Chapter 3

I found Lily by the carousel, her little shoulders shaking.

I held her and gently patted her back.

"Mommy."

"Daddy doesn't love us anymore, right? Yesterday I asked him to ride the carousel with me, to spend my birthday with me, and he wouldn't."

I stroked her hair.

"Daddy does love you."

"Daddy had a hard childhood. So when he grew up, he was especially afraid of people gossiping, afraid that one mistake would make him lose his footing."

"But love shouldn't be hidden like that. And it shouldn't be calculated so clearly. Right?"

She nodded, crying. I wiped her tears.

"Let's go home first. Mommy will make you a nice cake."

I took out my phone to call a car. A work group notification popped up.

Ethan directly tagged me.

【Diane, Noah scraped his arm. You will cover the full $299.80 medical fee. Bring your daughter to the company this afternoon to publicly apologize to Sophia and her child.】

【Also, suspended for one week pending company review.】

Right after, Sophia replied.

【CEO, please don't be angry. It's my fault for not disciplining Noah. I've been raising a child alone so long, I really understand Diane's feelings. As single moms, the CEO gives me a little more care, and I'd feel the same imbalance.】

The group immediately echoed.

Everyone said Sophia was beautiful and kind, that I was unreasonable, that I'd raised a spoiled, willful child, making a mountain out of a molehill.

I stared at the screen and suddenly laughed, eyes stinging.

Three years of hidden marriage, and I'd become a single mom in others' eyes, no one even knowing who my husband was, just a vicious woman jealous of her boss.

And his Sophia became the sensible, gracious future boss's wife.

Just then, agent Mark texted.

【Ms. Diane, the house sold smoothly. After tax, three million dollars has been fully transferred to your account. Please check.】

I quietly opened an app and booked two tickets to Tokyo.

In the back seat of the taxi, I gently rubbed Lily's forehead.

It had been bruised red when she fell.

Ethan never asked a single question.

In his eyes, there was only the faint scrape on Noah's arm.

The phone rang. It was Ethan.

"Is Lily okay?"

"Mm."

He breathed a sigh of relief and comforted.

"I knew she was tough."

"Diane, don't mind what was said in the group. It's just business."

"Making you and Lily apologize wasn't my intention, but she did push someone. Sophia was transferred from my brother's side. If I don't put on a show, my brother will seize on it."

"We've endured three years. I know you understand me, right?"

I gripped the phone hard, in disbelief.

"Ethan, are you sure you want me to bring Lily to apologize to them?"

This was the last chance I gave him as a father.