Chapter 171

Serena's POV

"I'll take Milo to clean up," I said quietly, meeting Lucas's intense gaze. "The next match is soon... handle the rest as you see fit." The slight nod he gave me carried volumes of understanding.

"Go ahead," he replied, his voice low and reassuring. "I'll take care of everything."

Guiding Milo toward the bathroom, I kept my hand gentle but firm on his shoulder. My heart clenched at the sight of his rumpled swimsuit and hair still bearing traces of garbage.

Inside the bathroom, I locked the door behind us, creating a private sanctuary. The sound of running water filled the silence as I wet paper towels and began carefully cleaning his face.

"Are you feeling better now, sweetheart?" I asked softly, watching his expression in the mirror.

His eyes met mine, brightening with a resilience that made my chest ache with pride. "Much better! You protected me, and Dad taught them a lesson. And I even got to dump the trash back on them!" His enthusiasm faltered slightly. "I was scared at first, but Dad said sometimes being brave means doing the right thing even when you're scared."

I smiled, running my fingers through his damp hair. "Your father is right about that." Reaching for more paper towels, I continued cleaning away the last traces of the incident. "You know what makes a mother incredibly strong?"

"What?" He looked genuinely curious.

"Love for her child." I turned him to face me, kneeling to meet his eyes. "When I saw them trying to hurt you, nothing else mattered. Being a mother makes you capable of anything when it comes to protecting your child."

"Like a superpower?" His eyes widened with childish wonder.

I laughed softly. "Something like that. But Milo..." My tone grew more serious. "I need you to understand something important."

He nodded, sensing the shift in mood.

"I know you want to protect me, and that makes me so proud. But you're still growing up. Real protection isn't about rushing into danger - it's about being smart, being prepared, and knowing when to ask for help."

I straightened his swim cap, smoothing out the wrinkles. "Promise me you'll remember that? That you'll focus on growing stronger and smarter before trying to fight anyone's battles?"

He wrapped his arms around my waist, burying his face in my stomach. "I promise, Mom. But when I'm big and strong like - "

"When you're big and strong," I hugged him back, "we'll talk about it again. For now, let's focus on winning your next race, shall we?"

His face lit up at the reminder. "The relay race! We can't be late!" He pulled back, practically bouncing with renewed energy.

The hallway seemed brighter as we emerged, heading toward the stadium. Lucas and Rachel and Stella were waiting near the entrance. The way Lucas's eyes immediately found us, checking for any remaining distress.

Stella hurried over as soon as she spotted Milo and me. Without a word, but with eyes full of concern, she wrapped her arms protectively around her twin brother. Milo melted into his sister's embrace, his face lighting up with that innocent smile that was so uniquely his.

"Everything okay?" Lucas asked quietly as we approached.

I nodded, watching Milo practically skip ahead, already focused on his upcoming race. "He's stronger than anyone gives him credit for."

"The school board will be reviewing their anti-bullying policies," Lucas informed us, his tone suggesting this was the least of the changes coming.

"Mom! Dad! Come on!" Milo called from ahead, waving excitedly. "The relay's about to start!"

When Rachel heard it, her smile faltered, giving way to a flash of embarrassment. I gave Milo a reassuring smile in response, then led the way with him and Stella as we headed to our positions for the relay race.

The relay race had always been the most thrilling moment of any sports day. As I watched from the bleachers, my heart swelled with emotion at the children's fighting spirit. Every stride, every handoff spoke of their determination and teamwork.

In the final leg, Milo grabbed the baton and sprinted forward with everything he had. Near the finish line, Stella stood cheering wildly for her brother. Despite starting behind, Milo made an incredible push in those last moments. He overtook the second-place runner just before the finish line, clinching the gold medal as the crowd erupted in cheers. Stella leaped with joy, rushing to be the first to embrace her brother.

I noticed Rachel's excited movements as she stood up from her seat, barely containing her enthusiasm. After their victory, both Milo and Stella's eyes kept finding their way to where I sat. Under the warm afternoon sun, their smiles were radiant and pure.

With the relay races finished ahead of schedule, the school made an impromptu announcement: they would add a parent-child relay race. It wouldn't count toward the official scores, but each class could organize teams of parents and children running together.

As the teachers began coordinating with the parents, Rachel immediately volunteered. Lucas hesitated briefly before following her to the track. I caught sight of Stella's expression - her lips pursed in obvious displeasure. She had never appreciated Rachel's attempts to play mother.

During the pre-race lineup, both Milo and Stella's faces clouded over when Rachel positioned herself behind them. Stella deliberately tugged her brother's hand, taking a step sideways to create distance.

Rachel noticed their reaction. She crouched down, reaching for Stella's hair with an overly sweet voice, "Godmother is also mother, darling. Don't reject me."

Stella dodged Rachel's hand while Milo looked up at Lucas with hurt in his eyes.

Only after Lucas gave a slight nod did the children reluctantly agree. In that moment, they both turned to look at me in the stands, their faces filled with apology - especially Stella, whose eyes held a glimmer of hope.

I offered them a gentle smile, making a small cheering gesture to show my support. Their shoulders relaxed slightly at my response.

As the teacher finished arranging the teams, they discovered one little girl was missing a parent partner. While they pondered this dilemma, Stella's voice rang out clear and strong: "Ms. White, can our mom join instead?"

"Isn't your mother already here?" the teacher asked, confused.

"That's the mom we want," Stella pointed toward me in the stands, with Milo nodding vigorously beside her.

The teacher looked puzzled but didn't press the issue. "Of course, that's fine."

When the invitation reached me, seeing the children's eager faces, I couldn't bring myself to refuse. I agreed to stand in as the little girl's temporary mother for the race. As I made my way down to the track, I could feel Milo and Stella's eyes following me, stealing glances filled with joy.

The starting positions were being assigned. At the blast of the whistle, the match begun.