About twenty minutes later, Sabrina finally arrived at the school.
As she got out of the car, she saw Jordan Hawthorne’s tall figure being stopped outside the school.
She glanced coldly at him but didn’t pay attention and directly went in to pick up Zara.
The little one finally ca out when she saw Mommy appeared.
"Mommy~"
She happily ran over, taking Mommy’s hand.
Sabrina’s expression softened the mont she saw the little one.
The little one animatedly shared with Mommy what had happened at school today.
"Today was Dulcie’s birthday, we had cake together, and I gave her a drawing. She was very happy, and later she gave candy. I saved it for Mommy, didn’t eat it!"
After speaking, she took out the candy she had hidden from her pocket and handed it to Mommy.
Sabrina accepted it and crouched down with a smile, kissing the little one’s cheek, "You’re so good to Mommy, thank you sweetheart!"
"As long as Mommy is happy!"
The little one smiled adorably.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of them.
Sabrina didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
Seeing Jordan, the smile on the little one’s face instantly froze.
She even instinctively hid behind Mommy upon seeing him.
Clearly, she did not want to et her daddy.
Jordan saw this, and his expression was briefly startled.
Just monts before, he saw his usually taciturn, introverted daughter looking lively and spirited, completely different from before.
Yet, as soon as he appeared, as if switching faces, her gaze towards him carried a hint of alienation, nervously hiding behind Sabrina.
Jordan felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
He struggled to keep his emotions in check, speaking gently, "Zara, why not greet Daddy when you see him?"
Zara pursed her lips, and out of politeness, reluctantly called out, "Daddy..."
Jordan acknowledged with an "Mm," seeming to find a bit of comfort from that one word ’Daddy’ from his daughter.
He continued, "It’s been a long ti, does Zara miss Daddy? How about Daddy takes you ho for dinner tonight, and we et Grandpa and Grandma?"
Sabrina frowned sharply upon hearing this, her expression showing so displeasure.
But she didn’t speak to stop her daughter’s decision.
Zara clearly wasn’t willing, pursing her small mouth, softly refusing, "No need, Daddy, Zara needs to go ho and practice painting and do the howork assigned by the teacher..."
While speaking, her small hand tightly clenched Mommy’s hand.
Sabrina could feel her resistance and tension, like she feared being handed over to him.
Jordan’s face turned a bit ugly upon hearing this.
But he still held back his anger, saying, "If not dinner, how about Daddy takes you to buy toys and clothes?"
Zara shook her head, earnestly saying, "Zara has clothes, and doesn’t play with toys much now..."
Jordan felt extrely irritated.
How could he not see the child’s resistance toward him?
Yet, he refused to admit it.
He bit his back teeth, continuing to ask, "Not even your favorite pink fox? I heard there are new models out!"
Zara bowed her little head, softly refusing, "No, Zara already has..."
Upon hearing this, Sabrina felt a pang in her heart, with a sour feeling spreading.
How disappointed must her darling be to not even want her favorite plush toy because of the person in front of her.
Jordan had never been rejected like this.
His patience had never been so good, yet it resulted in repeated rejections.
His anger was ultimately uncontrollable.
He glared furiously at Sabrina, angrily questioning her, "Sabrina, are you satisfied now? It’s because you never gave a chance to interact with Zara that she’s so distant from now!"
He blad it all on Sabrina.
Sabrina sneered, "Jordan Hawthorne, have you never heard the phrase ’blood is thicker than water’? If desperation hadn’t built up, I don’t think anyone’s instigation could outweigh the significance of that phrase.
If you’re good to the child, she’ll naturally get close to you without being taught.
Do you need to remind you of what you did to her in the past?
Over the years, you’ve never paid any attention to her. When Brooke Sinclairs returned to the country, you treated soone else’s son like your own.
The long-term coldness, neglect, and indifference—do you not think they’ve caused harm to the child?
And now you’re criticizing for it?"
The sarcasm in her tone made Jordan’s anger flare up, "Don’t deflect, isn’t it because you’re always associating with other n outside, taking her to interact with them? That’s why my daughter’s heart has drifted away from ?!"
Sabrina was amused by the absurdity of this remark.
"Jordan, you really know how to turn things around. Even before the divorce, staying out every night and not coming ho, should I remind you? Forgotten so soon about the Maple Leaf Manor incident?
What face do you have to criticize with these words?
Moreover, even if this were true, how much of a failure must you be?
Five years of interaction couldn’t compare to a brief period of kindness from others, and you dare to bring it up?
If I were you, I’d feel ashad!"
"You..."
Jordan Hawthorne’s face was ashen.
How co he never realized before that this woman could be so sharp-tongued!
He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth as he said, "Sabrina, today, no matter what, I’m taking Zara. If she refuses, then you co with her and !"
These words sounded as if he was bestowing so kind of favor upon Sabrina.
As if her being able to co along was a courtesy from him.
Sabrina seed to have heard the biggest joke ever, her expression utterly incredulous.
"You want to have dinner with you?"
Jordan replied coldly, "It’s your duty as the child’s mother!"
Sabrina had never seen anyone so shaless.
She mocked, "Which legal clause states that after divorce, a mother must fulfill such duties?
Having dinner with you... I’m afraid I’ll be nauseous!
Also, since you never loved from the start, stop flaunting your pitiful fatherly love. It’s honestly disgusting to see. Just go back and take care of your beloved’s son.
My daughter has been without a father for more than just a day or two."
After saying this, Sabrina didn’t want her child to continue suffering there, so she quickly picked up Zara and walked away from Jordan.
Jordan stood in place, his face dark and unpleasant.
It was as if he couldn’t believe Sabrina had actually said those things.
That woman actually dared to say he made her feel nauseous, disgusting???
Not long ago, she loved him to death, yet how much ti has passed now...
Jordan couldn’t believe she had let go of him so quickly, that she didn’t care anymore.
But rembering the man he saw before, it felt like a stick was stirring up his heart, creating turmoil in his mood.
In the end, Jordan could only leave in anger.
At the school, Dylan Quinlan witnessed this scene unfold.
It wasn’t that he intended to eavesdrop.
Rather, seeing Jordan Hawthorne persistently waiting outside, seemingly unwilling to give up until he saw them.
Dylan was worried that Sabrina would co and not fare well at the hands of Jordan, so he kept an eye out.
So he thought for a bit and decided to ssage Jasper Fitzgerald about what had just happened.
"Zara seed out of sorts when she left, hopefully she hasn’t been affected in a bad way."
Sabrina was also concerned about this.
On the way back, the young cub was very quiet, with a dejected expression.
Sabrina felt a little anxious.
The child’s condition had only just improved, and she was worried that because of Jordan Hawthorne, Zara would start closing herself off again.
She hugged her daughter tenderly and asked softly, "Darling, are you okay?"
Zara reacted a bit slowly, looking up at mommy and asking in a little voice, "Mommy, did I just... make a mistake?"
"Hmm?"
Sabrina asked, "Why do you say that, darling?"
Zara, clutching her clothes with her little hands, said with so hesitation, "I refused daddy, I didn’t want to go with him..."
So that’s what it was.
Sabrina’s tense emotions gradually relaxed.
She gently said to the young cub, "What’s wrong with that? Wanting to refuse anyone is your right.
Zara, mommy wants to tell you that whenever you encounter sothing you don’t like or don’t want to do, you can refuse.
It doesn’t matter if it’s people or things, it’s all the sa.
Even if it’s classmates, teachers, or others, even mommy...
If it makes you do sothing you don’t like, you can say no, alright?"
She tenderly patted the young cub’s head and carefully said, "Our Zara might be little, but she’s also an independent individual, many things you can decide for yourself now!
Mommy doesn’t think you did anything wrong today, and besides, I know why you refused him..."
Zara nodded, sowhat understanding, knowing that mommy wasn’t angry, she snuggled into her mommy’s arms like a little kitten.
She honestly told mommy, "I don’t like daddy, nor grandpa and grandma, they don’t like .
But I love grandpa and grandma, godmother, Lightning, and most of all, mommy, all of you are good to Zara.
And Uncle Fitzgerald... he feels like a daddy."
This was the first ti Sabrina openly heard her little one expressing her likes and dislikes so clearly.
Looking down at the kitten-like daughter in her arms, Sabrina felt her heart lting with cuteness.
She kissed the young cub’s face and happily said, " too, I love our Zara the most, you’re mommy’s treasure!"
The young cub heard mommy say that, and a small smile spread across her little face, her mood slowly lifting from earlier.
Sabrina, relief flooding her heart, feared she might dwell again on the unhappy events earlier, so she changed the subject.
"You said earlier that Dulcie had her birthday today and gave you candy, what else?"
Upon hearing mommy’s question, Zara returned to her enthusiastic state, sharing with mommy the events at school today.
By the ti they got ho, the young cub’s emotions seed back to normal.
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