Ste''s gaze flickered between Haynes'' stormy expression and Rachel''s pinched lips, her mouth curling into a razor-edged smile. "Pity I can''t perform miracles-I''d love to demonstrate how easily truth gets rewritten around here."


    "That''s alright," Marvin said, tilting his head towards Rachel. "Didn''t Ste mention that Ms. Pearce has some sort of magical power like that? Watching her perform is just as entertaining."


    With Ste and Marvin bantering back and forth, even five-year-old Keen picked up on the sarcasm. Ste was subtly mocking him and his dad for being naive, for believing everything Rachel said.


    Ste knew trying to exin things to them was pointless. They wouldn''t believe her anyway, and she didn''t want to waste her breath.


    "Marvin," she said reassuringly, "don''t worry. Aunt Ste promised to go with you to thepetition, and I will keep that promise."


    Marvin looked up cautiously. "But Keen might get upset..."


    "Is that so?" Ste turned to Keen. "Are you upset?"


    Keen hadn''t expected Ste to address him directly. He thought she was backing down, so he lifted his chin a bit higher, his expression tinged with arrogance. "Yes,


    I don''t want you going to thepetition with that troublemaker!"


    Ste asked, "Well then, do you want me to go with you instead?"


    Marvin''s fingers clenched reflexively around Ste''s, his knuckles whitening. Ste gently patted his shoulder tofort him.


    Keen hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. His mom''s presence would guarantee deadst humiliation, and he''d promised his preschool buddies victory. The mere thought of theirughter made his stomach twist.


    Rachel noticed Keen''s conflicted expression and chimed in with a smile. "Ms. Cameron, there''s no need to pressure the child. Thispetition is very important to Keen. If you wish to participate, perhaps next time would be better."


    "Don''t worry, Ms. Cameron," she added, "I''ll talk to Keen about it for the next one."


    Hearing this, Keen visibly rxed. He nodded quickly, "Yes, next time. I''ve already promised Rachel, and I need to keep my word."


    Ste looked Keen straight in the eye. "What if I insisted you choose between me and Rachel?"


    Keen''s lips twitched, but he said nothing. Instinctively, he looked to Haynes for help.


    Haynes spoke coldly, "Ste, is it really amusing to put a child in such a position?"


    Ste chuckled softly, "Asking him to choose between his mom and an aunt is putting him in a difficult position? Since when were aunties and moms considered equals?"


    Haynes opened his mouth-then shut it, momentarily derailed. But he recovered fast, lips twisting into a sneer. "Or maybe if you''d actually acted like a mother, Keen wouldn''t need to beg for scraps of attention from others."


    Ste feigned understanding, "So Ms. Pearce is better at taking care of Keen? I mean, she knows about hisctose intolerance yet still feeds him sweets. She was the reason he had that severe nut allergy reaction and ended up in the hospital. And when he was hospitalized, she made him a seafood stew."


    Ste eyed Haynes with a sardonic smile. "Haynes, are you sure this is what you call ''taking good care''?"


    Haynes was at a loss for words.


    At that moment, Keen suddenly spoke up. "It''s still better than you!"


    His eyes met Ste''s with a hint of resentment. "At least Rachel tried to help when


    I got sick. You and that troublemaker didn''t help at all; you just stood by and wished I was dead!"