This Time, I'll Be the Villain's Favorite Daughter novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Check

Nobody in the parking lot moved.

Then the director slammed the trunk shut.

"Those are for storage," he said. "We keep extras. For next year."

"With the tags on?" asked the reporter.

"Inventory," said the director.

A girl of about ten had followed them outside in her socks.

She looked at the trunk and said, "That's the jacket I asked for at Christmas."

The camera swung to her.

The director wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

Then he turned toward the doorway, toward Darla, and Mabel saw him open his mouth to say something that would take Darla down with him.

Darla got there first.

She walked down the steps with one hand pressed to her pearls and tears standing in her green eyes.

"I trusted you," she said to the director, in a trembling voice that carried to every microphone. "I gave this home my heart. And you've been stealing from children?"

The director's jaw dropped.

"Mrs. Ainsworth, you told me..."

"You're finished here," Darla said. "Effective immediately. I'll be speaking to the board tonight."

She turned to the cameras and dabbed her eyes.

"I'll be personally paying to repair the boiler. This week. These children will be warm by Friday."

A few of the staff clapped uncertainly.

The director looked at Darla.

Then he got in his silver car, coats and all, and drove away.

Mabel stood on the steps and watched him go.

In her first life, he had run St. Brigid's for another ten years.

"Well," said Fern pleasantly. "That was productive."

They went back inside.

The cough boy was asleep on the stairs in his blue parka.

← Chapter 5 · All chapters · Chapter 7 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend