Anthea
I never thought my life could settle down this fast.
After being followed last time, I figured everything was about to change. Even with the bodyguards Silas arranged for me and Olei, I didn't think we could truly escape the danger. So those first few days, I was on edge, waiting for something to happen. But as the days passed, my nerves finally loosened. No more suspicious people lurking around campus. Maybe whoever they were had backed off.
Thank God. Lucky break. I didn't have time to grill Silas about who sent them anyway—the upcoming parent-child sports day ate up most of my time. The other teachers and I scrambled to plan, to pull sponsors.
Finally, after all our effort, the day arrived.
"Careful, don't trip!" I called out to a kid racing across the field, his parents chasing after him.
Colored cones dotted the massive playground, dividing the space into neat sections. Balloons bobbed across the grass in the breeze, the sunlight dancing with them. Every child stood flanked by parents. Moms and dads chatted and laughed, bending down to talk to their kids.
I stood in the crowd, my gaze drifting past the smiling faces to Olei in his sharp little track suit, standing next to Silas. He stared at a family nearby—the mother kissing her child's forehead, the father laughing about winning first place. Longing filled Olei's eyes.
My heart ached, swollen and sour.
Suddenly, Silas spotted me. He said something to Olei, then strode toward me. He wore all black today, hair slicked back, sharp jawline on full display. Even dressed down, that don't-come-near-me aura radiated off him, parents instinctively stepping aside.
"Anthea." He stopped in front of me.
"Mr. Thorne." I nodded.
"I want you to join us today."
His steel-gray eyes locked on mine.
"What?" My mouth opened. I wanted to refuse.
This was parent-child day. I was just Olei's teacher. I couldn't participate. It wasn't proper.
But Ms. Molly, the grade coordinator, appeared beside us, smiling. "Anthea, since this is Olei's Dad's wish, I'll have to ask you. It'll keep Olei from overthinking things. After all, last sports day, some kids asked him about..."
She sighed, trailing off.
I looked at Olei standing there. The sensitive kid seemed to sense we were talking about him. He met my eyes. Hope flickered there, mixed with careful uncertainty.
My chest tightened. This was my child.
"Okay," I said.
The first event was a three-legged race. Which meant we needed perfect coordination. And... goddamn body contact with Silas.
A staff member walked over with straps. Silas took them, positioning Olei in the middle. We had to tie Olei's left and right legs to ours.
I opened my mouth to ask Silas for a strap, but he crouched between me and Olei, his long fingers working the rope around our legs. He moved slowly, fingertips grazing my ankle, sparking tingles.
I gasped.
"What?" He looked up, gray eyes innocent.
Innocent. Silas Thorne. Those words together were a joke.
"Nothing." My voice came out strained. "Done?"
"Done." He stood, moved to Olei's right, tying his own leg.
"Ready to win this, Olei?" I pumped up the little guy before the race started.
