NovelEnglishBut as a matter of politeness, she extended her hand.
"Hello there." Fitch stared at her outstretched porcelain hand, silent for a moment before finally enveloping it with his own.
Zoey couldn't be sure, but it seemed as though his fingertips trembled ever so slightly.
She felt a twinge of discomfort, but then her gaze fell on the child nestled in his arms-a cute and seemingly well-behaved boy- and she breathed easier.
"Nolan will be in my class from now on. I'll take good care of him." The other teachers in the vicinity were as quiet as church mice, all taken aback by how handsthe investor was! And the child in his arms was just adorable.
Rumors had it that his wife had passed away four years ago and he hadn't remarried, leaving his son motherless. Considering he hailed from the prestigious Greenfield lineage, anyone who could snag a connection with him wouldn't have to worry for generations! Gemma was the first to step forward, visibly excited.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Mr. Haskins, your presence is a blessing to our kindergarten." The others chimed in, "Indeed, it's a blessing." Fitch didn't glance their way; his eyes remained fixed on Zoey, noting her somewhat forced smile.
"Is it? A blessing for Ms. March as well?" After he said this, his gaze bore into her.
Zoey's smile twitched, "The whole of Zion City knows the importance of Mr. Haskins' arrival." But she dodged his question about whether it was her blessing.
The principal, worried Zoey might rock the boat, quickly attempted to lighten the mood.
"Mr. Haskins, this way please, let's have a look at the classroom." Fitch finally shifted his gaze, sparing Zoey for the moment.
He set Nolan down with a gruff voice, "Go say hello to Ms. March." Nolan stood there, craning his neck to look up at Zoey.
Zoey quickly crouched down, smiling warmly, "Hey there, Nolan. I'm going to be your teacher. No tears in the classroom, okay?" Nolan gazed at her with the sseriousness as Fitch.
Zoey mused internally, like father, like son.
But at least the child's eyes were innocent, free from the complexities that adults often had.
Nolan's eyes welled up but he fought back the tears, "Okay." Zoey was relieved. As long as the child was obedient, she could handle it. A troublemaker would make her job so much harder. "Let's go, Mr. Haskins. The classroom is just ahead." She gestured invitingly, looking sharp in her professional attire, her waist cinched in neatly.
Fitch's mind fogged for a moment until the principal spoke again, snapping him back to reality.
Zoey took Nolan's hand and they headed for the classroom.
Fitch followed, feeling as if everything was surreal, so much so that he didn't even register what the principal was saying.
The principal noticed his distraction but didn't dare to probe, opting to stay silent instead.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThey reached the classroom door.
Zoey let go of Nolan's hand and immediately spotted Henry in the et corrido holding a bouquet of elm flowers, looking as surprised by the crowd as they were by him. S Zoey's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she cleared her throat, "Principal, please take them inside. I need to handle a personal matter." Her introductions were over; her duty was done.
The principal was about to agree when Fitch spoke up with a dark tone, "What personal matter?" The other female colleagues thought he was joking. It was obvious, wasn't it? Zoey had a boyfriend.
Gemma was over the moon with excitement, thinking that Zoey having a boyfriend-and the investor knowing it-meant that Zoey's chances of becoming the stepmother had just plummeted.
"Ms. March has a boyfriend, right? He's quite the looker. You've been keeping him a secret." The group erupted into teasing banter.
Zoey, ever the bashful one, quickly clarified, "We've only just made it official." She grabbed Henry by the arm, and the two of them slipped around the corner.
The atmosphere instantly turned heavy, as if a great weight had settled over the room, oppressive and daunting.
The principal, under the weight of this tension, his lips quivering, suggested, "Mr. Haskins, let Nolan get acquainted with the other kids, and if there's something you need to discuss, we can go to the office." Inside the office, the principal wiped the sweat from his brow, not expecting Fitch to actually have something to say.
Fitch stood to the side, idly flipping through a few books.
"Principal, the kids should be given proper values here. What do you think about all this romantic stuff happening around them?" The principal finally realized that Fitch was concerned about the influence on his noble son and quickly nodded.
"Mr. Haskins, rest assured, I'll have a word with Ms. March about this."
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