Ms. Weston's brows knitted briefly. "You're her older brother?" Her tone betrayed her disbelief—August looked far too young to be attending a parent-teacher meeting, yet his demeanor carried a maturity that was hard to overlook.
"That's right," August replied. "We're orphaned, so I'm her guardian."
Ms. Weston's expression softened immediately. "Oh, I see. I'm sorry to hear that." She adjusted her glasses. "The parent-teacher meeting will be held in the main hall shortly. Afterward, I'd like to speak with you privately about some concerns regarding Sophia."
August nodded. "Of course. Thank you."
He glanced over Ms. Weston's shoulder and spotted Sophia sitting in the second row. Her bright green hair, identical to his, stood out amidst her classmates. Her delicate frame and large, expressive eyes lit up the moment she saw him.
"Hey, Soph," August said with a small wave.
