Chapter 68: Felix Is Very Unhappy

Without the little troublemaker around, Cecilia and Vivian enjoyed a rare opportunity to stroll the streets together. Vivian planned to stay in Tudela for a while, following Ernest's incident, to help Cecilia care for Jonathan.

"Truly, I'm so grateful," Cecilia said sincerely.

"There's no need for formality between us," Vivian replied.

Meanwhile, at preschool, Jonathan's angelic face immediately captivated the girls. The teacher introduced him as a student returning from abroad, urging everyone to be kind. Vivian's nephew, Dante, had received a call the previous night instructing him to befriend the new boy. He'd expected another boisterous boy, but Jonathan's attractiveness surprised him. Dante greeted Jonathan, who readily sat beside him.

"You're Jonathan Smith, right? My Aunt Vivian asked me to look after you," Dante said, patting Jonathan's chest reassuringly. "Don't worry; your concerns are my concerns."

"Thank you," Jonathan replied.

Dante found Jonathan's voice captivating. If only he were a girl, he thought. Jonathan, however, noticed a boy in an expensive suit sitting alone in the corner. Every detail of his attire seemed costly. The boy sat yawning, an air of arrogance about him.

Dante followed Jonathan's gaze. "That's Felix, a Rainsworth," he whispered. "Don't offend him; I can't protect you if you do."

Jonathan chuckled inwardly. Ms. Kennedy's nephew is just like her, he mused. "Don't worry," he said aloud, giving Dante a reassuring glance before looking away. Luckily, Aunt Vivian's friend isn't a troublemaker, Dante thought.

Preschool activities included drawing, paper crafts, play, and some foreign language learning—all of which Jonathan already knew. He still played along, however, to avoid drawing too much attention. Despite his efforts, by the end of the morning, the girls surrounded him, vying for his attention and sharing their snacks.

Dante felt a pang of defeat. But someone experienced even greater turmoil: Felix, the former "king" of the preschool. Before Jonathan's arrival, he'd been the center of attention, the girls dreaming of marrying him and becoming Rainsworth daughters-in-law. Indeed, women are always full of lies, he thought bitterly.

Felix was unhappy. A newcomer, daring to show off? He'll regret it, he seethed. Watching Jonathan head to the restroom, Felix dropped his pen and followed. He thought he was stealthy, but Jonathan knew he was being followed.

In the boys' restroom, Felix shut the door and hung the "Under Maintenance" sign—a tactic grown stale with overuse. He expected to catch Jonathan off guard.