Chapter 10: The Lady Thief

Words : 1920 Updated : Nov 27th, 2025

Five years ago it was still going up; now it's a Xavon landmark and the busiest part of the shopping district. They rode up from the underground garage straight to the second floor. As they stepped into the supermarket, Megan Scurr spotted a mother and daughter in fitted qipao ahead and called out in delight, "Principal Sowden! Brittany!" The long‑haired girl turned, her smile fresh as spring, and said, "Megan!" The woman at her side nudged her glasses up the bridge of her nose and gave Megan and Blake Cutmore a polite nod. Miller Cutmore's eyes lit up. A pair of beauties, graceful as twin blossoms. Sensing his gaze, the woman frowned and gave him a sidelong look, keeping her expression neutral. Then her face flickered when she saw the purple thumb ring on his left hand. She pointed at Miller and blurted, "Where did you get that ring? Who gave it to you?" "Mom, what's wrong?" Brittany flinched and grabbed her mother's sleeve. He'd thought they were sisters; turned out they were mother and daughter. The mother barely looked past her early thirties, yet her daughter was already grown. She had kept herself remarkably well. Seeing Principal Sowden lose her composure, Megan hurried to explain to Miller, "This is my middle school homeroom teacher, now Principal Mackenzie Sowden of Xavon High School, and this is her daughter, Brittany Lyson, my good friend. They mean no harm." Miller looked at Mackenzie Sowden. "Do you recognize this ring, Principal Sowden?" "How would I recognize it?" She looked away. She cleared her throat twice. "I just… I just think it's odd for a young man to wear something like that. It feels kind of ominous." Her own daughter found the excuse flimsy and frowned. "Mom, what's going on?" Mackenzie drew a long breath and studied Miller. "Young man, where are you from? I don't think I've seen you around." Blake spoke up at once. "Principal Sowden, this is Miller Cutmore, my nephew. He just got back from… out of town. If there's anything, you can talk to me as well-" Mackenzie didn't look at her. She kept her eyes on Miller and pressed, "You just came back from out of town? From where? Zerton? Somewhere in Chiton? Or… abroad?" Blake gave a helpless smile. "Principal, you're-" Before she could finish, Mackenzie snapped, impatience spilling into her voice, "I'm talking to him. Don't interrupt. He can speak for himself." Blake flushed and closed her mouth, mortified. Miller's face cooled. "I have a mouth and I can speak, but I have no obligation to answer you." Megan rushed in, "Miller, Principal Sowden is-" "I don't care if she's an assistant or the big boss," Miller said, tired of it. "She has nothing to do with me. Aunt Blake, let's go." He took Blake by the wrist and walked into the supermarket without another glance. Megan murmured an apology to Mackenzie and didn't linger-she hurried after them. Inside, Blake whispered, her tone both reproachful and caring, "Principal Sowden taught our class for a while. She is a responsible teacher. You shouldn't have been so rude." Miller snorted. "I don't care who she is or what she's done. If she wants my respect, she can start by respecting me and my family. I don't care what her position is." "You," Blake said, rolling her eyes in exasperation, though affection and gratitude warmed her face. Megan huffed, "That ring is the only thing on you that's worth anything, and you just have to show it off. You wear it everywhere, don't you? If you kept it out of sight, none of this would've happened. Principal Sowden wasn't wrong-it looks out of place on someone your age." Miller flicked her a sidelong glance. "You don't understand." She thought it was just a ring. Only the purple thumb ring could tamp down the fire that surged in his chest, keep him balanced and calm his mind, steadying his nerves. Without it, the restlessness would slip the leash and he might do things he could not foresee. "You-" Megan's face went pale with anger. She glared at him. "Take my good intentions and trample them, why don't you. Wear it if you want." They paid for household goods and headed out. To their surprise, the mother and daughter in qipao were waiting near the exit. When the three stepped out, Mackenzie walked straight to Miller. "Young man, shall we find a place to talk?" Miller glanced at Aunt Blake and Megan, then nodded. "We're about to get lunch. If you want to talk, come along. You pay." Brittany said coolly, "No need for Mr. Cutmore to treat us. We can buy you lunch. It's only a meal." "No need." Miller turned away and set off. Even Brittany, usually so mild, bristled. Megan slipped an arm around her shoulders and laughed softly. "Ignore him. He's got a bad temper, that one." The first floor was all restaurants, with options at every price point. They chose a local spot. Mackenzie asked for a table in the back. Everyone ordered a few dishes and a pot of tea, then settled to talk. Except for Miller, the four women already knew one another and got on well. They let the earlier awkwardness drift away and were soon chatting happily. Miller didn't join in and didn't seem to mind. What he couldn't stand was Mackenzie's unblinking stare as she insisted on sitting beside him. He pulled the ring off and slipped it into his pocket. She didn't seem to mind. She lifted the teapot and poured him tea herself. "I heard Blake say Mr. Cutmore has just come back from out of town. Where were you-studying or working?" "Thank you," Miller said, raising the cup. "Not really out of town. Fifty miles west of the city, Belton Prison. I was released this morning. I served five years." The table went still. Blake sighed quietly and glanced at Brittany, regret in her eyes. Brittany's look turned cool, respectful but distant. "I didn't expect to be having lunch with someone who just got out of prison." "If you feel ashamed, you can go," Miller said, his tone flat. "No need to look like you've suffered a great loss. We barely know each other anyway." "You-" Brittany, never good at sparring, choked on her answer. Her eyes went red. Megan scolded Miller for Brittany's sake, but secretly she felt relieved. It seemed Miller had been patient with her before. If not for Aunt Blake, he might have come down even harder on her than he did on Brittany. Mackenzie set the teapot down hard. Thud. She looked at her daughter, stung by indignation, then faced Miller. "It seems Mr. Cutmore doesn't care to eat with us. In that case, we can talk another time." She stood and tugged at Brittany's arm. Megan jumped up. "Principal Sowden, please don't be angry. Miller just hates talking about that part of his life, so he went too far. Miller, apologize to Principal Sowden and Brittany." Blake rose too, contrition in her face. "Miller, don't be like this." Miller's expression stayed even. He set down his cup. "You can go, but the ring stays. You can look-touch it, even-but you don't get to take it. Did you even ask me?"

Chapter 10: The Lady Thief

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