The Doormat Wife’s Ultimate Glow-Up novel Chapter 73

Annie looked up and, as soon as she saw Reese, her embarrassment faded and her whole face lit up. “Auntie!”

Reese smiled and came over, gently taking Annie’s hand. “I’m here.”

On the playground, the director finally wrapped up his endless speech, and the homeroom teachers started leading students and parents back to their classrooms for some family activities—supposedly to help parents get to know the school better.

Annie’s class was playing Pin the Nose on the Bear. There was a cartoon bear face drawn on the chalkboard, but the nose was missing. The teacher handed Reese a round sticker and explained the rules. “Parents get blindfolded and spun around three times. Kids, you’ll help guide them. If you stick the nose in the right spot, you win.”

As soon as Reese was blindfolded, Annie leaned in and whispered, “Don’t worry, Aunt Reese. I’ll tell you where to go.”

“Ready, go!” the teacher called.

Someone spun Reese around three times. She felt dizzy and took a wobbly step, laughing a little.

“A little to the left!” Annie’s voice was soft and excited. “Okay, now move forward just half a step… Stop!”

Reese stopped, feeling Annie tug at her sleeve. “Right here, Auntie. Just a little lower.”

Reese pressed the sticker down where Annie said. The second the blindfold came off, everyone started clapping.

On the board, the bear now had a perfectly centered nose.

Annie jumped up and hugged Reese’s waist, giggling. “You nailed it! Way better than when Daddy stuck the nose on the bear’s ear last time!”

Reese laughed, bending down to ruffle Annie’s hair. “That’s because you gave such good directions.”

Annie tilted her head up, her eyes sparkling like she had stars in them. “Can we play again? This time I’ll be blindfolded, and you tell me where to go!”

Reese met Annie’s hopeful eyes, and for a moment, the coldness Robbie had left in her heart seemed to melt away.

She reached into her bag, pulled out a piece of fruit candy, unwrapped it, and handed it to Annie. “Here, for you. You earned it.”

Annie popped the candy into her mouth and grinned, her two little dimples on full display. “Thank you!”

Reese felt a warm, sweet ache in her chest. She didn’t notice Robbie standing outside the classroom, watching them with a complicated look.

“Mr. Ratcliff isn’t feeling well. He’s been asking for you nonstop. I came to pick up Robbie, but since you’re here, could you come with us to the house?”

Matthew’s face changed just a little. He set Annie down after whispering something to her.

Annie walked over and tugged at Reese’s sleeve. “Since you have something to do, I’ll go with Daddy. See you soon, okay?”

She waved and ran after Matthew.

Reese watched them walk away, feeling a little confused, then turned to see Robbie standing with the driver, sulking and stubborn.

“Let’s go,” Reese said, not looking at him as she headed straight for the car parked on the curb.

She thought about all the ways Mr. Ratcliff had looked out for her over the years. In the end, she just couldn’t bring herself to say no.

Across the street, Sofia watched everything unfold, her lips curling into a sly, unreadable smile.