The other guests were all ready, but Nathan Lynch was huddled in a corner with his arms crossed. His mouth was turned down in a pout, his eyes were a little red, and he looked completely defiant.
Renee Jennings reached out to touch him, but he dodged her. "Nathan, what are you doing? Didn't we just agree on this?"
"I want..." Nathan Lynch's eyes were red as he looked at her, aggrieved. "I want the rabbit."
A vein throbbed on Renee Jennings's forehead. "Didn't we just agree? Nathan, why are you going back on your word?"
The other guests gathered around, asking what was wrong.
Renee Jennings felt even more humiliated. What worried her most was Nathan Lynch's public persona. Online, Nathan had always been portrayed as hardworking, earnest, obedient, and well-behaved—every parent's dream child. But now, Nathan was repeatedly refusing to cooperate, and she had no idea if people would start complaining that his persona was collapsing.
