Chapter 4

I walk two hundred yards from Jude’s private school gate when my cell rings, the school administrator’s harsh tone crackling through the speaker.

“Are you Jude Rossi’s guardian? He assaulted another student. Come to the principal’s office immediately.”

I hang up, a faint weight settling in my chest. I got into constant fights as a kid too, and every time Jesse got called in, he’d bow his head and beg forgiveness for my outbursts.

This sharp little boy shares my hot temper. Worst case, I’ll write a settlement check—his dad owns half the city’s banks, cash’s never an issue.

I step into the office and spot Jude standing stiff next to a chubby boy with only a tiny scrape across his cheekbone.

I blink once, unimpressed.

“That’s all the damage?”

The principal glares hard at me, offended by my lack of panic.

“Jude attacked this child and refuses to apologize. You need to discipline him severely.”

I tilt my head, unyielding.

“A tiny surface scrape from two kids roughhousing isn’t worth a formal parent conference. Boys fight all the time over trivial stuff.”

Jude’s rigid shoulders relax, his wide eyes locked on me in pure shock.

The chubby kid’s mother surges forward, finger jabbing straight at my face, voice shrill with rage.

“What kind of woman raises such a violent, ill-mannered brat? No wonder he’s got no mother figure around to teach him respect!”

Cold rage floods my veins. One sharp kick sends the plastic visitor chair beside me splintering into broken shards on the linoleum floor.

“Do not speak about my kid like that. Jude never throws a punch unless someone crosses a line first. Now tell your son to explain exactly what happened.”

Every person in the room freezes rigid. The little boy’s lip trembles, and he bursts into loud sobs.

“He called Jude a motherless stray… everyone in class teases him about it.”

I turn to the furious woman, tone flat and unforgiving.

“You heard him. Your son threw the first insult. Jude only defended himself—you ought to thank him for not hurting your child worse.”

She yanks her crying son forward, forcing a rushed apology.

I glance down at Jude.

“You still acted out of line. Say sorry for hitting him.”

Jude blinks, confused.

“Why? He insulted me first.”

“He called you motherless, but you have me. Don’t waste your energy fighting over empty words.”

Jude’s eyes glisten with emotion, his head drooping slightly.

“I’m sorry I hit you.”

The chubby boy grins, grabbing Jude’s wrist in awe.

“Your mom knows how to fight! I wish my guardian was this cool.”

Jude tugs my hand, and we walk out to the black town car waiting curbside.

He mumbles quietly, cheeks flushed pink.

“You’re nothing like the other women who applied.”

My mood lifts instantly.

“Does that mean you accept me as your stepmom now?”

“All the others screamed at my reptiles, and they always assumed I was the troublemaker before asking questions. You protected me without hesitation. Thank you.”

My heart softens completely.

“Then call me mom, yeah?”

His neck flushes bright red. He stares hard out the passenger window, silent for a long beat. I signal the driver to pull away, ready to drop the subject.

“Mom.”

The soft word floats off his lips, reflected clearly in the car’s tinted glass.

I wrap my arms tight around him, warm joy bubbling up inside me.

“Baby, you’re such a sweet kid.”

Jude squirms against my hug, too embarrassed to reply.