Broken Bond: Claimed by My Ex-Husband's Alpha Billionaire Uncle-Chapter 132: A Story to Melt Their Hearts

Charlotte held her breath for a moment, feeling a wave of nerves as the door to the playground slowly creaked open.

"Relax," Damon whispered beside her. "They’ll get nervous too if you look tense."

He reached out and gently took her hand, tracing soft circles on her palm in a calming rhythm. "Everything will be alright, sweetheart."

Charlotte gave a small nod, though her heart was still pounding in her chest. The silence that greeted them as they stepped inside was overwhelming. Dozens of small eyes were fixed on them, some filled with curiosity, others with fear.

But whether they were scared or simply curious, one thing was certain: all of them kept sneaking glances at the two strangers who had just stepped into their territory.

Charlotte even spotted a little one hiding behind a block tower, peeking through the gaps between the colorful blocks. She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh at their adorable reaction.

Taking a few small steps forward, Charlotte crouched slightly so she wouldn’t tower over them. Her voice was gentle and warm as she spoke.

"Hi there," she began, her tone light and friendly. "My name is Charlotte, and this is Damon. We’re not here to scare you, we just wanted to say hello."

She glanced at Damon before adding, "We heard you have lots of toys and books here. So we thought ... maybe, if it’s okay with you, we could stay for a little while. We could read you some stories and keep you company."

No one answered her question, but a few of the kids peeked out a little more from behind their hiding spots.

Damon didn’t say anything and slowly took a step back when he noticed the children seemed more comfortable around Charlotte than him. His Alpha dominant presence must have been a bit too intimidating for them. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The moment Damon stepped away from Charlotte and chose to stand near the door, a few of the braver children began inching toward her, though they still kept themselves half-hidden behind whatever objects they could find.

Charlotte gave them a gentle wave but avoided making any sudden movements so she wouldn’t startle them. She slowly made her way toward the little reading space surrounded by bookshelves.

"How about ... I read you a story?" she offered warmly. "The little red riding hood ... it looks like a great story, right?"

The children still didn’t respond, but when she opened the fairytale book and began reading in a soft, melodic voice, they started to gather closer. Not right up to her, but close enough to make Nara, who was watching from outside, stare in shock.

They had been caring for these kids for weeks, even bringing in child psychologists to help, but no one had managed to win their trust so quickly.

Yet there was Charlotte. She was sitting in the corner of the room reading a fairy tale, and the children were coming to her on their own, without any pressure or coaxing.

It was like her presence alone gently melted the invisible walls the children had built around their hearts.

Some of them sat cross-legged on the floor, listening intently, while others pretended to stay hidden but kept peeking out, their small faces softening with every word she read.

Damon glanced toward Nara, catching the astonishment in her expression, and a faint smile tugged at his lips, as if he wanted to tell her that his mate possessed a charm capable of making children, or anyone else, feel completely at ease.

Diana had even once told Damon that she could never raise her voice at Charlotte or stay angry with her for long.

Maybe it was because people knew about Charlotte’s painful past and didn’t want to add to her burdens. But maybe, it was because Charlotte truly possessed a natural charm, one that had only grown brighter after she was marked by her fated mate.

That gentle warmth around Charlotte seemed to wrap over everyone nearby, melting away tension without her even trying.

It wasn’t fake kindness or planned sweetness, but it was simply who she was.

Damon leaned casually against the wall by the door, his gaze never leaving her. There was pride in his eyes, the kind that came from knowing she was his.

By the time Charlotte finished reading the fairytale Little Red Riding Hood, fifteen minutes had already passed. Yet Nara didn’t say a word about leaving. It was as if she didn’t dare disturb such a sweet, precious moment.

Still, Charlotte chose to leave on her own, not wanting to overstimulate the children after they had just begun to open up.

She gently closed the book and gave them a warm smile. "Thank you for listening to my story today," she said softly. "I’ll come back another time, okay?"

A few of the children looked disappointed, but none of them complained. They just watched as she slowly stood up and stepped away. Every movement was calm and unhurried, giving them time to adjust to her leaving.

As she walked toward the door where Damon was waiting, several pairs of little eyes followed her, their guarded expressions now replaced with curiosity, and perhaps, the first hint of trust.

"Luna, that ... that was incredible!" Nara’s voice was filled with disbelief. "Even the psychiatrists would be shocked if they saw what you just did."

Nara turned away, looking uncertain about what to do next. She stared at her phone for a few seconds before making up her mind and deciding to call the Elder.

"Excuse me for a minute," Nara said before stepping away.

Charlotte blinked, confused by the sudden serious tone in Nara’s voice. She looked at Damon, her brows pulling together. "Did ... did I do something wrong?"

She couldn’t help but wonder if she had chosen the wrong storybook. Little Red Riding Hood? Why on earth had she picked a story that so clearly portrayed a wolf as the villain? Wouldn’t that remind the children of Ronan and Julian?

But the moment Damon gently patted her back, all the anxious thoughts in Charlotte’s heart began to fade. "You did nothing wrong," he assured her. "On the contrary, I think Miss Nara wants to tell the Elder just how well you did today."