Chapter 3

Kane stared at me for a few long seconds, then suddenly broke into a cold chuckle.

“Fine. Since she’s your daughter, manage her yourself.”

Grabbing his jacket off the back of his chair, he turned to leave, looking thoroughly fed up with the argument.

Mia stood there as tears finally spilled over her lashes. She didn't make a sound, just used the back of her small hand to wipe her face.

I pulled her into a tight embrace, refusing to let her feel like she was alone. She still had her mother.

Kane’s phone rang again. It was a call from Lexi.

“Uncle Kane!” the little girl’s sweet voice chirped through the speaker. “I just finished playing my piece! Mom said you could come over tonight and listen to me practice, right?”

The tension in Kane’s features softened almost instantly.

“Of course, sweetheart. I’m heading over right now.”

He hung up and walked toward the front door.

Passing Mia, he saw her still holding the invitation card and knit his brows in annoyance.

“Stop making a scene over every little thing.”

Mia looked down at the card in her hands. “It’s not a little thing...”

She raised her head, tears still clinging to her eyelashes. “You said before that as long as I called you Dad, we were a family.”

Kane didn't bother to reply. He pulled the door open and walked out without looking back.

I opened my mouth, but the door slammed shut before I could call him back.

Mia lowered her head, pressing the invitation against her chest. “Mom... when I called him Dad, did he actually hate it all along?”

I crouched down and wrapped my arms around her.

“No, baby.” I cupped her face in my hands. “Listen to me, Mia. It’s not because you aren't good enough or well-behaved enough. It’s because he doesn't deserve your love.”

Mia stayed quiet in my arms for a long time.

Then, she reached deep into her backpack and pulled out the tiny box containing the three matching bracelets.

The pink one was hers, the pale purple one was mine, and the coffee-brown one was Kane’s.

She picked up the brown bracelet and placed it in my palm.

“Should we still give this to him?”

I looked at the simple bracelet. Mia had saved her pocket money for three full months to buy them.

She had told me before that once Kane put on his bracelet and the three of them snapped together, it would form a complete heart.

I didn't answer right away.

Mia quietly took it back and put it inside the box.

“Let’s hold on to it for now,” she whispered. “If he doesn't want to be my Dad, he doesn't get to wear it.”

The next day, I called Mia’s teacher to let her know that only I would be attending Family Showcase Day.

On the third evening, Kane came home.

He carried the scent of an unfamiliar perfume, along with a strawberry cake from Lexi’s favorite bakery.

I didn't ask where he had been.

I simply stopped him as he was heading toward the bedroom.

“Next Friday at nine in the morning is Mia’s Family Showcase Day.”

Kane turned around, his patience visibly wearing thin. “I told you, I’m busy.”

I looked at him calmly. “I know. I already told Mia’s teacher.”

“I just wanted to double-check if you’re willing to change your mind.”

“Think carefully, Kane. This time, you’re not just saying no to a school event.”

He sneered. “What are you trying to say now?”

“You are rejecting a child who treated you like her father.”

I placed the invitation card right on the console table in front of him.

“If you aren't sitting in front of Mia at nine on Friday morning, I’m going to have to seriously reconsider our relationship.”

Kane’s expression froze completely. “You’re threatening me over an elementary school showcase?”

“Not for the showcase,” I said.

“It’s because I’ve finally realized that Mia can’t keep waiting for you to choose her over and over again.”