Expired Expectation

“Isaiah, this girl is a thief! She stole Emmie’s music box!” Juno said as she pointed at Coco.

“You should have Emmie transferred to another kindergarten. I don’t want her around poor characters like this bunch over here.”

“Coco did not steal Emmie’s music box. I have proof!” Astrid turned to Isaiah and waited expectantly for him to defend her.

Isaiah ducked her gaze and started looking around nervously, “Where's Emmie? Is she hurt?”

“Daddy, I'm here!” Emmie ran to him and pointed at Coco while hissing spitefully, “She stole the music box you gave me! Call the police, we have to arrest her!

“She’s a bad person, we can’t have her dancing on stage!”

Isaiah gently cupped Emmie’s face in his hand and inspected her anxiously.

“Are you okay? Is your leg hurt? Is your hand scratched?"

"Daddy, I’m okay. I didn’t fall.”

Emmie shot a sideways glance at Coco.

“It was the thief who got her face scratched! Serves her right!”

Coco’s eyes swelled with tears as she tried to defend herself.

“It was my Daddy who gave me the music box, I’m not a thief!”

People around them began whispering among themselves.

“Emmie’s music box is worth more than ten thousand dollars. All the kids were jealous of her, so Coco must have stolen it because she was jealous too!”

“She keeps insisting it was her father who gave her the music box, but I have never seen her father pick her up from kindergarten. She’s lying!”

“Coco is always sick and has to take days off from school. I'm sure her mother had to spend a fortune just to pay her medical bills.”

“Their financial situation must be difficult at home, so that’s why she decided to steal the music box. It could fetch a good price on the second-hand market!”

Astrid lowered her eyes to hide the bitterness within them.

Although she had a husband, she had been living as if she were a widow.

And now, Coco was accused of being a thief!

It was ridiculous!

Coco was furious with everything they said.

“I have a daddy!” she announced.

“He works as a doctor overseas, and he’s an amazing doctor!

“He was the one who gave me the music box!”

Juno frowned.

“It’s not good to make a habit out of lying, girl.

“Your music box is the same brand as my daughter’s. Do you know how much is it? More than you can afford!

“I can tell you have the same one as my daughter’s!”

Isaiah stole a look at the flustered Coco and suddenly felt something shift inside him.

Then, he instantly suppressed the jolt he felt.

“It's just a music box, we have plenty more at home. Come on, let’s go.”

Coco seemed very pale and was struggling to stay on her feet at that point.

Astrid was distressed and embraced her tightly while holding out her phone to Juno.

“Ms. Calzier, I received the music box in a parcel from Falo two days ago. Here is the tracking number. You can look it up if you don’t believe me.

“It was my husband who sent it to Coco!”

Juno would not take Astrid’s phone and changed the subject instead.

“I still feel like this girl’s eyebrows look just like yours, Isaiah. Are you sure you don’t know her?”

“No, I don’t,” Isaiah said firmly.

Suddenly, a teacher hurried to the scene and went up to Juno.

“Ms. Calzier, I found a music box. Do you think this belongs to your daughter? Mrs. Aubrey Claire found it in the dance studio two days ago and posted it in the lost and found group.

“Didn’t you see it?”

Juno was embarrassed by the sudden development.

She took the music box from the teacher and scurried away from the scene with Emmie.

She did not even bother to apologize to Astrid and Coco. It was as if they did not exist.

Isaiah trailed after them, but not before shooting a glare at Astrid as a warning to keep her mouth shut.

Even without his warning, Astrid would have done the same.

She knew Isaiah had already lost his final chance!

After today’s dance performance, she was going to take Coco and walk out of his life for good!

“Ms. Payne, allow me to apologize to you on behalf of Emmie, ” the headmaster said solemnly.

“Why don’t you take Coco to the infirmary? The show is about to begin.

“Sir, will I still get to dance on stage later?” Coco asked nervously.

“I want Mommy to watch me perform, I want her to take a video!”

“Of course!” The headmaster smiled graciously, “You are the most talented dancer in our kindergarten!"

Then Astrid took Coco to the infirmary to dress her wound.

When Coco snuck a glance at the door, she was taken aback and cried out, “Da… Uncle Isaiah! Why are you here?”