Karma Doesn’t Sleep The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 524

Amelia ignored Will’s invitation. She didn’t even bother to text him back.

“Mommy.” Penny tugged at her dress and lifted her arms. “Can you pick me up? I can’t see the show.”

Amelia smiled and scooped her up right away, happy to help Penny see the acrobatics on stage.

A few performers had stacked themselves into a human tower, and at the very top, a little girl stood on one foot with her other leg stretched high above her head. The crowd, both kids and adults, burst into cheers and applause.

But Penny kept glancing at Amelia, her little mouth pressed in a worried line as she clapped along with everyone else.

The sun went down fast, and soon fireworks were exploding above the musical fountain.

“Donna, look! There’s a fire show over there! I want to see it!” Timmy, usually so calm and quiet, was clearly thrilled. He grabbed Donna’s hand and pulled her toward the show.

“Penny, do you want to go too?” Amelia asked softly. She could tell Penny wasn’t her usual self.

Penny shook her head and hugged Amelia tight. “I just want to stay with you, Mommy.”

Amelia felt a pang of worry. Something was definitely wrong.

Donna took Timmy to watch the fire show, while Amelia carried Penny to a bench by the lake and set her down gently.

“Sweetheart, is something bothering you?” Amelia knelt in front of her, concern written all over her face. “If anything’s wrong, you can tell me. I promise.”

Penny stared at Amelia, her eyes wide and brimming with tears. “I don’t want to be an unwanted orphan,” she whispered.

Amelia’s heart broke. “Oh, honey, you’re not an orphan, and you’re not unwanted. You have a mommy and a daddy who both love you so much. Who told you something like that? Was it someone at school or… was it Kristen?”

Penny looked down, her voice barely a whisper. “Mommy, will you and Daddy ever get back together?”

Amelia’s heart twisted. She could see the hope in Penny’s eyes, but she knew she couldn’t give her the answer she wanted.

She sat next to Penny and took her small hand, speaking gently and honestly.

But Penny didn’t answer. She suddenly fixed her eyes on a cotton candy stand nearby.

“Mommy, can I have some cotton candy?”

“Sure, but just a little, okay?”

Amelia took Penny’s hand as they got in line. Just then, the parade floats rolled by, packed with cartoon characters, and the crowd pressed in as families snapped photos and kids laughed and squealed.

Amelia hung onto Penny’s hand, but in a flash, Penny spotted something and yanked herself free, darting straight into the crowd. Her small figure disappeared in seconds.

“Penny!” Amelia yelled, panic rising as she shoved her way through the swarm of people. She grabbed the arm of a little girl in a princess dress, desperate. “Penny!”

But when the girl turned around, it was a stranger’s face.

Her mom rushed over and pulled the girl away. “Why are you grabbing my daughter?”