LOGIN"Oh! Good morning, Mrs. Anderson. Are you here to talk about Annabel's problem with her classmates?" the old Mrs. Andrew said with a kind but tired smile. She had already expected Gloria to come discuss the bullying issue that Annabel was facing at school. "Please come in, Mrs. Anderson. I've been thinking about calling you anyway to talk about this problem we need to face together."Gloria followed Mrs. Andrew into the principal's cozy office, filled with bookshelves, kids' drawings on the walls, and a big wooden desk piled with papers. The smell of fresh coffee hung in the air. Mrs. Andrew sat down in her big principal chair and looked at Gloria warmly. "Please sit down, Mrs. Anderson. Make yourself comfortable."Gloria sat facing the old principal on a soft chair, her hands folded nervously in her lap. Mrs. Andrew cupped her hands together on the desk, like she was about to deliver some heavy bad news. "Mrs. Anderson, you've heard about this ongoing problem with Annabel and her cla
Gloria woke up very early again, before the sun fully rose. She had to cook a lot that morning because she needed to prepare a yummy breakfast for Annabel and her strict boss, Lukas Anderson. She also had to make a special lunch for Annabel, since her daughter was a super picky eater who only trusted Mommy's home cooking and hated the school cafeteria food.Gloria wondered for a moment if she also had to pack lunch for her boss, but then she remembered what Isaiah had mentioned—Lukas probably ate at fancy restaurants nearby during the day. So, there was no need for Gloria to make his lunch; he would just grab something quick outside and pay big money for it.Gloria carefully prepared Lukas's suit for the day, ironing it smooth and hanging it neatly in a drawer right in front of his bedroom door, so he could grab it easily. She knocked softly on the door a few times, her voice quiet. "Lukas, your suit and fresh shirt are ready in the drawer right outside the door.""Hrm? Yes, got it...
I don’t like uncle Lukas because Uncle Lukas is so mean to Mommy, but Uncle also likes to eat Mommy's yummy pancakes," Annabel commented with her mouth full. Her little legs flailed happily under the tall kitchen table as she munched the warm, homemade fluffy pancakes, syrup dripping sweetly. "Mommy's cooking is the most delicious in the whole world. Uncle must have liked it a lot, right? That's why you ate mine first!""It's tolerable, I guess," Lukas replied dryly, not wanting to admit it was actually perfect. He sipped the thick banana-apple smoothie through a big colorful straw, the creamy banana flavor hitting just right. But his lips tightened for a moment as the cold sweetness reminded him of sharing it with this kid."Then why are you so mean and grumpy to Mommy?" Annabel asked seriously, putting down her fork. "Annabel won't let you hurt Mommy ever! I will protect her!" Her big doe eyes beamed with strong determination, like a tiny knight ready to fight for her precious mom.
Gloria paused for a second, looking just as confused as he did, her hands fidgeting with her apron."But that one is for—""That's for Annabel!" Annabel claimed excitedly, jumping a little. "I like banana and milk! Um... cheese and yogurt too! Mommy always makes a yummy banana-apple smoothie every weekend for our special breakfast time!""Wait, is that true?" Lukas turned to Gloria, his voice full of doubt."Ahaha... yeah, Annabel loves banana and dairy products so much," Gloria replied with a shy smile, glancing at her daughter. "She loves banana milk the most—it's her favorite treat that makes her dance around the kitchen."Lukas's jaw dropped wide open once he realized that he had the exact same weird preference as this bratty little girl. He even kept a secret stock of banana milk in his office fridge at work, and only Isaiah knew about that quirky habit—no one else."So the banana-apple smoothie with extra milk is not for me at all?" Lukas asked, crossing his arms.Gloria shook h
Annabel saw a man sitting at the big dining table in the sunny kitchen, his eyes sharp like a hawk's watching every move. His brooding gaze scared her even more, making her little heart beat fast like a drum.He was tall and scary like a giant from her bedtime stories, with no kindness in his stern face at all. This man was also much bigger and rougher, with broad shoulders and a face that looked like it never smiled!Annabel took a quick step back right away, her sneakers squeaking on the shiny floor. She was always very careful about stranger danger, just like Mommy taught her, and she feared random scary-looking adults who showed up out of nowhere. Her mind raced with all the warnings from school about not talking to strangers."W-Who are you?!" Annabel asked loudly, her voice almost turning into a scream as she got super guarded, clenching her small fists tight.Lukas scoffed with a low grunt, leaning back in his chair. "That should be my question, little girl. This is my house—do
Lukas flipped the receipt. He found a note on the back.*Lukas, this is the receipt of my spending. Please subtract from my salary in exchange. Thank you for letting me use your card. And also, I bought you food from the restaurant for your dinner we came back from the mall late."Nonsense," Lukas said. He crumpled the paper. Threw it in the trash can. He was in a bad mood already. Reading this made him more annoyed.She still talks about salary this and that. Subtract salary? Does she think I can't give her what my brother gives? Lukas thought mad.Gloria got up Sunday morning. She washed her face. Brushed her teeth. Tied her hair in a bun. She opened the next bedroom door. Checked on Annabel. Annabel slept soundly. Like a little angel.Gloria closed the door quiet. Did not want to wake her.Gloria went up to Lukas's penthouse. Cooked breakfast. Cleaned a little before the housekeeper came late in the noon.She did everything on autopilot. This was her daily job at home. Wash, cook,







