The second they stepped into the park, Esperanza’s whole face lit up with pure joy. "There they are!" she squealed. Without missing a beat, she took off running toward the pond, her little legs pumping excitedly as dozens of ducks glided across the sparkling water.

That pond had always been her absolute favorite spot. She giggled like crazy as the ducks waddled right up to the kids, quacking hopefully for more bird feed.

A huge, bright smile stretched across her face while she joined the other children.

Pretty soon she was laughing and playing with them like they’d been best friends forever, carefully tossing little pieces of food into the water while the ducks scrambled and fought over every single bite in the funniest chaos.

Since Esperanza was homeschooled, her tutor kept reminding everyone that she really needed regular time around kids her own age.

Hanging out with adults all day wasn’t enough. She needed real friends, real laughs, real playtime, and the chance to learn how to connect with other children in the most natural way possible.

That’s exactly why Jasmine made sure to bring her to the park twice a week without fail.

Thankfully, Esperanza had never struggled to fit in. She was so cheerful, polite, and bursting with curiosity that within minutes she’d always end up surrounded by other kids, inventing wild games and cracking up together like they’d known each other their whole lives.

Watching her now from the bench, Jasmine couldn’t help smiling warmly. She stayed right there, eyes never leaving the little girl for long.

Even while Esperanza was having the time of her life playing with the others, Jasmine stayed super alert, checking on her every few seconds just to make sure she was completely safe and happy.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. When she saw Corvine’s name pop up, she answered with a soft smile. "We’re doing great," she told him, glancing over at Esperanza again. "She’s feeding the ducks right now and having a blast." Corvine sounded so relieved on the other end.

They chatted for another minute before hanging up, and Jasmine tucked her phone back into her purse, her full attention returning to the little girl she adored.

Just then, a soft feminine voice spoke up right beside her. "They grow up so fast, don’t they?"

Jasmine turned automatically and the second she saw the woman standing there, her eyes flew wide open in total shock. "Sera?" The name slipped out before she could catch it. "What are you doing here?"

Confusion washed over her face. This made zero sense. It had only been two days since Voren took Seraphine to the pack. There was no way she could possibly be standing here in the park.

Then it all clicked into place like a punch to the gut. No, this wasn’t Seraphine at all. This had to be Coco.

Jasmine quietly looked the woman up and down, studying every detail. The resemblance was absolutely insane, the same height, the same nose, the same lips, even the exact shape of the face.

If you didn’t know Seraphine personally, you’d swear you were looking at the same person. But up close, the differences jumped out. Coco used more make-up than Seraphine ever would, and her hair was shorter.

For her eyes, Jasmine could not see because Coco had on these huge oversized sunglasses that completely covered her eyes, and her outfit was another dead giveaway: a super tight designer dress that hugged every single curve, leaving almost nothing to the imagination.

Jasmine wondered how the woman could even breathe in something that fitted. It looked crazy expensive and suited Coco’s vibe perfectly, but Seraphine? Never. Sera always chose comfort and effortless elegance over anything flashy or revealing.

Coco folded her arms, a faint smile curling her lips. "Looks like Seraphine hasn’t just become a hotshot doctor," she said, her smile turning colder and sharper. "She’s also managed to worm her way into my daughter’s life."

Jasmine frowned deeply. Before saying anything, she instinctively glanced toward Esperanza. The little girl had wandered away from the ducks and was now laughing her head off, searching for her friends who were hiding behind a nearby tree during their game.

Only once she made sure Esperanza was totally safe did Jasmine turn back to Coco.

"Excuse me?" she asked, her voice guarded.

The resemblance was almost eerie, but the longer Jasmine stood there, the more the differences stood out.

Seraphine carried herself with this warm, genuine kindness that made everyone around her relax instantly. She never had to chase attention, her heart just shone through.

Coco was the total opposite. She had confidence, sure, but it came off as cold pride, like she was always trying to prove she was better than everyone else in the room.

"I won’t waste your time," Coco said smoothly. She reached into her fancy designer handbag, pulled out her phone, and unlocked it before holding the screen out. "My name is Coco. Marigold is my daughter, and I’ve been watching you both for a very long time."

Jasmine’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the photos scrolling across the display. There were pictures of her walking through the park with Esperanza, shots of them sharing ice cream, laughing during their regular visits, even some photos Jasmine didn’t remember anyone taking.

A cold chill ran down her spine. Coco had been watching them for a long time. After sending Marigold to Voren years ago, she’d secretly kept tabs on her the whole time.

And once she noticed Jasmine spending so much time with the little girl, she’d been observing them from the shadows whenever she could, without them ever knowing.

Coco slowly lowered the phone, seeing Jasmine’s face full of disbelief and growing unease. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Coco smiled like the question was the most amusing thing she’d heard all day. "Nothing at all," she said, tucking her phone away. "I’m actually here to offer you something incredible."

Jasmine stayed quiet, watching her carefully.

Coco looked her up and down with obvious approval. "You’re beautiful. You’ve got the perfect body to become a top model. I can train you myself. It won’t take long before every agency is fighting over you. You’ll be on the covers of fashion magazines, luxury brands will be begging to sign you, and you’ll have wealth and fame most people only dream about."

For one brief, dazzling second, Jasmine let herself picture it all, the glamorous travels, the flashy photo shoots, the designer clothes, the bright lights, and crowds chanting her name. It sounded so exciting, almost like a fairy tale come true.

But then the image vanished just as fast as it appeared, replaced by the sight of Esperanza laughing by the pond. No amount of fame or money in the world could ever replace being there for that little girl.

Jasmine knew deep down that Coco wasn’t offering any of this out of the goodness of her heart.

Nobody hands a total stranger a dream life without wanting something huge in return. She folded her arms across her chest, her expression turning cautious and serious. "So, what do you want in return?"