Page 10 of The Rancher's Jilted Bride

He had never been attracted to girls her age. He had always preferred to date women who were more experienced and less idealistic. With them, he could bluntly lay down his rules, and expectations from both ends became realistic and manageable.

Something temporary but rewarding was all he was able to offer, and the only time he would take a woman to bed was when they signed an NDA that also included a "pre-termination"advance.

But girls like her, though...

"Mr. Plato is a four-month-old Syrian hamster..."

Hale saw the way the girl looked at Mr. Plato on the screen with obvious adoration.

And for some reason, he wanted her to look at him in the same manner as well.

"In his previous home, this was what his cage looked like."

The screen behind her showed a glass cage that was about the size of a lunchbox and with colorful tubes attached.

"It looks really pretty, doesn't it?" the girl asked. "But here's the thing..."

Her face suddenly fell, and the mood in the entire room dramatically shifted. Her sadness seemed just as contagious; it was easy to see that everyone in the room wanted to comfort her, and Hale himself was no exception.

I've clearly lost my fucking mind.

"Cages like this aren't good for hamsters. But I didn't know this when I was seven, and my stepfather had given me my own hamster for my birthday. I named him Squishy, and I loved him as best I could. But now I know, my best wasn't good for him. It breaks my heart whenever I remember this, but...do you know what gives me hope?"

The kids shook their heads in answer, and a smile slowly formed over her lips.

"Yougive me hope. Each and every one of you here. You all give me hope because youcando better than me. Together, you and I can be a force of good. We can teach everyone how to givehamsters not just a nice life but agreatlife. Don't you think every hamster deserves a chance to live a great life?"

YES,the kids chanted.

"So, what do you say? Who wants to join me and see what it's like to be a hamster keeper for a day?"

The girl raised her hand, and all the other kids followed suit, with hands shooting up in the air all over the room.

"Then onwards we go!"

The kids followed her to the next section of the exhibit area, and Hale turned to Jacob, who was still standing by his side.

"What's her name?"

"Heaven Gaines, sir," Jacob reported with a proud smile. "She works for Maintenance—-"

Heaven?

"But on her off days, she asked if she could volunteer as one of our presenters..."

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

"She's amazing, sir. The kids love her."

Of course, she did.

People like Heaven Gains were experts when it came to manipulating other people.

He had seen it happen the first time in his parents' trial; the drunk who had killed them was just so fuckingcharming, Haleknew there was a possibility the judge would have found him innocent even without a bribe.

"There was even one time when Heaven took over reception and—-"

"What time does her presentation end?"

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