Chapter 126
Caspar’s POV:
I hadn’t slept well.
The thought of Noah starting kindergarten today had kept me more nervous than I thought.
I helped Noah button his coat, his small face solemn and determined.
“Remember what we agreed on yesterday?” I asked, adjusting his collar.
‘You and Audrey will take me to kindergarten,” Noah replied, his voice carrying a hint of anxiety beneath the practiced calm.
“That’s right.” I checked my watch. “Let’s go. We don’t want to be late on your first day.”
The drive to the private kindergarten was quiet.
Noah stared out the window, his fingers fidgeting with the strap of his new backpack.
I could see the tension in his small shoulders.
སཾ བྲཱ, ༡3 –
The kindergarten entrance was chaotic, filled with parents saying goodbye to their children.
Several kids were crying, clinging to their mothers and fathers, while teachers tried to coax them inside with gentle words and promises of fun
activities.
Noah stands rigidly beside me, his small hand clutching mine.
His face is expressionless, but I can feel his anxiety through his grip.
A young teacher approached us, her smile faltering slightly when she recognized me.
‘Mr. Thornton, welcome to Sunnybrook Preschool,” she said, her voice professional despite her obvious nervousness. “And this must be Noah.”
Noah didn’t respond, his expression remaining impassive as he scanned the entrance area.
‘He’s waiting for someone,” I explained. “She should be here any minute.
The teacher nodded, then hesitated before speaking again.
‘Mr. Thornton, perhaps it might be better if… if you waited in the car?”
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Some of the children seem a bit intimidated.”
I glanced around, noticing how the crying had indeed intensified since our arrival.
One little boy was now hiding behind his mother, peeking out only to con rm I was still there before burying his face again.
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Chapter 126
“Noah,” I said softly, “Audrey might be running late. Why don’t we go inside now?
His grip on my hand tightened. “No. She promised.”
I sigh, recognizing the determined set of his jaw–identical to my own when I’ve made up my mind about something.
Noah had inherited my persistence, for better or worse.
I’d already called Audrey’s number three times with no answer. Maybe she overslept or gotten caught in traffic.
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The school bell rang, signaling the start of class. Parents began urging their reluctant children inside, and the teachers became more insistent
with their gentle prodding.
‘Noah, class is starting. Let’s go in,” I said.
“I know she promised, Noah,” I said, crouching down to his level.
“But sometimes things happen. We can wait for her inside.”
Noah shook his head firmly. “I don’t want to go to school anymore.”
I frowned. “Wasn’t it you who said yesterday that you wanted to come?”
Noah stared up at me. “You have to learn to keep your promises, Daddy.”
“I am keeping my promise. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“But Audrey isn’t, he countered.
I knelt down to his level, keeping my voice even.
But you promised Audrey yesterday that you would go to kindergarten. You need to learn to be a man of your word.”
‘I’m just a kid, not some Wall Street big shot.
I stared at him, momentarily speechless.
Where did he pick that up? It’s not easy to fool children as they grow up.
Just as I was trying to formulate a response that wouldn’t undermine my parental authority, a familiar voice rang out behind me.
‘Noah! Wait!”
We both turned at the sound of Audrey’s voice.
She was running toward us, her cheeks flushed, hair slightly disheveled, clutching what appeared to be a decorated lunch box.
Before I could react, Noah had released my hand and was racing toward her with a speed that surprised me.
His entire demeanor transformed in an instant, his expressionless face breaking into a smile.
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Chapter 126
Audrey dropped to one knee, meeting Noah at eye level as he reached her.
I’m so sorry I was almost late,‘ she said breathlessly, holding out the lunch box.
‘I made you a special bento box for your first day.”
Noah accepted the lunch box with obvious delight, his small fingers eagerly tracing the rocket ships and planets decorating its surface.
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‘It has star–shaped sandwiches and little cheese rockets,” Audrey explained, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I thought you might like
it.”
“I love it!” Noah’s voice carried genuine excitement.
Audrey’s voice was gentle but firm.
“Remember to be good at kindergarten today, okay? Listen to your teachers and try to play nicely with the other children.”
Noah nodded solemnly.
I approached them, unable to keep a hint of sarcasm from my voice.
“Wasn’t someone just saying they didn’t want to go to school anymore?‘
Noah’s head whipped around, and he shot me a glare.
Audrey looked up at me, then back at Noah, understanding dawning in her eyes immediately.
“Well, little boys are allowed to be fickle sometimes, aren’t they?”
She winked at Noah. “That’s their special right.”
Noah shot me a triumphant look, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrown response.
Other children had begun to notice Audrey, their tears forgotten as they edged closer to us.
One little girl with pigtails tugged at her mother’s sleeve and loudly announced, “Look, Mommy! That lady is pretty like a princess!”
Then she pointed at me and added with equal conviction, “And that man looks like the big bad wolf.
My expression darkened instantly.
However, Audrey burst into laughter, her smile made it difficult to maintain my scowl.
Another child looked up at Audrey with wide, hopeful eyes, innocently asking. “Can you be my mommy too?”
Before Audrey could respond, Noah wrapped his arms possessively around her legs, his face a perfect picture of territorial indignation. “No!”
His expression suddenly guarded as he stared at the other children.
Audrey gently stroked his hair. “It’s okay, Noah. They were just kidding.”
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Chapter 126
Noah nodded reluctantly, gradually relaxing his grip on her leg, though expression remained way.
The kindergarten teacher approached again, reminding us that class was eady beginning
Noah finally agreed to go inside, but every few steps, he would turn back to look at haltery, and making de hade dosypust
Audrey stood in place, waving encouragingly each time he looked back.
Her eyes glistened with tears.
As Noah finally disappeared inside, I noticed she blinked rapidly, composing herself with a small inhale
Then her gaze shifted, suddenly remembering my presenice,
Something flickered across her face–discomfort, perhaps embarrassment at having revealed so much emotion in front of me.
I should get going,” she said, her voice steady now as she took a step backward. I have some work waiting at know?
Before she could take a single step, I reached out, grasping her wrist with rm but gentle pres
In one fluid motion, I pulled her toward me, enveloping her in an embrace hadn’t planned but somehow couldn’t stop myself from otheday
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
