She waited quietly, not making a fuss.
The young teacher bent down with a gentle smile. “Amara, are you tired from standing? Do you want me to pick you up?”
Amara’s chubby little face lit up as she grinned, her big eyes curving into crescents and her tiny white teeth showing. “I’m okay, Miss. If you carry me, you’ll get tired too.”
The teacher felt her heart melt on the spot.
She was absolutely smitten, thinking to herself, Oh my gosh, Amara is just too adorable—and so thoughtful for her age. No wonder she’s the Foster & Co. CEO’s daughter.
Just then, a woman suddenly appeared in front of Amara. Her eyes were wild, and without warning, she scooped Amara right into her arms, clutching her tightly and babbling, “Claire, my Claire, you’ve been waiting for Mommy, haven’t you? Mommy’s here to take you home.”
The teacher gasped in shock. “Who are you? Put Amara down!”
She rushed forward, trying to wrest Amara free, but the woman’s grip was iron-strong, refusing to let go.
The suddenness of it all terrified Amara. Her face went ghostly pale, her eyes wide with fear.
“I’m not Claire, I’m Amara,” she choked out tearfully, her voice trembling with terror and helplessness. She kicked and struggled, her little hands and legs flailing, but the woman’s arms were like a vise—Amara couldn’t move.
A crazed obsession flashed in the woman’s eyes. “No, you are my Claire. You’re my daughter. You look just like her. You are Claire.”
Her voice was chilling, laced with a desperate, unhinged devotion. Her nails dug deep into Amara’s arm, leaving angry red marks.
No matter how mature Amara was, she was still just a child. The pain and fear finally broke her composure, and she burst into wailing sobs.
As the struggle continued, Sean arrived at the preschool.
From a distance, he saw a strange woman clutching Amara while his daughter sobbed in terror. In that instant, a cold, murderous fury flashed in his eyes.
He charged forward, grabbing the woman’s arm and twisting it hard.
She howled in pain, losing her balance.
Sean pulled Amara safely into his arms, then delivered a sharp kick that knocked the deranged woman away.
Amara threw her arms tightly around Sean’s neck, sobbing even harder. “Daddy, I was so scared!”
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