Page 19 of The Defiant Wife

Because obviously.I was not staring.Absolutely not.

After another ten minutes, the story comes to an end.

Several children immediately begin protesting.

"No!"

"One more!"

"Please!"

Veeraj looks alarmed.I decide to save him again. Enough torture for a day I guess.Standing up, I clap my hands twice.

"Okay, troublemakers." Collective groans."Homework time."

The groans become louder. Perfect.

Right on cue, Manisha appears in the doorway carrying a stack of worksheets.

The children react as though she's arrived to announce their execution.

I grin.

"Mani didi will help you with homework."

The betrayal on their faces is magnificent.

"I am going to borrow Prince uncle for a while."

The classroom erupts.

"No!"

"You can't!"

"Bring him back!"

"He's reading!"

I stare at them. Offended. "I feed you."

No one cares. Instead they crowd him. Traitors. Every single one of them.

Across the room I glance at Veeraj. For the first time since meeting him, he actually looks surprised. And maybe—just maybe—a little pleased.

Interesting.

He closes the book and stands.

The children immediately start negotiating his release. I ignore all of them.

Manisha takes over while I head toward the hallway.

A moment later I hear footsteps behind me.

"Your fan club seems upset," I say.

"They're your children."