Chapter 58
It wouldn’t be the first time Arianne had gone on an educational trip. When she was younger, only slightly older than the Rochefort twins, she went on one with her mother. It remained one of the few memories she had of her. A memory that brought neither joy nor reprieve.
The bus line moved forward one vehicle at a time, engines running while teachers directed the children toward their assigned buses. A staff member checked each child’s name against a printed list.
Arianne felt a slight tug on her sleeve, pulling her thoughts back to the present. She turned to her right and saw Leo looking up at her with a worried expression. They stood in line near the curb of the school parking lot, waiting to board the bus that would take them to their first destination.
Arianne lifted Leo from the ground and held him against her side. With her free hand, she kept a steady hold on Lily’s forearm as the line advanced. Since becoming their legal guardian, she had noticed the twins grew uneasy during car rides. That observation prompted discussions between her and Franz about driving routes and additional safety measures.
“Can’t Auntie drive the bus instead?” Lily asked.
Arianne smiled and shook her head.
“My driver’s license doesn’t allow me to operate larger vehicles. Only trained drivers can handle buses like this. Driving something this size requires specific certification p>
Lily formed an “O” with her mouth and did not press the topic further.
When they boarded, the twins took a seat together on the right side of the bus, two rows behind the driver. Arianne sat directly across the aisle, positioning herself where she could see both children without turning fully. The aisle between them remained clear.
Ms. Ruiz stood at the front near the driver and gave instructions. She reminded the children not to separate from their groups and not to move around without adult supervision. The children responded with cheers. The teachers thanked the parents and guardians before taking their seats.
The buses pulled out of the parking lot in sequence. Lily sat by the window. Leo chose the seat closer to the aisle, nearer to Arianne.
Arianne noticed Leo’s uneasiness as he watched the road and the passing vehicles through the windshield. When his eyes met hers across the aisle, his shoulders relaxed gradually.
They arrived at the zoo shortly before midmorning. The entrance plaza was crowded with visitors moving between ticket counters and security gates. Staff organized guests into two lines using metal railings placed in parallel rows.
Leo’s eyes widened. He leaned forward to see beyond the entrance archway. Lily tightened her grip on his hand and scanned the surrounding crowd instead of looking at the banners above. Arianne noticed but did not comment.
A zoo staff member secured paper wristbands around each child’s wrist as entry passes. Once everyone received one, the teachers formed two lines per class. Ms. Ruiz positioned Lily and Leo near the end of the line so Arianne could remain within sight behind the group.
Arianne stood a few steps behind the class near the outer railing, close enough to intervene if needed. She kept both children within her peripheral vision. Other parents and guardians stood beside her.
Some greeted her politely. Others asked directly why she was raising the twins now.
Arianne responded briefly and without elaboration. It was known that she had stepped in as Interim CEO of the Rochefort Group, but not everyone knew she had assumed legal guardianship of the twins. No one pursued the matter further.
Leo’s mood shifted as they moved deeper into the zoo grounds. He recognized animals he had previously seen only in books or on television. His pace quickened. He pulled Lily toward one enclosure after another.
Arianne followed at a measured distance, maintaining a clear line of sight. She remained positioned where the twins could turn and find her without searching.
“It must be hard raising children who aren’t your own,” another parent said beside her.
Arianne kept her expression neutral.
“They aren’t strangers to me. Looking after them is natural p>
“But raising your own child is different. Others can never replace a parent’s love p>
Arianne did not respond.
Replacement had never been the objective.
Leo released Lily’s hand and ran toward the lion enclosure. In his haste, he tripped and fell forward onto the pavement.
“Leo!” Lily cried, immediately catching Arianne’s attention.
She knelt beside him and helped him sit up. Leo clutched his right knee. Small cuts marked the skin.
His eyes filled with tears, but he remained silent. His eyes sought Arianne from the crowd.
Arianne reached them quickly and assessed the injury. The distance between them had been short.
Tears rolled down his cheeks. She wiped them away and lifted him, supporting his weight against her hip.
She informed Ms. Ruiz about the fall and said she would treat Leo’s wound before rejoining the group.
Ms. Ruiz agreed without hesitation.
Arianne led the twins to a bench positioned along the walkway, facing the open path but away from the main crowd. She set Leo down and examined his knee for additional injuries. The bench was fixed to the ground and did not shift under his weight.
Finding none, she steadied his leg with one hand, opened his bag, and removed a small first-aid kit.
Leo flinched when he saw the antiseptic bottle.
“It will sting. Stay still,” she said.
Leo nodded. Lily stood close enough that her shoulder brushed his.
After cleaning the cut and applying a small bandage, Arianne helped him stand.
They returned to the class. Leo held Lily’s hand without releasing it this time. He waited quietly with the rest of the children until it was time to move toward the aquarium building.
The children shifted in place as the teachers gathered them again near the entrance doors. Teachers counted heads again before allowing entry.
The glass doors slid open.
The interior lighting inside cast a blue tone across the floor and walls.