Chapter 21
The children’s speeches were finally over, and Daph, who had flawlessly recited her entire piece from memory, easily took first place.
The principal himself pinned a bright red ribbon on Daph’s shirt.
Down in the audience, Dames stood watching as his classmate received the award. For the first time in his life, he walked away from a kindergarten event empty–handed, embarrassed and the butt of everyone’s jokes.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he searched the crowd, hoping to spot Selene.
“My sweet boy!” Gemma came over and scooped Dames into her arms.
“Nana!” Dames wailed, his voice breaking.
Gemma gently rocked him, her voice low and soothing. “Don’t cry, darling! In Nana’s heart, you’ll always be my number one.”
Sniffling, Dames pressed his face into her shoulder. “But Daph got the ribbon… Nana, you have to make Mom come back and help me with my homework! If not, I’m leaving too. I’ll go with Mom and leave home!”
He knew exactly how much his grandmother doted on him–threats like this always
worked.
Gemma’s tone turned stern. “If you leave home, you won’t be able to win the All–Star Student Award again, will you?”
She dabbed his wet cheeks with a tissue.
Since starting school, Dames had won the highest honor every term: the All–Star Student Award. Daph always tied with him in grades, but only Dames walked away with the trophy, semester after semester.
Gemma bent down to his level, reminding him, “You’re the Vaughn family’s young master. That’s why you can be the All–Star Student. Are you sure you want to leave the Vaughn family with your ungrateful mother?”
Dames pursed his lips and burrowed back into Gemma’s arms.
He was certain–even without his mother’s help, he’d still be the one to win the top
honor.
Meanwhile, Daph hopped off the stage and strode right up to Felicity, chin tilted
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defiantly. “Apologize to me!”
Felicity just laughed, completely unfazed. Instead, she scolded Daph, “Girls who fuss over everything aren’t cute at all!”
Daph, mimicking an adult’s tone she’d picked up somewhere, drew out her words, “Aunt Felicity, can’t you be more straightforward, like a grown–up?”
Felicity’s expression soured. “Daph, where did you learn to talk back like that?”
Daph held up her handmade model, her voice ringing out, “Apologize to The
Aurelian Tower!”
Felicity tossed her hair, grinning. “And what if I don’t? What are you going to do about it?”
Daph’s almond–shaped eyes narrowed. “Well, if Aunt Felicity doesn’t keep her word, I might have to use my moves!”
With that, Daph kicked Felicity right on the shin.
Felicity toppled over, landing face–first on the floor with a yelp.
Parents all around the auditorium turned to stare.
“Ahhh!” Felicity wailed, her cries echoing as the dull ache brought tears to her eyes.
“Harrison! Harrison, my leg really hurts!”
Daph watched as her father strode quickly toward them.
Harrison knelt beside Felicity, concern etched on his face. “Which leg is it?”
Tears sparkled in Felicity’s eyes and her face had gone pale. She pointed shakily to her right leg.
Harrison reached out to check, but before his hand touched her shin, Felicity let out another piercing cry.
“My leg is definitely broken!”
“Daph! How could you hurt Flick like that?”
Dames shot over like a cannonball, shoving Daph hard.
But Daph stood firm–no matter how hard Dames tried, he couldn’t budge her.
“That’s for hurting Flick!” Dames shouted, then stomped on The Aurelian Tower model, smashing it to pieces.
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Daph stood frozen, staring at the ruins of her creation. It felt as if something inside her had collapsed, too.
“Mom worked so hard on that!”
Her eyes blazing with anger, Daph lunged and gave Dames a shove on the shoulder. He stumbled and fell right into Gemma’s arms.
“Oh, my poor boy!” Gemma cried, quickly gathering him up as Dames burrowed into her embrace once more.
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