The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 41

Only after Gardenia's reminder did he withdraw his gaze, lifting his hand to grasp Adrian's.

Gardenia's expression stiffened. Usually, the woman's hand rested in the middle, but whatever. Hassan probably didn't understand these nuances anyway.

She placed her hand over his. The man's hands were large and imposing; she could only rest her palm against his, unable to fully wrap her fingers around it.

Just as things were proceeding normally, Jude Sheridan's magnetic voice drifted over from next to them. "Damn, your hands are soft, Natalie."

Almost immediately, Adrian frowned. "Ouch."

Hassan loosened his grip. "Sorry."

Gardenia pursed her lips and looked at Hassan. "Why don't I hold Adrian's hand? You're using too much force."

The man's voice was cold and deep. "No need."

Natalie's wrist felt stiff, the broad chest of the man behind her pressed almost directly against her back.

Even though this was just how the activity worked and the other parents were doing the exact same thing.

She and Jude simply weren't in that kind of relationship.

She guided Mia's hand, quickly finishing the painting, then immediately let go and stepped back.

Jude lazily rolled his wrist, his voice low and teasing. "That was fast, Natalie. Tired?"

Looking at his expression, Natalie easily caught the double meaning in his words and frowned. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Mia, being stuck with a father like him.

Mia, completely innocent, heard Jude mention being tired and immediately grabbed Natalie's hand to massage it. "I'll rub it for you, then you won't be tired! You're amazing, we were the very first ones to finish."

The teacher chimed in from the side, "Those who have finished can sign your family's names in the corner. We'll pick out nice frames for them so you can take them home as a keepsake."

Mia's eyes sparkled. She immediately grabbed a pen and neatly wrote her own name, stroke by stroke.

Natalie hesitated for a moment with the pen in her hand before writing down Cora Vance's name.

Jude carelessly scrawled his signature next to it, the sprawling letters domineeringly taking up a large chunk of the space. Seeing Cora's name, he let out a scoff.

Mia, however, held the painting, staring at the three names in the corner for a long time, her eyes growing a little red.

Adrian's face turned cold, and he violently shoved her. "He is my dad!"

Mia fell hard onto the floor on her bottom, staring at her best friend in disbelief. "Aren't we friends? How could you push me?"

As mischievous as Mia could be on a normal day, she would never do something like this. Cora had raised her very well.

Adrian just kept his little face frozen, refusing to say a single word.

Realizing things were going south, the teacher rushed over.

Natalie helped Mia up, but out of nowhere, Jude kicked Mia lightly from behind. "Idiot. Don't you know how to push back?"

Mia was already feeling wronged. The fact that her own father wasn't defending her and was calling her an idiot was the last straw. She burst into tears.

She buried her face in Natalie's chest, sobbing softly for her mom.

Natalie's heart ached for the girl. "I'll take you back to your mom right now, okay? Don't cry, sweetie."