Blue had shut herself in her room, refusing to come out for breakfast. The maids served her meals in her room, but she barely touched them. Her nanny had insisted—coaxed, pleaded—but Blue had outright refused to leave. She had even skipped school for days, an unusual defiance for the normally obedient child.
And today, as Sofia stood outside her door after four long days, waiting for her to get dressed for school, there was no reply.
Sofia's patience was running thin. Enough was enough.
"Blue, come out! We have had enough of this behavior! No more skipping school!" she snapped, her voice sharp with authority, though she made no move to enter.
"Madam, we will dress her up and send her. You can leave for the office if you are getting late," the nanny said, attempting to defuse the situation.
But Sofia's expression remained rigid. "She is not a child anymore. And this attitude is unacceptable for the heir of this family. She needs to learn," she stated firmly, her arms crossed, her tone leaving no room for argument.
The nanny's hands tightened around the fabric of her dress, her lips pressing into a thin line. She wanted to protest—to remind Sofia that Blue was still a child, that she had gone through something no little girl should—but she held her tongue. Instead, she turned to enter the room, preparing to gently coax Blue into getting ready.
But before she could do anything, the door creaked open.
Blue stepped out.
Already dressed in her uniform, though her hair remained slightly messy, as if she had struggled to comb it properly. Her shirt was buttoned, her skirt neatly in place, but her shoes—one of the laces hung untied. Yet, despite the small imperfections, she had managed on her own.
She looked up at Sofia, her expression unreadable, then shifted her gaze to the nanny. A small, knowing smile curved her lips.
"I'm ready," she said simply.
Then, without hesitation, she stepped past Sofia, walking ahead as if she were leading the way—just like Sofia always used to.
Sofia's brow arched, but she didn't question the change, assuming it was for the better. The chauffeur opened the car door for her, and she plopped into the back seat. Sofia walked around and took her usual place beside her, pulling out her laptop to check her work, as always.
From the corner of her eye, Blue observed Sofia's routine. After a moment, she pulled off her backpack, retrieved her iPad, and turned it on, mimicking Sofia's actions as if it were second nature. The car ride passed in peaceful silence.
When they arrived, the chauffeur opened the door. Blue hopped out of the car, offering Sofia a brief goodbye before strolling toward the school building. Her personal servant followed closely behind, maintaining a respectful distance. Sofia, who had never been particularly involved with Blue, couldn't help but notice the sudden shift in her demeanor—there was a certain maturity to her, as if she had truly grown overnight. Watching Blue walk away, Sofia exhaled softly, as if in quiet relief.
"Miss, how are you feeling?" the maid beside Blue asked, engaging in small talk.
Blue, who was rarely interested in speaking to anyone other than her parents, spared her a brief glance before replying curtly, "Good." She continued walking without another word.
But just as they reached the central atrium—a grand, open space where students of all ages gathered, chatting and gossiping before the school day began—Blue suddenly halted. The school was high-end, filled with nobles and elites, each carrying themselves with a distinct air of refinement. Yet, it wasn't the luxury of the place that caught Blue's attention.
It was the massive poster hanging from the sixth floor down to the first, boldly announcing the inauguration of a new swimming pool.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing at the poster.
The maid followed her gaze, gave it a quick glance, and responded, "It seems the school has built another swimming pool. They're holding an event there today."
Blue's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat as she stared at the poster. The picture of Sara was right there—her smile, her presence, everything about it sent warmth coursing through Blue's small body.
It's her.
She could almost feel the lingering embrace, the gentle way Sara had held her.
"I wanna go!" Blue blurted out, her voice carrying a rare note of excitement.
The maid, caught off guard, turned to her in surprise. "You're interested in swimming, Miss?"
Blue didn't miss the astonishment in her tone.
"Madam will surely be happy to hear that," the maid added, as if this was some extraordinary news.
Blue's eyebrows twitched. "Why?"
The maid's face brightened, her excitement bubbling over. "You don't know?" She clapped her hands together. "Your mother loves swimming! She was an international swimmer back in her day!"
Blue froze for a moment, her small fingers gripping the hem of her dress.
Mama was a swimmer?
Something inside her shifted.
Determination settled in her gaze as she lifted her chin and declared, "Then I want to learn how to swim! I'll make Mama happy!"
"Aww! Miss is so cute when she's excited," the maid gushed, resisting the urge to pinch the child's cheeks. But she held back, knowing better.
Blue, after all, was as distant as her parents—cold, untouchable. The thought of daring to lay a hand on the billionaire's only child was equivalent to signing one's own execution order.
Blue was an odd child. A peculiar mix of innocence and detachment, warmth and unreachability.
Sara stepped into the newly built natatorium, her sharp eyes scanning the massive space filled with state-of-the-art swimming equipment. Her brows lifted in appreciation, and the corners of her lips curled into an impressed smirk.
"They really poured some sick money into this place," she muttered to herself, taking in the pristine pool, the sleek diving platforms, and the shimmering surface of the water.
She had dressed for the occasion in a stylish white jumpsuit that cinched at her waist with a drawstring, the hood resting neatly at the back. A pair of thick-soled white sneakers completed the look, while her hair was beautifully braided on both sides, adding a touch of elegance to her athletic presence.
Her gaze flickered toward the water, its depth relatively shallow—manageable. She felt no unease at the sight of it. Closed waters are fine. Her true fear stemmed from open waters, from vast, endless expanses she couldn't control. Even now, the mere thought sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.
Still, she kept her expression composed, unwilling to let her discomfort show. Instead, she made a practical suggestion: "Let's avoid filling the pools completely. We don't want any accidents." It was a sound precaution, though deep down, she knew it was more about avoiding her own limitations than anything else.
"Miss Sara!"
The call pulled her from her thoughts, and she turned toward the voice. A tall, stunning woman was approaching, her hand gripping a designer handbag tightly. Her face was lit with pure delight, her smile stretching ear to ear.
Sara blinked, momentarily taken aback. Do I know her?
"Hi," she greeted, raising her hand in a slight wave, her confusion evident.
The woman eagerly caught her hand, shaking it with enthusiasm. "I'm so glad to see you in person! I'm Josline Jackel, the Vice Principal of Kent Academy."
"Oh!" Sara's eyes widened as recognition set in, and she gripped the woman's hand with renewed enthusiasm. "Nice to meet you! I'm Sara Parker."
Josline chuckled. "Of course, I know who you are! I've been a huge fan—and still am! It's not every day you see a woman excel so extraordinarily in sports. You made us all so proud."
Sara felt warmth creep up her neck. Praise like this still flustered her, no matter how many times she heard it. "Thank you so much," she said, a genuine blush rising to her cheeks.
"No need to thank me! In fact, I wanted to personally come and thank you for accepting our invitation." Josline's voice was brimming with excitement. "I personally requested that Mr. Jones appoint you as the event head."
Sara's brows shot up. Wow. Boss never mentioned that detail.
Josline continued, her eyes gleaming with pride. "I hope you can instill confidence in our students today. I know there's incredible talent here—hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. I believe you can help them find their passion."
Sara felt an odd mix of pride and pressure settle in her chest. "I'll do my best," she promised.
Just then, Josline's phone rang. She sighed, visibly reluctant, before answering. "Yes… okay, I'll be there."
Hanging up, she looked at Sara with a slightly disheartened expression. "Oh, how I wish I could keep talking to you! But duty calls."
She quickly reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. "Here, save my number—I already have yours. Let's grab a coffee someday!"
Before Sara could respond, Josline flashed her another bright smile and walked away happily.
Sara let out a breath, a delighted grin spreading across her face. "Wow," she murmured, feeling an unexpected warmth bloom in her chest after the interaction.