With a stern face, Damien shot a warning at his little crew. “None of you are allowed to play with Daphne. Got it?”
The kids lined up in a perfect row and saluted him smartly.
“Yes, sir!”
Selene noticed a shadow cross Daph’s face as she glanced toward the school gates.
“Daph?” she called gently.
Daph clutched her backpack straps a little tighter, forcing a cheerful note into her voice. “Mom, I’m heading in. See you after school!”
Spotting her usual playmates, Daph’s mood lifted and she hurried over, waving. “Monica!”
Monica Fairchild barely glanced at her, then lowered her head and walked faster.
Daph caught up, bubbling with excitement. “Monica, guess what? I changed my name! I’m not Daphne anymore–I’m Dafina now. I took my mom’s last name!”
“Don’t talk to me,” Monica muttered, veering away to keep some distance.
Daph stopped in her tracks, stunned. “Monica, what’s wrong?”
Monica hesitated, guilt flickering across her face. “Damien said, if anyone hangs out with you, they’ll be enemies with everyone at school.”
Daph stood frozen in disbelief.
Not far away, Selene hadn’t left. She watched her daughter’s small figure, knowing all too well when something was weighing on Daph’s heart.
“Selene!” someone called. She turned to see Clarissa Vaughn approaching, holding her daughter Penelope’s hand.
Clarissa was Harrison’s cousin. Her husband came from a humble background and married into the Vaughn family. Clarissa had a Hermès bag hooked over her arm, her sharp eyes glinting with a sly smile.
“So it’s true? You and Harrison are divorced?”
Selene kept her gaze on Penelope, frowning slightly. “Yes, it’s final.”
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Penelope was the same age as Daph, but tiny–no bigger than girls a year or two younger. Clarissa had raised her as a vegetarian from birth, and Penelope’s frame was as fragile as a paper doll, her complexion so pale it was almost gray.
Back when Selene lived with the Vaughns, she’d sneak Penelope a little meat now and then, but now, she couldn’t anymore.
“Have you found a job yet?” Clarissa pressed, her curiosity edged with glee.
“Not yet,” Selene replied honestly.
Clarissa couldn’t hide her smug satisfaction. “I just don’t get it. You were Mrs. Vaughn, living in a mansion, driving fancy cars. And look at you now–taking a cab to school with Daphne! Why make yourself look so pathetic? You’re going to embarrass Daphne at school, you know!”
Selene met her gaze and said, “If children judge Daph over what car she arrives in, that’s a failure of parenting and the school–not her. Besides, my daughter has my last name now. She’s Dafina Thompson.”
Clarissa clicked her tongue disdainfully. “Everyone else arrives in the family car. Now that you’re not with Harrison, you’re not one of us anymore! And changing her name to Thompson–please. Even my husband knows how much the Vaughn name is worth.”
“Aunt Selene,” Penelope whispered, nibbling her finger.
Clarissa’s expression hardened. She nudged her daughter away. “She’s not your aunt anymore. She divorced your uncle, so there’s no need to even say hello. Go on, get to school!”
Penelope looked confused, but under her mother’s stern gaze, she turned and shuffled off. She still liked Selene–after all, Selene used to bring Daph’s lunches
with bits of meat to share.
Suddenly, a shout rang out from across the courtyard.
“Daphne! Stop it! Let Damien go!” Felicity bellowed.
Daph had darted forward and grabbed Damien by the collar. Despite being twins, she was a little taller than he was, and the difference in their builds was becoming more obvious.
With one hand, Daph lifted Damien clean off the ground.
Face flushed with anger, she demanded, “Damien! Why won’t you let Monica talk to me? Monica’s my best friend!”
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Dangling in the air, Damien kicked his legs furiously, trying to hit her.
But Daph simply straightened her arm, holding him at arm’s length, and his tiny feet couldn’t reach her at all.
9/9
