Chapter 509

The mother hesitated, her child's cries incessant, his hand still bleeding. "Does this herb really work?"

Caleb, his chubby face brimming with confidence, declared, "It will definitely work! Hurry!"

Theo's voice, suddenly sharp, cut through the air. "If anything happens, can you take responsibility? If not, get lost." He calmly approached the child, pulling half an herb from his bear-head bag. He'd picked it in the rain-soaked forest; only the top was usable. Frustration etched his movements as he crushed the herb, Will deftly using his mini pestle and bowl to mash it into a green juice. Theo swiftly applied it to the child's swollen arm, his technique surprising the onlookers. "A traditional massage?" they whispered, amazed.

Slowly, the child's cries subsided. He stopped scratching, the bleeding stopped. "Mom, it doesn't hurt anymore," he whimpered.

Tears welled in the mother's eyes. "As long as it doesn't hurt! I'll blow on it for you." Turning, she thanked the boys profusely.

Theo shrugged. "It's nothing. We're classmates. But if you're worried, take him to the hospital." Will nodded.

"Thank you, thank you!" she repeated, hurrying away.

The boys were instantly surrounded by curious classmates. Caleb stood alone, pale and isolated, a stark contrast to the scene he'd orchestrated earlier.

The other parents, initially hesitant to approach Byron, now bombarded him with questions about his children's exceptional abilities. Their disappointment was palpable when Byron humbly replied, "They're self-disciplined. My wife taught them well."

He privately reflected on the quiet satisfaction of his wife's contribution, a feeling far surpassing any business deal. The mothers, witnessing this, silently envied Maeve, their own contributions often overlooked.

Chapter 509 (Continued)

That afternoon, after the school distributed insect repellent, Byron and the two boys, leaving Maeve asleep, headed to the lake. They opted for Theo's herbal repellent, its faint fragrance a shield against mosquitoes. Two hours passed without a single bite. The competition began: most fish caught meant sleeping with Maeve. Even the usually inseparable brothers turned rivals, their playful antagonism extending to their father.

Chapter 500

Maeve awoke to an empty camp, only a female teacher on guard. "Mr. McDaniel was worried," the teacher explained, "so he asked me to watch you. Everyone's fishing at the lake."

Maeve, her abdomen still aching, thanked her and walked towards the lake. A crack, a sudden fall, a scream. Then, a familiar face.

"Mr. Soar?"

"Hold my hand tight," Zephyr instructed, his voice steady. He pulled her up from a hidden hunter's trap.

Shaking, Maeve thanked him. He offered a handkerchief. "There are traps here," he warned. "Be careful."

"What if the children...?" Maeve worried.

"The school keeps them away from this area," Zephyr reassured her. "Did you take a wrong turn?"

"Isn't the lake this way?"

"No, it's to the left."

Maeve blushed, realizing her mistake. "Then why are you here?"

"I saw you going the wrong way," Zephyr said calmly. "I was worried." A silent understanding passed between them.