Seeing the situation unfold, Ste felt like a heavy stone pressing down on her chest, suffocating her.


    During their five-year marriage, Haynes had never apanied her to drop Keen off at kindergarten. She had suggested it once, but Haynes brushed it off, iming he was too busy with work.


    It turned out it wasn''t about being busy. It was just that Haynes didn''t want to go with her.


    Still groggy and yawning, Keen looked like he had stayed upte again. But upon hearing Rachel''s words, his eyes widened in surprise, and he saw Ste standing not too far away.


    Rachel nced down at Keen and smiled. "See, Keen? I told you Ms. Cameron isn''t mad at you. Look, she came to see you so early."


    A glint of triumph shed in Keen''s eyes as he nced at Ste, putting on an air of mock superiority. "Don''t assume your little schemes will make me fall in line. I won''t forgive you until you apologize to Rachel."


    Rachel turned to Haynes and smiled, "Haynie, it seems Jasper''s idea did have some effect."


    Haynes gave a nonchnt nod and told Ste, "Rachel doesn''t have a good appetitetely. Go and prepare some special meals for her."


    Ste gave him a strange look and quietly muttered, "Ridiculous."


    Stepping in to mediate, Rachel adopted a soothing tone. "Ms. Cameron, there''s no need to argue with Haynie. Let''s sit down and work this out calmly. You haven''t worked in years and don''t have any ie. You''ve grown ustomed to afortable life, so it must have been quite difficult for you since you left home, hasn''t it?"


    Her words implied that Ste had used their child as a pawn to draw attention. Haynes'' cold gazended on Ste. "Apologize to Rachel now. And I might overlook what happened."


    Keen frowned, his face full of displeasure. "Mom, I''m not your tool for gaining favors."


    Ste looked at the trio united against her and found it utterlyughable. To an outsider, it might seem like they were a family, and she was the viin bullying them.


    Rachel pleaded with a sincerity akin to a close friend, "Ms. Cameron, let it go."


    Steughed coldly. "Let it go? Freezing my ounts and demanding an apology is your idea of letting it go? Ms. Pearce, would you want such a deal?"


    Rachel opened her mouth, at a loss for words.


    Just then, Keen suddenly stepped before Rachel, arms spread protectively, his expression serious. "Don''t bully Rachel anymore!"


    Ste was genuinely shocked. Keen had always been eager to please Rachel but had never taken such an openly oppositional stance against her.


    No, that wasn''t right. Ste often conceded first, so situations like this never escted.


    Seeing Keen''s hostile re, Ste stumbled, nearly losing her bnce.


    Rachel''s eyes flickered with a subtle glint as she moved to support Ste. "Ms. Cameron, be careful-ah!"


    Rachel suddenly stumbled sideways, as if shoved, swaying dangerously toward the street.


    A car was speeding closer, and just as it seemed Rachel might copse into its path, Haynes reacted instantly. With sharp reflexes, he yanked her back, pulling her safely into his arms.


    Rachel''s eyes brimmed with tears, her body trembling with fear. "Haynie, I, I almost couldn''t see you again."