Summary
After waking up inside a novel, I became the stepmother of Ain Spenster, the tale’s future antagonist. Though the plot demanded I mistreat him and face a tragic end, I couldn’t hurt the sweet boy quietly sucking his thumb. I resolved to shield him, hoping he would one day shield me in return.
Later, Ain fixed a frigid glare at Duke Cassius. “Don’t touch me,” he warned. The duke laughed, but Ain’s next words silenced him: “You never truly cared for her.” Realizing Ain saw Roselia as far more than a mother, Cassius stood stunned. “Stop frightening her,” the boy insisted, terrified she might leave. The duke was shaken—his own son was completely devoted to Roselia.