Rachel''s expression froze for a split second, but she quickly recovered with a warm smile. "Of course not. Keen has always been an honest boy-he never lies."


    She nced down at Keen, her gaze softening with affection.


    "So, Ms. Cameron, I hope you''ll trust Keen a little more in the future."


    With just a few gentle words, Rachel smoothly shifted the conversation''s focus back to Ste.


    Keen, who had been feeling a swirl ofplicated emotions toward Rachel, suddenly felt his wounded heart mend at her reassurance.


    After being met with coldness from Ste, Rachel''s kindness was like a balm. Eyes filling with tears, he rushed into Rachel''s arms.


    Voice trembling with hurt, heined, "Rachel, that mean kid was picking on me."


    Rachel stroked his hair, her tone soothing. It was easy for her to win over a child like Keen-she barely had to try.


    She turned to Ste. "Ms. Cameron, even though you and Haynie are divorced, the fact remains that Keen is your son. That will never change. I hope you can show him a little more care."


    With Rachel by his side, Keen gained a fresh sense of confidence.


    Looking up, he asked, "Rachel, what brings you here?"


    Rachel''s smile brightened. "Your father mentioned that your kindergarten will soon be holding another parent-child event—anguage performance, right?"


    Keen nodded, but his shoulders slumped. "I asked Aunt Callie to help, but she told me she isn''t very good with othernguages."


    Children like Keen, who were raised with elite educations, started learning multiplenguages alongside their native tongue from an early age.


    At this prestigious preschool, even admission required an interview, and kids who didn''t meet the standards weren''t epted. As a result, nearly every student could speak at least one additionalnguage.


    Keen was fluent in three: English, French, and Spanish.


    Of the three, his Spanish was the strongest, apart from his native English.


    Unfortunately, Callie O''Brien didn''t speak Spanish.


    His father, Haynes, did, but as the CEO of the O''Brien Group, there was no way he''d show up at a kindergarten performance.


    Rachel smiled. "Well, I''m pretty good with Spanish. If Ms. Cameron can''t join you, I''d be happy to step in."


    Hearing Rachel mention Ste, Keen suddenly remembered to look at his mother.


    A mom who hadn''t even finished high school-he figured she was lucky to know her ownnguage, let alone something as tough as Spanish.


    "There''s no way Mom can help-she doesn''t know any foreignnguages," Keen said, hugging Rachel''s arm with excitement and awe. "Rachel, you really speak Spanish?"


    Rachel smiled serenely. "Auntie is fluent in fivenguages, and Spanish just happens to be one of my best."


    The way Rachel said “fluent” and “best” made it clear she probably spoke even morenguages-just not as well.


    “That''s amazing!" Keen''s eyes sparkled. "I''m the top student in my ss fornguages. With you, Rachel, I know we''ll win first ce again this time!"


    Rachel was about to reply when Marvin''s childlike voice piped up, "What do you mean again? Keen, how many times have you and Ms. Pearce won first ce, anyway?"