Chapter 2
Late in the evening, Owen walked back into the house.
“Still up?” he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
“What kept you busy today?”
He paused for a moment. “Just some deliveries, you know.”
“Deliveries all day?”
“Yeah, I’m trying to make as many as I can to earn a bit more for you and Millie.”
I looked at the man in front of me, a mouth full of lies, the man I had been married to for ten years.
I decided not to confront Owen about his deception. Having already made up my mind about divorce, there was no point in arguing with him.
Just as I was about to bring out the divorce papers, Millie’s voice interrupted.
“Daddy, you’re back.”
“Yeah, Millie, you’re still up?”
“Daddy, tomorrow is my birthday. Do you remember?”
Owen hesitated and then said, “Of course I remember.”
“Will you spend the day with me?”
Owen looked at me indecisively. “Daddy has to work tomorrow.”
Seeing the disappointment in Millie’s eyes, he quickly changed his tune. “But I’ll try to finish early and come back to celebrate with you.”
Millie’s eyes brightened instantly. “Great! Mom and I will wait for you at home. You have to come, Dad.”
Owen carried Millie to her room, and I could hear him softly making promises.
Watching them disappear down the hallway, I thought, maybe it wouldn't hurt to fulfill our daughter’s wishes before the divorce.
The next morning arrived quickly.
Millie put on her favorite dress and wore a new hair clip I’d bought for her.
She spent the entire morning waiting for Owen.
I made her a simple birthday cake, and around noon, Owen called.
“Daddy.” Millie’s voice was full of joy.
But soon, the light in her eyes dimmed, and her voice was filled with disappointment. “Alright.”
After hanging up, Millie quietly said, “Mom, Daddy’s really busy with work. He can’t come celebrate my birthday.”
My heart clenched in pain as I watched my daughter try to hold back her tears. I made a decision.
“Millie, how about we go to the amusement park? You’ve always wanted to, right? Let’s go and have some fun.”
Millie looked up, her eyes still filled with tears but now with a glimmer of hope.
“Really?”
“Absolutely.”
Half an hour later, we stood at the entrance of Wonderland.
The tickets to this amusement park were expensive, but today, even if it meant spending all I had, I wanted my daughter to be happy.
“Mom, it seems so empty here,” Millie observed, looking around curiously.
We approached the ticket counter when someone stopped us.
“Sorry, the park’s closed to the public today for a private event.”
I was stunned. Just as disappointment settled in, familiar laughter echoed from inside the park.
Millie and I turned to look; it was Owen.
In that moment, both Millie and I froze, feeling the blood drain from our bodies.
Owen was in casual clothes, holding the hand of the girl we’d seen at the store the other day, while another woman smiled gently and took their picture.
“Daddy, I want to ride the bumper cars next.”
“Sure, it’s your special day, so whatever you want goes,” Owen replied lovingly to the girl.
Millie’s hand grew cold; she stared fixedly at the scene, her small body trembling uncontrollably.
“Mom, didn’t Dad say he had to work?”
“Mom, why can he spend time with other kids on their birthday but not me?”
My body stiffened at Millie’s question, my heart aching deeply.
At that moment, the amusement park broadcasted birthday wishes, and staff wheeled out a cart decorated with flowers and balloons, piled high with gift boxes.
The girl next to Owen cheered, while the other woman looked at him with warmth.
“You got Logan so many gifts, aren’t you afraid she’ll be spoiled?”
“She’s my princess; there can never be too many gifts for her.”
From afar, their conversation reached us, and I watched Millie pull a piece of paper from her pocket.
It was her birthday wish list she’d written the day before.
She stared at it for a long time, then tore it into pieces.
“Millie,” I choked out as I hugged her.
She tossed the shredded paper into a trash bin, looking up at me with an effortful smile.
“It’s okay, Mom. I have you, and that’s enough.”
I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer, and as I held Millie and walked away, I glanced one last time at Owen. He was placing a sparkling diamond necklace around that little girl’s neck…