Elsie Adams' eyes clearly flickered with struggle, but eventually settled into calmness.
She quickly replied to the message, [Mr. Coldson, Little Gabriel's close friend is Lainey Baker. We all call her Ella. I don't have a photo for now—why are you asking?]
Cooper Coldson held his phone tightly, his heart suddenly aching when he saw the reply.
He quickly realized why Little Gabriel had mentioned a "sister." Turns out, the little girl was also called Ella—but she wasn't Ella Gibson.
Cooper firmly believed Yolanda Greenwood would never change Little Ella's name, which meant he had just gotten worked up over nothing.
Thinking for a moment, he politely replied to Elsie Adams, [Thank you, Teacher Adams. Actually, it's nothing. You can just treat it as an idle question. Apologies for the bother.]
When Elsie Adams saw the message, she breathed out quietly, relieved that Cooper Coldson hadn't grown suspicious.