Annabel was utterly shocked by Uncle Lukas's unexpected threat, as if a massive bolt of thunder had struck her out of a perfectly clear blue sky. She had always imagined herself as Mommy's unbreakable protector, ready to defend her every single time danger loomed. But in that instant, reality crashed down—she had completely forgotten that she had to go to school soon!
"T-Then... Annabel won't go to school today!" she declared defiantly, crossing her tiny arms with all the stubbornness a five-year-old could muster.
"Of course you can't skip school, my brave little protector," Gloria chuckled warmly, reaching down to pat Annabel's fluffy hair affectionately. "School is super important, remember? How else will you grow up to be as smart and strong as Mommy dreams? No school means no smarts—
