On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 234

“You have no blood relation. Legally, you are strangers. If she tried to take you without my permission and I called the police, they would arrest her.”

Amy was so stunned she fell silent.

“Your teacher told me you were bullying another child at school today,” Jessica continued. “Why?”

“He brought a toy from home, and I wanted to play with it, but he wouldn’t let me,” Amy mumbled.

“So you hit him?” Jessica’s tone was sharp.

“Mommy Catherine says I’m a princess, and everyone has to like me,” Amy declared.

Jessica stopped abruptly, but managed to hold her tongue until they were in the car. After securing Amy in her car seat, she asked, “You say you’re a princess. A princess of where? What country?”

Amy blinked, at a loss for words. “I just am.”

“That’s a title you gave yourself,” Jessica said as she drove. “Only you recognize it. Why should anyone else have to?”

“I am a little princess!” Amy insisted.

“Fine,” Jessica said. “In that case, from now on, I’m the king.”

“You’re not a king!”

“And you’re not a princess.”

Amy huffed and turned to stare out the window. “I hate you.”

Jessica gripped the steering wheel. “You’re not a princess, and I’m not a king. At school, you’re just a kid like everyone else. If someone bothers you, you can tell a teacher or a parent. But you are not allowed to bully others.”

Amy remained silent.

Rebecca nodded meekly.

No sooner had the firefighters left than the property manager arrived with the police.

“Just tally up the damages from the other units,” Rebecca said wearily. “Give me the bill, and I’ll pay for it.” She had made the mess; she would clean it up.

Jessica pulled a wet wipe from her bag and began cleaning Rebecca’s face.

“I just wanted to make a nice meal for you and the kid,” Rebecca lamented. “And now, not only is there no dinner, but we’re going to be homeless for the night.”

“I don’t want to sleep under a bridge,” Amy piped up.

“Come on,” Jessica said, pulling Rebecca along. “Let’s get a room at a nearby hotel. You can take a shower, and we’ll figure it out from there.”