Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 358 Inside the classroom, most of the parents were already seated. Only a few chairs were still empty. The conference was scheduled to run for two hours. Students weren't inside for the meetings. Instead, they waited just outside in the hallway, called in one at a time to collect their report cards and hear their results. A small group of kids lingered there, shuffling their feet and fidgeting in silence, except for Selena. She was the perfect mix of both Valeria and Sebastian. Calm but confident, bright yet composed, she leaned against the wall.

Her hair was still pulled into the neat bun Valeria had styled that morning, her features bright and refined. Sebastian had come straight from the office, sharp in his business attire. Carrying his dark gray suit jacket over one arm, he was heading toward Selena when the homeroom teacher, Sidney Caldwell, stopped him. "You must be Selena's dad. Please sign in." It was Sidney's first time meeting Selena's father. All these years, it had always been Valeria who attended the parent - teacher conferences.

Since Selena consistently ranked first in her grade, Sidney naturally paid closer attention to her family. "She's first in the grade again," Sidney said with a smile. ---- Sebastian glanced at Selena, who was standing in the doorway, gave her a brief nod, and stepped into the classroom. Out in the hall, a group of classmates crowded around her. "Selena, was that your dad? He looks so impressive." "Zack said you didn't even have a dad. I guess he was lying. He was probably just jealous that you're always ranked first in our grade." "Your dad's so handsome.

Is he a celebrity?" asked Selena's desk mate, Nicole Graham. Through the window, Selena saw Sebastian sitting in her seat. Among all the parents, her father stood out unmistakably. She gave a small nod. "Wow, I knew it! Your dad really isa celebrity!" Nicole exclaimed. Selena looked back at Nicole with a hint of exasperation and let out a sigh. Sebastian could sit through billion-dollar negotiations without breaking a sweat. But as he stood at the front of the classroom with dozens of eyes fixed on him, waiting for him to share something about parenting, he felt awkward and uncertain.

He did his best not to seem aloof or detached. He even forced a ---- faint smile. His voice stayed clear and steady as he tried to think of what to say. Meanwhile , guilt pressed down on him harder than ever. He had missed Selena's childhood, her education, all the moments that had shaped her. His eyes drifted to the window, Selena stood there calm and steady, carrying a quiet strength that kept growing. When he stepped down from the podium, he even wiped the sweat from his forehead. By 5:30 pm, the parent-teacher conference had wrapped up.

A few parents came over wanting to connect , and the teachers did as well. Sebastian pulled out his phone, exchanging contacts one by one and saving each carefully, especially with Selena's teachers. As he left the classroom, he carried Selena's backpack. Inside were her recent test papers and a letter. It was a letter she had written to her parents. Not wanting to mess up the neat bun Valeria had styled for her that morning, Sebastian simply rested his hand lightly on the top of her head.

His voice was gentle as he asked, "So, your dream is to be a doctor?" That was what he had learned from Sidney. "Why do you want to be a doctor?" he asked. Selena looked up at him. She didn't answer his question. Instead, she asked, "Mr. Grant, is Shagos a beautiful city?" ---- "Well, it used to be," he said. Now, the city was torn apart by war. "T want to be like you. I want to be able to save people, too." She spoke softly , lowering her head as she nudged a pebble with her shoe. 1 Sebastian felt his chest tighten as he looked at Selena.

He set his palm on her head and gave her hair a gentle rub.