Violet’s eyes widened in disbelief, her voice stuck for a few seconds before she managed, “...So what?”
Daniel sounded every bit the indulgent father who never disciplines his own child. “She’s just a kid. She doesn’t know any better. There’s no need to make a fuss over something so small.”
Violet could hardly believe what she was hearing. “Are you saying that just because she’s young, she can shove me into the railing and that’s that?”
“She didn’t do it on purpose,” Daniel replied calmly.
Amelia caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye—since when did this jerk know how to play the good guy?
Violet seemed to deflate, her bravado collapsing as she staggered back, bracing herself against the table. “How can you be so blatantly biased…”
She had always acted tough because someone was backing her up. But now Morgan was gone and Daniel’s attitude was this dismissive—she looked like a balloon that had lost all its air.
With the situation about as resolved as it would get, Amelia gave a quick word to the teacher and then turned to Violet. “Even if Ruby didn’t mean to, you were startled because of her. If you need compensation, just show me the medical paperwork. I’ll handle it appropriately.”
And with that, she took Ruby by the hand and left.
Daniel stood up to go as well, but Violet called out, her composure cracking, “Daniel, I’m the one who got hurt!”
He hadn’t spared her a single glance since he walked in.
Without slowing his pace, Daniel tossed over his shoulder, “I’m not a doctor. If you’re hurt, telling me won’t help.”
He hurried out after Amelia, who had already gotten Ruby into the car.
“Amelia, it’s still early—why not take Ruby somewhere else to play?” he suggested, catching up.
Buckling her seatbelt, Amelia shot him a strange look in the rearview mirror—Violet was still inside, sobbing, and here Daniel was, chasing after her.
“No thanks. Go comfort your porcelain doll. She’s probably cried a river by now.”
Daniel couldn’t help himself; he reached over and gave her cheek a playful pinch. “Stop with the ‘your this, your that.’ She’s her own person, I’m my own.”
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