Audrey was the epitome of childhood innocence – her cherubic face framed by bouncy curls, her pastel dress adorned with delicate frills, and her small patent leather shoes gleaming in the sunlight. Everything about her radiated sweetness and charm, making her exactly the type of child adults couldn't resist doting on.

Words like "ugly" or "disgusting" had no business being in the same sentence as this angelic child. They were jarring, discordant – like hearing a violent curse in the middle of a lullaby.

Having grown up as everyone's little darling, Audrey had never before faced such harsh criticism. The sudden verbal attack left her utterly devastated. Her lower lip trembled before she dissolved into heartbreaking sobs, seeking refuge in Veronica's embrace.

Veronica responded instinctively, wrapping protective arms around the crying child. "That's absolutely not true, Audrey," she reassured, her voice warm and steady. "You're beautiful, sweetheart. So incredibly cute and lovely. Don't you think so too?"

The gentle validation gradually quieted Audrey's sobs, her small shoulders no longer shaking with the force of her tears. A flicker of comfort began to replace the hurt in her eyes, but before she could respond, another storm was brewing.

Sabrina stood rigid, watching the scene unfold with mounting dismay. Her eyes reddened and narrowed as she witnessed Veronica – her Veronica – consoling another child with such tenderness. Something primal and possessive erupted inside her.

"I... I don't like you anymore!" Sabrina suddenly shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. "I don't want you to be my mom!" With that declaration hanging in the air, she spun around and attempted to flee.

Veronica reacted quickly, her hand shooting out to catch Sabrina before she could escape. The hurtful outburst had caught her off guard, piercing her heart like tiny barbs. Still, her maternal instinct told her this wasn't the moment for public discipline – that would only compound Sabrina's emotional turmoil.

Instead, Veronica pulled her daughter into a tight embrace and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Alright, sweetheart, don't be upset..."

The tender gesture softened Sabrina's defenses, but her jealousy merely transformed rather than disappeared. Tears replaced anger as she made her demands known. "Then... then you can't hug her anymore!" she insisted between hiccups. "And you can't say she's cute!"

The pieces clicked together in Veronica's mind. This wasn't about Audrey's appearance or style – this was about possession. Despite Sabrina's dramatic declaration of rejection just moments before, she couldn't bear the thought of sharing Veronica's affection.

The irony wasn't lost on Veronica, who felt a smile tugging at her lips even as she handled the delicate situation.

Without making explicit promises about not complimenting Audrey again, Veronica simply kissed Sabrina once more to calm her tumultuous emotions. She then scooped both children up, carrying them away from curious onlookers to a more private corner.

Seizing this opportunity, Sabrina unceremoniously pushed Audrey out of Veronica's arms, asserting her territorial claim.

Despite her youth, Audrey possessed a remarkably gentle temperament. While she adored Veronica, she lacked the fierce possessiveness that characterized Sabrina's attachment. Moreover, Sabrina's intensity intimidated her slightly, making her reluctant to challenge the other girl's claim.

With Sabrina still securely in her arms, Veronica began her gentle lesson. "Sa, I know how much you value being cool and unique," she started, choosing her words carefully. "But you need to understand that everyone has different preferences. You love your edgy style, but others might prefer something softer and sweeter."

Veronica stroked Sabrina's hair as she continued. "We can't call someone ugly or disgusting just because their style is different from ours. That's not fair or kind. Each person deserves respect for their choices. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Veronica knew her daughter's exceptional intelligence would allow her to grasp these concepts even if they might be complex for most children her age.

And indeed, Sabrina did understand. Deep down, she recognized that her words had been wrong and hurtful. Yet the sight of Veronica showing affection to another child had triggered such a powerful emotional response that rationale had momentarily abandoned her.

She pressed her lips together stubbornly, refusing to verbally acknowledge her understanding.

Veronica didn't push. Instead, she gently tousled Sabrina's hair and produced a handkerchief from her pocket to dab at her daughter's tear-streaked face. "Making mistakes is part of growing up," she assured her. "What's important is that we learn from them. You won't say things like that to others again, will you?"

Veronica's consistent warmth finally penetrated Sabrina's defenses. She nestled deeper into her mother's embrace and nodded with a residual sniffle. "Okay."

With a smile of relief, Veronica placed another kiss on Sabrina's cheek before turning toward Audrey. "Audrey, this is Sa, my daughter," she introduced. "She understands she made a mistake. Would you be willing to forgive her?"

Audrey hesitated, still somewhat wary of the fierce little girl who had upset her so deeply. However, Veronica's gentle manner provided reassurance, and eventually, she nodded with childlike earnestness. "Okay, I forgive her."

"Thank you, Audrey," Veronica acknowledged with a grateful smile before turning expectantly to her daughter. "Sa, what should you say now?"

Sabrina lifted her head from where it had been tucked against Veronica's shoulder. "I'm sorry," she offered, the words small but sincere.

"It's... It's okay," Audrey replied with a shy smile, the tension between them finally beginning to dissolve.

Veronica exhaled deeply, relieved that the conflict had been resolved without further drama. She guided both children toward their respective classrooms, where Catherine arrived to take Audrey to her class.

Crouching down to meet Sabrina at eye level, Veronica spoke softly but clearly. "That's all behind us now. Time to go to your classroom, okay?"