Chapter 184

Amelia might only be two and a half, but she moved with surprising agility.

When Victoria lunged at her with malicious intent, the toddler dodged effortlessly.

Victoria's hand swiped through empty air, fueling her frustration. She reached again, fingers poised to pinch Amelia's cheeks.

The little girl reacted instantly. She opened her rosebud mouth and sank her tiny teeth into Victoria's hand.

"Ah!" Victoria shrieked in pain.

Amelia released her bite and blinked enormous sapphire eyes. "Bad ladies who hit children get punished. Mommy said so."

"What did you just say?" Victoria couldn't believe she was being schooled by a toddler.

Blind with rage, she chased after Amelia as the child turned toward the boutique. In her fury, Victoria forgot about the marble beneath her designer heels. The smooth stone rolled, sending her crashing to the ground and dragging her friend down with her.

"Damn brat!"

Amelia paused, turning to stick out her tongue. "Naughty aunty! Serves you right!"

The little girl spun on her heel with a triumphant flip of golden curls.

"You little monster!"

As Victoria's stiletto flew toward Amelia's head, a tall figure materialized from nowhere. Alexander caught the child effortlessly, stepping aside just as the shoe shattered the boutique's window.

The force behind the throw could have been fatal.

Victoria's rage turned to shock when she recognized Alexander. She scrambled up, gesturing frantically for her friend to retrieve the shoe.

"Alexander! What a... surprise." Her voice dripped false sweetness.

Alexander examined Amelia in his arms, then fixed Victoria with a glacial stare. "Explain yourself."

"It's not what it looks like! This brat—"

"Ms. Lancaster? Mr. Blackwood?" Evelyn emerged from the store, taking in the broken glass and her daughter in Alexander's embrace. "Would someone care to explain?"

A sales associate quickly whispered the events to Evelyn.

Evelyn's gaze turned arctic as she faced Victoria. "If you have issues with me, address them directly. Leave my daughter out of your petty vendettas."

"Your daughter?" Victoria gaped at the child in Alexander's arms.

This cherub-faced hellion was Evelyn's child?

Alexander studied the girl more closely. Rosy cheeks framed by golden ringlets. Eyes like twin sapphires beneath delicate brows. A button nose and Cupid's bow lips. She was the picture of innocence with an ethereal beauty.

Now he understood why she'd seemed familiar at Golden Arches. She was Evelyn's miniature replica.

Their resemblance was uncanny—especially those expressive eyes.