Chapter 2

A short while later, the Kindergarten Family Day activities officially began.

Each family sat at a table that had been prepared beforehand. Lily looked at Serena sitting in the front row and asked sadly,

"Daddy, why isn't Serena sitting with us?"

I pinched Lily's soft, plump cheek. She was still so young; she shouldn't have to deal with this dirty business.

"Because Daddy's a superhero, and to be fair, Serena went to help other little superheroes."

Just then, the kindergarten teacher announced the start of the first activity: building blocks, smiling as she added, "There's a prize for first place! A LEGO spaceship!"

Lily suddenly brightened, pointing at the spaceship. "Daddy, I want that!"

"Alright, then let's go for it!"

The sand in the hourglass was almost gone when Lily raised her small hand and excitedly shouted,

"Teacher, we're done!"

The teacher walked over and nodded, about to make the announcement, when a little boy came zooming over from the front row.

It was Leo.

He shoved over our completed block structure with one hand, then stood there, chest puffed out.

"Now first place is mine!"

Lily stared at the collapsed blocks, her eyes welling up with tears. Angrily, she picked up a large block and threw it at Leo.

Serena's first words as she arrived were,

"Lily, how could you hit someone?! Apologize to Leo right now!"

Lily was stubborn.

"No, I won't! He knocked down my blocks first! He's a meanie!"

I stood firmly behind Lily.

"Serena, anyone with eyes can see who started it. Leo should apologize to Lily!"

Ryan followed her, pulling on Serena's arm.

"Serena, let it go. No need to make a big deal. Adults overlook a child's misdeeds."

The kindergarten teacher also tried to smooth things over. Just then, Lily suddenly burst into tears, whimpering,

"Mommy, why aren't you protecting me? Why are you being mean to me?"

That single word, "Mommy," instantly stunned everyone. Their gazes darted between me, Serena, and Ryan.

Serena's face flushed red and then white. Ryan looked like he wanted to speak but held back.

At that moment, Leo stood with his hands on his hips in front of Lily, his voice venomous.

"Who are you calling Mommy? What are you shouting about! She's my mommy!"

Lily was so startled she started hiccuping. She cried, her eyes blurry with tears, her little voice cracking as she shrieked,

"Mommy, say something!"

My heart ached, and I shot Serena a furious glare, my voice much harsher.

"Serena, aren't you going to explain? Are you just going to stand there and let Lily and me be misunderstood?"

Serena's eyes widened, and she snatched Leo into her arms.

"Explain what? Today, I am Leo's mommy!" She even patted Leo's head.

Instantly, the other parents began pointing and whispering about Lily and me.

"Why is that child calling her 'Mommy' willy-nilly?!"

"Lily's family usually never comes to Family Day. This time it's just the dad. Could she be someone's mistress's child?!"

"I heard Serena is a CEO, super rich. Maybe Lily's dad was trying to hook up with Serena, and his own daughter stumbled upon them and got confused."

As Lily and I were being attacked by rumors, Serena remained silent, simply comforting Leo. Ryan, standing nearby, barely concealed a smirk, glancing at me.

I hugged a sobbing Lily, patting her gently.

Though I wanted nothing more than to slap that conniving woman and that slimy man, it wasn't the time. I couldn't let Lily get hurt any further.

Just then, someone trying to curry favor with Serena simpered,

"Leo looks so much like you, Serena. You can tell they're mother and son at a glance."

I looked up at Serena. A flicker of guilt crossed her eyes, then she quickly changed the subject. Ryan, meanwhile, looked absolutely smug.

I'd seen this father and son before, but I'd never noticed that Serena and Leo really did share a certain resemblance in their features.

Lily couldn't stop crying.

I had to ask the teacher to take us to the quiet room, hoping to calm Lily down first.

In the quiet room, I comforted Lily until she eventually fell asleep.

Looking at her swollen, red eyelids from crying, my heart twisted into a knot.

I quietly slipped out, walked to the bend in the corridor, and called Chloe and Marcus.

"Chloe, Marcus, bring my marriage certificate with Serena, the drafted divorce agreement, and her termination letter to Little Star Preschool now. Hurry!"

As I was still discussing the details with them, I suddenly heard a scream—it was Lily's voice!

My heart sank to my stomach.