Chapter 3

Grace understood exactly how her daughter felt.

Ethan’s face darkened. Grace assumed he would at least scold Daisy a little. She never expected him to snap at Sophie instead. “What are you crying for? It’s just a cake!”

“Ethan Foster!” Grace finally exploded. She clutched Sophie tight like a mother beast driven to fury, her eyes gone red, her voice trembling with equal parts anger and ice-cold disappointment. “Shut up.”

“Your heart’s grown crooked—did your brain fill with water too? Sophie is clearly the one who got hurt, and you’re defending the little beast.”

“Today is Sophie’s birthday. You didn’t spend it with her—fine. But to scold her on top of that? Do you deserve to be her father?”

“Sophie and I must be cursed. What bad luck to run into you people on such a good day.”

Ethan had never seen Grace this mad. Heat crept up his face where her words struck. He rubbed his nose, annoyed. “I… I’ll make up Sophie’s birthday gift.”

Sophie buried her face in her mother’s shoulder, her small arms locked around Grace’s neck. Her muffled sobs were like a dull knife sawing at Grace’s heart.

“Get away. Who wants your gift?” Grace shot back. “Take your people and get out of our sight—think of it as doing a good deed!”

Sophie was still sobbing. Her warm tears dripped onto Grace’s neck, scorching her to heart. Grace turned and stroked her daughter’s hair. “Don’t cry, baby. How about Mommy buys you a different cake, okay? What about the one with the pink princess dress?”

At the clerk’s insistence, Ethan paid for the ruined cake. In the end, with Vivian tugging at his sleeve, he left the bakery without another word.

At lunch, as they were finally eating cake, Grace’s phone rang. Hearing the ringtone, Sophie’s round eyes lit with hope. “Is that Daddy?”

Grace’s heart felt clutched in an invisible fist; even breathing hurt. Only that morning he had broken Sophie’s heart in pieces. A few hours later, she had already forgiven him. Maybe that was just the nature of children—born with admire and close for their father.

She drew a deep breath to swallow the lump in her throat, hung up the call, and smiled. “No, honey. It’s about Mommy’s work.” She smoothed Sophie’s soft hair, as if she could smooth away invisible wounds. “This afternoon, how about Mommy takes you to the amusement park?”

“Yes!” Sophie’s attention shifted at once.

Grace had thought that having some fun in the amusement park would cheer her up. She never expected they would run into that “family of three” again at the park.

Grace held Sophie on a carousel horse. It was Sophie’s first time, and she giggled and giggled, thrilled. The carousel turned a few times, and just as the ride was ending, Sophie’s little body suddenly went rigid. The smile on her face shattered like glass.

Following Sophie’s gaze, Grace felt the blood in her own body turn to ice. A few meters away, Ethan sat holding Daisy on a tall horse. Daisy’s eyes were crescent moons as she laughed. She said something Grace couldn’t hear, and Ethan bent to kiss her on the cheek. On the next horse over, Vivian threw him an air kiss.

The afternoon sun slanted across the park, and the three of them cast one intimate shadow that fell across the feet of mother and daughter. It stabbed the eyes with its brightness.

A tidal wave of desolation crashed down over Grace’s heart, the ache flooding her limbs. Ethan had never once brought Sophie to an amusement park.

“Mom, let’s go home.”

“Okay.” Sophie’s good mood was gone for the day. No other ride would make her happy now.

“Sweetheart, how about Mommy takes you out for steak?”

Sophie snuggled in her arms disappointedly; fingers twisted tight in Grace’s shirt. Her arms were the only harbor where her baby felt safe. For her daughter’s sake, Grace had to be strong.

At an upscale Western restaurant, Grace watched Sophie finish every bite of her small steak, her mashed potatoes, and her fruit. Relief softened Grace’s face into a smile. Her little girl was an angel, here to repay kindness. She was so well-behaved, an easy child from the very start, with almost no bad habits.

After dinner, Grace took Sophie’s hand and headed out. As if haunted by a curse, they ran into that family of three yet again—one group going down, the other going up, colliding on the stairs.

Grace squeezed Sophie’s hand. Sophie looked up at her mother. Grace was about to ignore them when Ethan’s indifferent voice cut in. “Since today is Sophie’s birthday, let’s celebrate together.”

Grace gave him a cold, scornful look. “No need. Sophie and I are full.” She started down with Sophie.

But Vivian suddenly stepped into their path, her face arranged in a pitiful, delicate expression. “Grace, we truly want to celebrate Sophie’s birthday with her. Daisy broke her cake today, and she wants to apologize.”