Chapter 54
With her eyes closed, Valeria whispered in a tense voice, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. I didn’t mean to say you were being unreasonable,” Sebastian replied.
Valeria looked up and stole a quick glance at him.
Just then, his dry palm tightened slightly over hers. The next instant, it felt like a jolt of heat surged through the thin layer of skin between them.
Valeria froze in place.
Sebastian gave her hand a gentle tug, and she stumbled forward, nearly falling into his arms.
“Excuse me. Sorry for the interruption.” A parent with her child cut into the line and chatted
with the one ahead of Valeria.
Valeria recognized her. They had met briefly during the orientation when school had first
started.
Selena also greeted the other kid.
The parent smiled. “Valeria! Oh, is this Leo’s dad? Do you two know each other?”
Her eyes landed directly on Valeria and Sebastian’s clasped hands. That grip didn’t look casual.
Valeria suddenly realized what it must have looked like and quickly pulled her hand away. really,” she said.
“Not
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt the weight of Sebastian’s stare behind her.
Sebastian’s voice was low and flat as it landed in her ear. “Last week, you were calling me your husband. Now you’re pretending we’re just acquaintances?”
Valeria stiffened.
The parent next to them laughed knowingly, a smirk on her face.
Valeria managed a polite, awkward smile. Any explanation would only make it worse.
“That’s my uncle,” Leo chimed in.
Then he tilted his head and asked seriously, “Ms. Neal, are you and my uncle back together now?”
He was completely serious, as if it were the most important question in the world. He really liked her. If things weren’t good between her and Sebastian, that would be a real shame.
Leo liked him a lot.
Valeria hadn’t expected Leo to take it so seriously. She had no idea what was going on in that little head of his. Blushing, she gave a small nod.
Seeing that, Leo let out a big sigh of relief.
Not long after, everyone lined up to enter the park.
That day, kids from five different classes arrived in staggered groups. For the week, the first five classes were scheduled to visit. In addition to teachers, there were also tour guides helping out.
The first stop was the botanical exhibition hall.
Valeria had never been there before. Slate City was huge, with plenty of places she still hadn’t had time to explore.
As soon as they entered the first hall, a wave of awe-filled gasps swept through the crowd. The kids began chattering away excitedly.
The teachers hurriedly stepped in to calm things down. Children without parents would be led by the teachers, while those with parents could explore freely with them.
Valeria led Selena further in, where both sides of the path were lined with decorative exhibits made of farm produce and vegetables.
“Mommy, what’s this?” Selena asked.
“It’s a little boat made out of corn kernels,” Valeria replied.
Made entirely of corn kernels, the sculpture was crafted into the shape of a small boat, stretching about ten feet long.
Valeria found the place fascinating. It wasn’t just the children who were wide-eyed. She, too, felt a sense of wonder. She couldn’t help but pull out her phone to snap a few photos.
Selena posed in front of a vegetable sculpture, and Valeria captured the moment.
“Ms. Neal.” Leo came running up to her. “Ms. Neal, I want a photo too!”
“Uncle Sebastian, can you take a photo of me with Ms. Neal?” Leo was being especially sweet and well-behaved.
Sebastian walked over at a leisurely pace, meeting Leo’s puppy-eyed expression and clasped
hands.
The latter then stood beside Valeria and gently took her hand.
Sebastian pulled out his phone and snapped a photo. In the first shot, Valeria’s eyes were closed, so he took another.
Valeria had taken off her beige coat once they got indoors, revealing a pale blue knit top underneath. She held the coat in the crook of her arm, standing tall and slim, glancing toward Sebastian with a blank but cute look on her face.
Just then, Leo ran over, took the phone, and said, “Uncle Sebastian, let me take a photo of you and Ms. Neal too.”
