2026-11-02 03:01:43Ethan 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 ch
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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
Chapter 059
All throughout the previous night and into this morning, Iris Marlowe had been conducting a rigorous psychological operation on her niece. Her goal was to instill a healthy sense of "stranger danger" regarding the high-earning, smooth-talking young man who ran the academy."You listen to me, Blanche," Iris had barked while scrubbing the girl's face with a rough towel. "One can never truly know a person's heart, savvy? You absolutely cannot go 'climbing the hills' with that Young Master Gray. You go with him, and next thing you know, he's sold you to a traveling circus, and you're sittin' there countin' the coins for him like a Dunderheaded fool. Is that what you want? To be a Gourdling for the rest of your life?"It was a grave warning, and one that Iris repeated several times on their walk to the Little Red Pony Academy that afternoon."Are you and the Mister 'best friends'?" Iris asked, stopping under a Camphor tree.Blanche tilted her head, her face set in a s
Chapter 058
"Ethan Gray, could you wait a moment?"As the post-production meeting for The Lampbearer finally wound down, Sophia Wren's voice cut through the rustle of papers and the scraping of chairs. The other staff members—seasoned veterans of the Script Review Board—didn't need a second invitation to leave. They were far from fools; they had seen the way the young, talented author looked at Ethan throughout the hour. With knowing smiles and a few hurried whispers, they practically sprinted out the door, leaving the conference room to the two of them.Ethan watched them go, feeling a familiar, slight headache coming on. He glanced at Sophia Wren; her large, expressive eyes were practically shimmering under the fluorescent lights, fixed on him with an intensity that made his skin prickle. Being this handsome is truly exhausting, he thought with a silent, weary sigh. If I could do it all over again, I'd choose a life of quiet obscurity, away from all these complicated gaz
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