Chapter 3

Ever since I kicked Sophia and her daughter out two days ago, Keller had been giving me the cold shoulder.

Until this evening, when he walked into the bedroom holding an exquisite evening dress.

"Eleanor, tonight is the community firefighting fundraising gala. You and Leo are coming with me." His tone carried an indisputable order.

"I don't want to bring up what happened two days ago, but tonight the media and city leaders will all be there. Don't embarrass me."

I let out a cold laugh. "Do you really think I'm going to keep playing the 'perfect family' role for you, Keller?"

"This isn't an act. This is my professional image." Keller frowned and handed me the dress.

"Sophia is bringing Ava tonight to make a donation too. If you don't go, what will people think of me? How petty will they think my family is?"

"Besides, I promised Leo I'd take him to watch the drone show tonight."

I looked at Leo, whose eyes were filled with anticipation at the doorway, and took a deep breath.

"Fine, Keller," I smoothed my skirt and stood up. "I'll go, but remember your promise."

The banquet hall was ablaze with lights.

The moment Keller entered, he became the center of attention. As the "star firefighter" of Station 3, he was surrounded by the crowd.

Holding Leo's hand, I sat at a dining table in the farthest corner.

Leo held onto his Spider-Man action figure, saying he wanted to take a picture with his dad in front of the drone display later.

"Mom, Dad is so amazing today," Leo whispered to me, a flash of pride in his eyes.

"Yeah. Have some cake." I patted his head softly.

Just then, Sophia walked over with Ava.

Holding a large cup of thick purple grape juice, Ava ran straight up to us.

"Leo, lend me your Spider-Man to play with." Ava reached out her chubby hand to grab it.

Leo instinctively hugged the action figure tightly against his chest and refused softly, "You broke it last time. I can't let you play with it."

"I want it now!" Ava suddenly screamed, her little face contorting as she violently splashed the grape juice at Leo.

The deep purple liquid drenched Leo from head to toe, leaving the Spider-Man figure covered in sticky juice as well.

Not stopping there, Ava knocked the action figure straight to the floor and stomped on it with all her force.

"My Spider-Man!" Leo's eyes turned red instantly. He lunged forward to pick up the broken figure, big tears dropping onto the shattered plastic.

I turned around, crouched down, and pulled Leo into my arms. "Ava, why did you ruin Leo's toy on purpose?"

Ava immediately sat on the floor and wailed loudly, "Wahhh... Keller, someone is yelling at me!"

Not far away, Keller heard the crying and marched over with a grim face.

Without even asking what had happened, he caught sight of Ava sitting on the floor and instantly snapped at me.

"Eleanor! Are you seriously taking out your grudge over what happened the other day on a little girl?"

"Are you blind, Keller?" I pointed at Leo's stained clothes and the figure broken in two in his hands.

"Ava splashed her drink on Leo on purpose and stomped his Spider-Man toy to pieces!"

Keller glanced at the broken toy in Leo's hands. His frown deepened, his eyes filled with pure annoyance.

"It's just a plastic toy, isn't it? If it's broken, I'll just buy Leo another one."

"This was your birthday present to Leo! You were the one who told him to treasure it back then!" I stared at him, refusing to yield an inch.

"Enough!" Keller lowered his voice, grabbed my wrist, and warned coldly, "Tonight is the department's fundraising gala. Do you insisted on making a fool of yourself in public and destroying my reputation?"

He turned to look at Leo, who was crying while clutching his broken toy, and scolded sharply, "Leo, wipe your tears!"

"Ava is a girl. As a boy, you should protect her. How else are you going to become a little hero like Spider-Man?"

The surrounding whispers pierced through the air like needles.

I clenched my fists, shoved his hand away, and used a napkin to wipe the grape juice off Leo's face.

"Keller, you have no right to say those words to Leo."

With that, I took Leo and walked away without looking back.