Marry Ex's Billionaire Uncle After Divorce (Aurora and Jasper) novel Chapter 136

< Chapter 100: The Secret

Chapter 100: The Secret

(Author’s POV)

Sienna arrived at the kindergarten gates five minutes before dismissal.

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The Everett family driver was already there, leaning against the black sedan with his arms folded. He spotted her and straightened up.

“Mrs. Sienna,” he said. “I didn’t know you’d be coming today.”

“I’m taking Rosalind to dinner.” She kept her voice pleasant. “You can head back.”

The driver’s expression shifted. “I’m sorry, but Mrs. Victoria gave specific instructions. Miss Rosalind is to come straight home after school. It’s been the standing rule since – well, for quite some time now. I’d need to get confirmation before-”

“I’m not asking you to break a rule. I’m telling you I’m handling it.”

“I understand that, ma’am. But if you could just call Mrs. Victoria directly, I’d feel better

about-”

The gate behind them buzzed as the first wave of children began streaming out. Sienna pressed her lips together. A driver. A driver was doing this to her, in front of a kindergarten, in front of other parents.

She pulled out her phone and called Victoria.

Victoria picked up on the third ring. There was a pause after Sienna explained – brief, but deliberate.

“Fine,” Victoria said. “Just have her back by eight.”

Sienna hung up and turned to the driver. “Confirmed. Any other concerns?”

“No, ma’am. I apologize for the trouble.” He dipped his head and got back in the car.

She watched him pull away and exhaled slowly through her nose.

Then the gates opened fully, and Rosalind came running out.

She stopped dead when she saw Sienna, and then she screamed with delight and launched herself forward. Sienna caught her, and Rosalind was already talking before she’d fully landed

in her arms.

“Why are you here? Where’s the driver? Are we going somewhere? Can we get ice cream? Did

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Chapter 100: The Secret

you come because of my hair clip?”

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“Slow down.” Sienna laughed and set her on her feet, crouching to her level. She reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind Rosalind’s ear. “I came specifically to collect that hair clip. You said it was a gift, remember?”

Rosalind beamed. “I made it myself. With the beads from art class.”

“I know. Which is why it’s the best one I own.” Sienna straightened up and took her hand. “Now. Pizza?”

Rosalind’s shriek was answer enough.

The restaurant was Rosalind’s favorite – a noisy, cheerful place with checkered tablecloths and a wood-fired oven you could see from the dining room. Rosalind ordered a margherita with extra cheese and ate with total focus, her face lighting up with every bite. Sienna told her twice to slow down and didn’t mean it either time. She just watched her eat and let her

have as much as she wanted.

At some point, Sienna took the hair clip from her bag and pinned it into her own hair. She caught her reflection in the mirrored panel on the wall beside their table.

The clip was slightly lopsided. One of the beads was a different shade of blue from the

others.

She kept looking at it.

Rosalind noticed. She set down her slice. “Sienna? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Sienna reached for a napkin and pressed it to the corner of her eye. “I’m fine.”

“You’re crying.” Rosalind’s voice went small. “Did someone do something mean to you? I can tell Daddy and he’ll fix it.”

Sienna looked at her. The child’s face was completely serious, her pizza forgotten, both hands flat on the table.

“This is one your daddy can’t fix, sweetheart.”

“Why not?”

Sienna folded the napkin in her lap. “You know how I said that once your daddy’s divorce was finalized, things would be different? That I’d be around more?”

Rosalind nodded.

“Your grandmother has other ideas.” She let the words land gently, watching Rosalind’s face.

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Chapter 100: The Secret

Glaim

“She’s been very cold to me lately. I think she’s planning to find someone else for your father. Which means I might not be able to be there the way I promised.”

Rosalind’s eyes went wide. Then her expression hardened in the way only a six-year-old’s can

– total and immediate outrage.

“That’s not fair. You’re supposed to be the new mom. We talked about it.”

“I know.”

“I’ll tell Grandma. She always listens to me.”

“No, don’t.” Sienna leaned forward, her voice dropping. “If you go to her directly, she’ll just dig in harder. You know how grownups get when they think a child is telling them what to do. It’ll make things worse for me.”

Rosalind chewed her lip, frustrated. “Then what do I do?”

Sienna was quiet for a moment, as if she were thinking it through carefully. Then she moved closer to Rosalind across the table.

“I think your grandmother is going to bring someone to the house soon. A woman she wants your father to meet.” She kept her voice soft, almost conspiratorial. “And when that happens, I need you to do something for me.”

“What kind of something?”

“Nothing bad. Just – don’t be nice to her. Don’t let your grandmother think it’s working. If Grandma sees that you don’t accept anyone else, she’ll have to reconsider. She loves you more than anything. That’s your power.”

Rosalind absorbed this with the gravity of someone receiving military orders. Then a slow grin spread across her face.

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