Chapter 2

Today was "My Dad Is a Hero" Career Share Day.

Half a month ago, Leo had announced to his whole class that his father was a real firefighter and would be coming on stage in his handsome uniform today.

"Next up, Leo Richard," the hosting teacher's voice came over the loudspeaker.

Leo's eyes lit up. He stood up and looked toward the entrance.

I sat in the second row. Watching my son's frail figure repeatedly turning around to check the door, my heart sank deeper and deeper.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Keller's number. It rang for a long time before he finally picked up.

"Keller, where are you? Share Day started half an hour ago, and it's Leo's turn!" I lowered my voice, my tone urgent.

The noisy ambient sounds of a hospital hallway came through the receiver, followed by Keller's anxious voice.

"Eleanor, I can't make it to the school today. Ava started coughing a bit this morning, and Sophia was terrified being by herself. I'm helping them register at the ER right now."

I found it utterly unbelievable.

"A cough? Keller, you promised Leo you'd come."

"You broke your promise on his birthday last week, and today his entire class is watching him."

"It's just a school event. What's the big deal if he misses it once?" Keller's voice turned cold.

"Ava doesn't have a father. She's at her most vulnerable when she's sick, and she needs me by her side."

"Explain it to Leo for me. I have no choice."

I forced myself to calm down and scolded him in a low voice, "Why should Leo pay the price for your virtue signaling?"

"Don't yell at me over the phone."

Tu-tu-tu...

Nothing was left in the receiver except the busy tone.

On stage, Leo stood in the middle of the podium.

A few mischievous boys at the back began whispering and laughing. "Leo, your dad isn't a hero at all! You were bragging!"

Leo's small face flushed red, and he desperately held back his tears, hugging the Spider-Man action figure he had specially brought along even tighter.

I smoothed my skirt and walked straight up to the stage.

I gently wrapped my arm around my son's shoulder. "Leo's dad is a real firefighter. He couldn't make it today because of an emergency work call, so kids, Leo wasn't bragging at all..."

All the way until the presentation ended, Leo buried his head in my arms, his tears soaking my clothes.

At seven in the evening, Keller pushed open the front door.

Sophia and Ava were trailing behind him.

"Eleanor, I picked them up on the way so they could join us for a simple dinner." Keller hung up his coat naturally, as if nothing had ever happened.

The moment Ava entered the living room, her eyes caught the limited-edition Spider-Man action figure on the table.

Her eyes gleamed. She rushed over and snatched it into her hands. "Keller, this Spider-Man is so pretty! It even glows!"

"That's mine." Leo rushed forward, reaching out to take it back. "My Dad bought that for my birthday."

Ava dodged backward and burst into loud wails.

"Keller, he's shouting at me! I don't have a dad to buy me toys. Can't I even play with it for a little bit?"

Sophia sighed beside them, "Ava, don't take Leo's things. That doesn't belong to us."

Keller's expression changed instantly.

He crossed the room in a few quick strides and shouted sternly at Leo.

"Leo, why are you being so rude all of a sudden? It's just a toy. You can share it with Ava."

"But she never gives my toys back when she takes them!" Leo's tears fell in huge drops. "I'm scared she'll take this one too."

Keller frowned, seemingly unable to comprehend his son's behavior.

"Your mother and I will buy you whatever toys you want. You don't need to be so petty, do you understand?"

I walked out of the kitchen just in time to witness this scene.

"Keller Richard, shut your mouth!" Eleanor shielded her sobbing son behind her.

"Using your own son's belongings to curry favor with another man's daughter... is this what you call hero's responsibility?"

Keller froze, clearly not expecting his usually gentle wife to speak like this in front of guests.

"Eleanor, what kind of madness is this?" Keller lowered his voice. "Sophia and her daughter are right here."

"Then all of you get the hell out right now!" I pointed at the front door, every word ringing loud and clear. "This is our home. People who don't respect my son are not welcome here."