Chapter 4

For the next few days, Arthur changed into his sweatpants the second he got home from work.

He practiced the three-legged race and the obstacle course with Lily in the backyard.

For the first time in forever, Lily's clear, bright laughter echoed through the villa.

"Daddy, you're running the wrong way!"

"Daddy's just clumsy! Can Lily teach Daddy again?"

Watching them run in the sunset, I leaned against the French windows, feeling absolutely nothing inside.

Friday. The school field was buzzing with excitement.

Lily woke up incredibly early today, putting on the custom track suit she had prepared a week in advance.

On the way there, she held my hand in a death grip.

Her little face was flushed with excitement, her eyes scanning the crowd like radar, searching for that familiar figure.

"Mommy, Daddy said he'd be waiting for us at the field ten minutes early!"

Lily's voice was vibrating with barely contained joy.

However, the moment we reached the check-in desk, the smile on Lily's face instantly froze.

Under a large tree not far away, Arthur had indeed arrived early.

But the child he was holding in his arms, wearing a matching custom track suit, was Luke.

Sarah stood right beside them, gently dabbing the sweat off Arthur's forehead with a wet wipe.

Seeing us approach, Sarah flashed an apologetic smile.

"Chloe, I'm so sorry. It's Luke's first time at a big event like this, and he was crying so hard from the nerves. He kept saying he couldn't race without his daddy."

"I really didn't know what else to do, so I had to call Arthur over just to calm him down for a second."

Lily's hand, which was holding mine, suddenly tightened like a vice.

Arthur saw us, a flash of obvious panic and guilt crossing his face.

He put Luke down and started walking toward us.

"Lily, let Daddy explain. Luke was just—"

"Ah!"

Before Arthur could even finish his sentence, Sarah let out a delicate gasp behind him and collapsed straight onto the grass.

"Mommy!" Luke shrieked instantly.

Arthur spun around like it was a reflex, rushing back to pull Sarah up.

"Sarah, what's wrong? Did you twist your ankle?"

"I'm fine, Arthur. Hurry and go be with Lily. I can stand up on my own..."

Sarah bit her lip, tears welling perfectly in her eyes, while her body conveniently slumped against Arthur's chest.

Beside them, Luke started wailing even louder, wrapping his arms around Arthur's leg in a death grip. He kept screaming for "Daddy," refusing to let go.

Arthur looked at the sobbing Luke and the "bravely suffering" Sarah, then turned his head to look at Lily and me, standing all alone in the distance.

He hesitated for exactly two seconds.

He looked up and shouted to Lily over the crowd.

"Lily, Daddy needs to take care of Sarah first! I'll be right back to race with you, just wait for Daddy!"

With that, he scooped Luke up in one arm, supported Sarah with the other, and hurried off toward the nurse's office without looking back.

I looked down at Lily.

Those blue eyes that had been so full of hope just moments ago were now completely dead.

"Mommy," Lily's voice was heartbreakingly calm. "He's a liar."

Seeing the absolute death of my daughter's heart, I pulled out my phone and scrolled straight to the very bottom of my contacts.

I dialed a number I hadn't called in a very long time.

It rang exactly once before it was picked up.

"Chloe?"

"Alexander, can you come to Manhattan Elite Academy right now?"

I took a deep breath. "Lily needs a dad."

"Ten minutes."

Without a single word of hesitation or nonsense, the line went dead.

Nine and a half minutes later.

Alexander’s tall, imposing figure strode toward us, backlit by the morning sun.

His strikingly handsome face and overwhelming presence instantly drew the eyes of everyone on the field.

He ignored the gasps around him and walked straight up to us.

Looking at Lily, whose eyes were slightly red but who was trying so hard to be brave, Alexander's gaze softened completely. He dropped to one knee in front of her.

"You must be Lily."

He gently held out his large hand. "It would be my absolute honor to be your partner today. Let's go win that championship, shall we?"

Lily stared at the man who had descended like a god, momentarily stunned.

Then, she gave a firm nod and placed her little hand in his.

Throughout the race, Alexander kept Lily in the absolute safest position.

The two of them were an unstoppable force on the field, absolutely dominating the competition and taking home the grand championship.

With a gold medal around her neck, Lily was scooped up into Alexander's arm.

"Mommy, this is the best day ever!"

The announcer walked over with a microphone.

"Lily, you did an amazing job out there today! And who is this handsome gentleman racing with you?"

Arthur, having finally settled Sarah, was rushing back onto the field.

Just in time to hear Lily's crisp, loud voice—filled with absolute, beaming pride—echo across the entire field:

"This is my new daddy!"

Chapter 4

For the next few days, Arthur changed into his sweatpants the second he got home from work.

He practiced the three-legged race and the obstacle course with Lily in the backyard.

For the first time in forever, Lily's clear, bright laughter echoed through the villa.

"Daddy, you're running the wrong way!"

"Daddy's just clumsy! Can Lily teach Daddy again?"

Watching them run in the sunset, I leaned against the French windows, feeling absolutely nothing inside.

Friday. The school field was buzzing with excitement.

Lily woke up incredibly early today, putting on the custom track suit she had prepared a week in advance.

On the way there, she held my hand in a death grip.

Her little face was flushed with excitement, her eyes scanning the crowd like radar, searching for that familiar figure.

"Mommy, Daddy said he'd be waiting for us at the field ten minutes early!"

Lily's voice was vibrating with barely contained joy.

However, the moment we reached the check-in desk, the smile on Lily's face instantly froze.

Under a large tree not far away, Arthur had indeed arrived early.

But the child he was holding in his arms, wearing a matching custom track suit, was Luke.

Sarah stood right beside them, gently dabbing the sweat off Arthur's forehead with a wet wipe.

Seeing us approach, Sarah flashed an apologetic smile.

"Chloe, I'm so sorry. It's Luke's first time at a big event like this, and he was crying so hard from the nerves. He kept saying he couldn't race without his daddy."

"I really didn't know what else to do, so I had to call Arthur over just to calm him down for a second."

Lily's hand, which was holding mine, suddenly tightened like a vice.

Arthur saw us, a flash of obvious panic and guilt crossing his face.

He put Luke down and started walking toward us.

"Lily, let Daddy explain. Luke was just—"

"Ah!"

Before Arthur could even finish his sentence, Sarah let out a delicate gasp behind him and collapsed straight onto the grass.

"Mommy!" Luke shrieked instantly.

Arthur spun around like it was a reflex, rushing back to pull Sarah up.

"Sarah, what's wrong? Did you twist your ankle?"

"I'm fine, Arthur. Hurry and go be with Lily. I can stand up on my own..."

Sarah bit her lip, tears welling perfectly in her eyes, while her body conveniently slumped against Arthur's chest.

Beside them, Luke started wailing even louder, wrapping his arms around Arthur's leg in a death grip. He kept screaming for "Daddy," refusing to let go.

Arthur looked at the sobbing Luke and the "bravely suffering" Sarah, then turned his head to look at Lily and me, standing all alone in the distance.

He hesitated for exactly two seconds.

He looked up and shouted to Lily over the crowd.

"Lily, Daddy needs to take care of Sarah first! I'll be right back to race with you, just wait for Daddy!"

With that, he scooped Luke up in one arm, supported Sarah with the other, and hurried off toward the nurse's office without looking back.

I looked down at Lily.

Those blue eyes that had been so full of hope just moments ago were now completely dead.

"Mommy," Lily's voice was heartbreakingly calm. "He's a liar."

Seeing the absolute death of my daughter's heart, I pulled out my phone and scrolled straight to the very bottom of my contacts.

I dialed a number I hadn't called in a very long time.

It rang exactly once before it was picked up.

"Chloe?"

"Alexander, can you come to Manhattan Elite Academy right now?"

I took a deep breath. "Lily needs a dad."

"Ten minutes."

Without a single word of hesitation or nonsense, the line went dead.

Nine and a half minutes later.

Alexander’s tall, imposing figure strode toward us, backlit by the morning sun.

His strikingly handsome face and overwhelming presence instantly drew the eyes of everyone on the field.

He ignored the gasps around him and walked straight up to us.

Looking at Lily, whose eyes were slightly red but who was trying so hard to be brave, Alexander's gaze softened completely. He dropped to one knee in front of her.

"You must be Lily."

He gently held out his large hand. "It would be my absolute honor to be your partner today. Let's go win that championship, shall we?"

Lily stared at the man who had descended like a god, momentarily stunned.

Then, she gave a firm nod and placed her little hand in his.

Throughout the race, Alexander kept Lily in the absolute safest position.

The two of them were an unstoppable force on the field, absolutely dominating the competition and taking home the grand championship.

With a gold medal around her neck, Lily was scooped up into Alexander's arm.

"Mommy, this is the best day ever!"

The announcer walked over with a microphone.

"Lily, you did an amazing job out there today! And who is this handsome gentleman racing with you?"

Arthur, having finally settled Sarah, was rushing back onto the field.

Just in time to hear Lily's crisp, loud voice—filled with absolute, beaming pride—echo across the entire field:

"This is my new daddy!"