Chapter 435

Isabella turned away from the pouting girl. She led Oliver to a brightly lit claw machine.

Her fingers moved with practiced precision. The metal claw descended with perfect timing.

It grasped the coveted cat plushie Oliver had been eyeing. With a smooth motion, the prize dropped into the retrieval chute.

The oversized plush was nearly as tall as Oliver himself. He hugged the soft toy with visible delight.

"Mommy's incredible! You're the best mommy ever!" His joyful exclamation echoed through the arcade.

Amelia watched from a distance, her expression souring. She had wasted countless tokens trying to win that exact toy.

This woman achieved it on her first attempt! Pure luck, nothing more.

Isabetha smiled down at her beaming son. "What else would you like, sweetheart? Point to anything."

Oliver's eyes scanned the glass cases. "That bunny! The fluffy white one with pink ears!"

She tousled his hair affectionately. "Consider it yours."

Amelia rolled her eyes dramatically. Surely this woman couldn't replicate that fluke.

Her jaw dropped when the machine whirred to life again. Another prize tumbled out effortlessly.

Oliver applauded with unrestrained glee. "You did it again! Thank you, Mommy!"

"Wait here, darling." Isabella settled him onto a nearby velvet bench.

He obediently nodded, giant lollipop in hand. An assortment of won toys surrounded him like a colorful fortress.

Isabetha continued her winning streak. Prize after prize joined the growing collection.

Other children paused their games to watch in awe. Their envious glances focused on Oliver's mountain of plush toys.

Amelia's bottom lip began to tremble. She had nothing to show for her efforts.

Tears welled in her eyes as another toy joined the pile.

A loud, hiccupping sob escaped her. "It's not fair! You have so many!" She glared accusingly at Isabella. "Why won't you share? I want one!"

Isabella regarded her with cool detachment. "Whose child is this? Such poor manners." She turned back to Oliver. "Let's find something else to play, my love."

Oliver gathered his treasures with difficulty. His happiness radiated from his beaming face.

Amelia's wails intensified into full-blown tantrum. "Meanies! Horrible, nasty people!"

A well-dressed couple approached through the crowd. The man carried himself with understated elegance in his tailored suit.

The woman moved with theatrical grace, her floral dress swaying. This was Sophia Delacroix, scion of a renowned acting dynasty.

Trained in classical theater from childhood, she had become a celebrated prodigy. Her film performances earned critical acclaim and numerous awards.

She secured the Best Actress trophy by twenty. Marriage into the Blackwood family cemented her status among the elite.

Her reputation as devoted wife and mother remained impeccable within high society circles.