Chapter 648

Joyce shot up from her seat, her shock evident.

Jack's face bore an obedience so unnatural that even his own mother would have doubted her eyes.What in the world was happening?

"Daniela, will you be home for lunch?" Jack asked.

Daniela put on her shoes and headed upstairs, with Jack following behind.

So focused on keeping up, he completely overlooked Joyce standing in the kitchen, watching the scene unfold.

Jack, being small, usually avoided the struggle of climbing stairs, opting for the indoor elevator instead.

But now,he trotted up behind Daniela without a single complaint.

Daniela kept moving without pause. "I won't be home for lunch."

Jack huffed as he climbed another step."Will you be back for dinner?" "Yeah, I'll be back for dinner."

Jack brightened instantly. "Then after dinner, we can watch TV together! I really liked that show you were watching last night."

Daniela stepped into her room, but when Jack attempted to follow, she halted him at the doorway "I need to change. You're not allowed in."

The tiny terror who usually bossed everyone around was suddenly the picture of patience. "Okay, I'll wait right here."

The door clicked shut between them.

Jack stood guard by the door, sneaking glances behind him every few seconds as if worried she might slip away unnoticed.

Carol,after watching in amusement, turned to the utterly baffled Joyce. "And you were just saying she had to convince him to take a walk?"

Joyce shut her eyes for a second, irritation flickering across her face.

What a brat!

Whose kid was he supposed to be?

Just as Joyce turned to the stairs, Daniela's door creaked open, and Jack's face lit up with anticipation."Daniela, can I come to work with you?"

"Not happening."

"Fine then, I'll just wait for you to get home after work."

As Daniela stepped out, Jack hurried over, holding out her shoes. "Be careful out there."

Tasha watched the exchange, shaking her head. If someone didn't know any better, they'd think Jack was Daniela's own kid.

The moment Daniela and Carol were out the door,Joyce stomped to Jack, her patience wearing thin."You traitor!"

"Mom,guess what? Daniela is incredible! She knows every single flower in the garden!"

Joyce huffed, clearly unimpressed. "I know them too."

"But she also knows all the myths and legends behind them! She's amazing! And she told me that even if the kids at school don't like me, it doesn't matter.I should love myself first! Once I do that, people will start liking me too."

Joyce's brows knitted together. "What? The kids in your class don't like you?"

Jack shook his head. "I told them I'm a rich heir and that I'll inherit all of Aunt Daniela's wealth. They look down on me, push me around, even hit me. But Mom,I was just repeating what you told me!"

Joyce pressed her lips into a thin line. "You're right,sweetheart. They don't deserve to play with you. Later,ask Daniela to tell you more stories. And we'll get you into a private school. The kids there are well-mannered. They won't ignore you."

Jack's face turned serious. "But she said she won't send me to a private school. She said we're not even family,so she doesn't have to."

Rage flared in Joyce's eyes the second she heard that.

She shot to her feet and turned to Caiden. "Dad,do you hear the nonsense Daniela is filling Jack's head with?"

Jack beamed, completely unbothered.

Daniela played with him, talked to him, and even promised that if he behaved, she'd teach him how to shatter glass with a single slap-just like she did yesterday.

To him, Daniela was a friend.

And Daniela was the most beautiful person in the world.Beautiful people could be forgiven for anything.

Joyce had no clue that her son had a weakness for pretty faces.

She stood in the middle of the living room, practically steaming with fury

Jack eyed his mother's fiery glare, a sigh of regret forming in his chest.

If only Daniela were his mom.

Daniela would never look this fierce-like an angry lioness ready to pounce.