Not only did he transfer the agreed-upon 50,000 crowns into Ethan's bank card with satisfying promptness, but he also reached out to propose a new collaboration: a deep-dive analysis video for the movie's official streaming launch.It seemed Liam Ashford had conveniently "forgotten" the friction they'
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
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