“Charlie, give Grandma a kiss, will you?” Mrs. Lucas asked, holding the child in her arms.
Charlie shook his head firmly. “No!”
Mrs. Lucas froze for a moment, a flicker of hurt flashing across her face. But she understood that it would take time for them to fully accept her.
She didn’t push it. “Alright, let’s just keep taking the photos.”
The photographer was about to continue when loud commotion suddenly erupted outside. Irritated, the photographer walked to the door and yelled, “Keep it down!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a man burst in, wild-eyed, grabbing the photographer’s equipment and slamming it to the ground.
Everyone was stunned. Jamie instinctively shielded Charlie in her arms, her heart racing.
The intruder’s gaze landed on the family taking their happy photos. His bloodshot eyes burned with rage as he screamed, “Why do you get to be so happy? Why?!”
Panic filled the air as the man charged toward them. Jamie, acting on instinct, pushed Charlie behind her, completely forgetting her own safety.
Ben reacted instantly, shoving Jamie and Charlie aside to stand between them and the attacker. His body tensed as he braced for the man’s assault.
But the intruder hesitated when he saw Ben’s imposing figure, backing away slightly before pivoting and lunging toward Jamie instead.
Jamie gasped in terror as the blade glinted in the light, hurtling straight for her. Ben, caught off guard by the sudden change in target, couldn’t react in time to stop him.
Just as the knife was about to strike, Mrs. Lucas threw herself in front of Jamie.
The knife sank into her back with a sickening sound, and the sharp scent of blood filled the air.
“Mom!” Jamie screamed, her voice trembling as she watched the scene unfold.
Even as they restrained him, the man screamed in defiance, “Let me go! Let me go!”
Jamie immediately turned her attention back to Mrs. Lucas. “Mom, are you okay? We need to get you to the hospital.”
Mrs. Lucas waved a hand weakly. “It’s just a scratch.”
“Let me see,” Jamie insisted, lifting the fabric of her clothes. Mrs. Lucas’s thick jacket had absorbed much of the impact, but the blade had still cut through, leaving a five-centimeter wound. Thankfully, the bleeding had stopped.
Jamie let out a shaky breath of relief but couldn’t suppress the lingering fear. She couldn’t believe Mrs. Lucas had thrown herself in harm’s way to protect her. “Mom, why did you do that?”
Mrs. Lucas looked at her with sincere eyes, her voice steady despite the pain. “Jamie, since you married Ben, I’ve truly come to see you as part of this family. It’s not just for show—it’s from the heart.”
She placed her hand gently over Jamie’s, her gaze filled with honesty.
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