The hesitation on the other end of the line was palpable. Finally, Odie''s voice broke through, "Why is Fiona ditching school my problem? I''m just the one tasked with bringing her back."


    Fiona, standing nearby, couldn''t believe how effortlessly Odie shifted the me onto her. The valiant figure she once admired in Odie crumbled instantly. He had been the one to suggest school was tedious and had whisked her away in his shy sports car for some fun.


    "Is that right?" she asked.


    "Absolutely," Odie replied smoothly. "Has Fiona skipped school again? Lucky for her, I was nning a trip to Devonport this week. I''ll get my secretary to book a flight and personally bring her back."


    Sophie nced at Fiona but chose not to reveal Odie''s fib. She said, "Alright then,e by tonight. Colby and I have just sorted out some issues with Isaac, and I think... Fiona might actually be d to see you bring her home."


    With that, Sophie ended the call.


    Fiona''s face turned stormy.


    Sophie asked, "Still think Odie''s the greatest?"


    Considering he ran with the same rough crowd as Colby, it wasn''t surprising his personality had its quirks. Realizing the truth, Fiona felt like crying but no tears came. She had believed Odie genuinely cared, but in front of her mom, he didn''t even put up a fight. He even lied and deflected me.


    She made a decision then and there. She was done liking Odie.


    "Fiona,e downstairs for a moment," a voice called.


    At the door, James stood, giving Fiona a cool look. He spoke only that one sentence before closing the door behind him.


    "Go on, let your godfather give you a proper talking-to. He can''t stand your Odie," Sophie said, nodding in approval.


    With her mom''s nod, Fiona reluctantly went downstairs. Her dad and Alec were off somewhere, leaving just her and her godfather in the living room.


    After a moment, James asked, "Who gave you the phone you used to call the police?"


    He had already confiscated all of


    Fiona''s phones at school. She shouldn''t have had any other


    phones. Yet, she had managed to get one he didn''t know about


    en


    Hearing this, Fiona''s heart skipped a beat. Panicked, she cobbled together a


    weak excuse. "Uh... it''s Betty''s."


    Fiona was never good at lying; her difort was written all over her face. However, James didn''t caft her out. Instead, he said calmly, "I''ve got the number logged. Should give it a call?"


    James pretended to dial the number from the contact list.


    Seeing this, Fiona quickly said, "Godfather! Don''t call it. It''s my own number."


    Fiona pulled out her phone. It was a in-looking device, worth maybe three or four hundred bucks-not even a recognizable brand.


    "I bought this with my New Year''s money just wanted something y on during ss... Is that not okay?" Fiona looked at James, her eyes pleading.


    "ying games?" he asked.


    "Yes, yes!" Fiona nodded fervently, worried that if she hesitated even a second, James wouldn''t believe her.


    "So, what games do you y?" James asked, not even lifting his head.


    Fiona froze. What games? She hadn''t thought that far.