Chapter 695

"Pinky promise!" Bethany and Elysia linked their fingers—one slender and long, the other small and delicate—creating a moment that felt almost ceremonial. Before long, they arrived at the preschool. It was already past eight, and the children had settled in, the sound of reading filling the classroom. Elysia's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked around. Bethany took in her surroundings as well. She noticed that the outdoor play equipment had been modified to remove all the sharp edges, and the ground was covered in soft rubber. Feeling reassured, she led Elysia toward the principal's office. "Welcome! You must be Ms. Reyes, the designer," the principal, Claire White, said as she approached. She looked to be in her fifties and was dressed elegantly, with most of her jewelry from Bethany's company. "Hello, Ms. White. I'm Bethany," she said, reaching out to shake Claire's hand before gesturing for Elysia. "Ely, say hi to the principal." "Hi, Ms. White! You're so pretty," Ely