Chapter 206: The Last Straw

Moana

The first day that my colleagues and students got wind of the bodyguard situation was already bad enough. By the second day, people were really beginning to pick up on the fact that a strange, intimidating man was sitting outside of the school and watching me with binoculars. Combined with the fact that everyone seemed to think that I was bad luck as a late bloomer, I quickly became even more of an outcast amongst the other teachers and even some of the older students.

What I was most worried about, though, was that this would somehow reflect on Ella. I could handle people looking negatively upon me, but if they began to look negatively upon Ella because of me, then I couldn’t live with it.

When I went home on the second day, I decided that I had had enough. Yes, some horrible things had happened; but this whole bodyguard situation wasn’t working out, and I couldn’t risk it ruining both mine and Ella’s reputations in an environment where our reputations were already fairly shaky because of my status as a late bloomer.

At first, Edrick seemed to be understanding. I thought that he would recommend a different approach; maybe he could talk to the headmistress about hiring a second security guard for the school or even put up cameras in my classroom just in case anything happened. But when he brought up the danger of me shifting in my classroom, he seemed to make a good point. It was a dangerous potential, and I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.

However, when he told me that I would have no choice but to allow a bodyguard into my classroom with me every day for the foreseeable future, I felt angry.

to just have to deal with this new reality,

that we didn’t want to leave our home. You can’t just threaten to rip us away again because I rightfully don’t

“You need to be kept safe, Moana,” he urged. “You

and I understand why you’re worried about me, but I don’t need a bodyguard up my ass at all

how you almost got yourself and my daughter killed just a couple of weeks ago? Hm? What

to well up in my eyes, and Edrick showed no signs of remorse for his harsh words. Nothing else was said between either of us before I whirled around and stormed out. I ran to my room and

head. I saw flashes of Ella tied to the chair, of Ethan holding the gun to

need to be so cruel about it? Did he really need to make such a low blow during an argument and

into my pillow, the images of that night flashed faster and faster through my mind until I felt sick and dizzy. I sobbed even harder, gripping my sheets so tightly in my hand that my knuckles hurt, just wishing that I could go back and undo everything that had happened that night. If I had just trusted Edrick… If

I felt a familiar little hand on the back of my head. I quickly jerked my head up, drying my eyes and sniffling loudly as I

she looked so mature. Her eyes looked so empathetic and comforting, like a little adult. And she didn’t say a word, either. She just continued to sit there, gently stroking my hair

it all along, but I really knew how much I loved her just then. The way that her sweet face

she hadn’t said a word about it yet. What went through her little head when he told her, I wondered? Was she scared? Angry? Hurt? She didn’t show any of those emotions now; she just seemed calm and empathetic,

whispered, reaching up to brush some of her messy blonde hair out of her

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