Across a Sea of Lies

While presiding over a transnational meeting, I received a distressing call from my daughter's kindergarten teacher. "Mrs. Payton, a kid drew a massive clown on Anna's face during nap time! No matter how much I try to wash it off, it won't come off!"

I immediately rushed to the kindergarten. My daughter, Anna Payton, was sobbing at the door. Her usually fair and tender face was now red and swollen. The clown drawing on it was particularly eye-catching.

The new teacher was so panicked that she was crying herself, her voice trembling with emotion. "The parent of the other child is in the office. They said they're willing to compensate any amount, but... But there's no way you can make their son apologize."

My anger surged as I kicked open the office door.

However, I instantly froze in place.

In the office, my husband, Arlo Payton, who was supposed to be in Swizor for a year of intensive studies, was holding up the bully.

The next second, the little boy in his arms pointed at Anna and laughed. "Look, Dad. Clownface is here!"

...

The little boy in Arlo's arms was chubby and still clutching a black marker pen in his hand. He pointed at the trembling Anna behind me, laughing so hard that he was doubled over. "Clownface! Ugly freak!"

Anna clung tightly to my clothes, burying her face behind my legs. She was too afraid to make a sound.

Arlo looked up at the sound. When he saw me, the loving expression on his face quickly turned to shock and then contorted into a comical expression. "L-Leia? What are you doing here?"

Seeing me holding Anna's hand, he was even more shocked. "The other girl is Anna?"

He instinctively tried to put the boy down, but the boy clung to him like a koala, whining, "Daddy, I don't want to come down! I want a ride!"

Arlo was momentarily embarrassed as he hurriedly explained to me, "Hayden usually calls me Mr. Payton..."

Before he could finish, the woman beside him said, "Hayden is immature and was joking around with Anna. Kids will be kids; it's normal for them to play around. Someone as important as you shouldn't hold a grudge against a child, right?" Her voice was gentle, yet her words were harsh.

I finally turned to look at her.

Simone Lourde was Arlo's first love during their graduate school years.

I stepped forward, staring intently at Arlo. "Arlo, explain yourself. Does your intensive study abroad include taking care of someone else's son in a Jacobville kindergarten? And why is this child calling you 'Daddy'? Is he your illegitimate child?"

Arlo's expression instantly turned grim. "Leia, can you please not be so harsh? What illegitimate child? Hayden is Simone's child! The study program changed at the last minute, so I came back two days early. Simone happened to have a problem, so I helped out. Simone just returned to the country. Being a single mother isn't easy, and her child lacks a father's love. What's wrong with me letting him call me 'Daddy'?"

I scoffed. "You're even allowing someone else's son to bully your own daughter? Look at Anna; she still has marks on her face!"

Arlo frowned and glanced at Anna. There was no pity in his eyes, only impatience. "Alright, it's not a big deal. Hayden's only five and is at that mischievous age. What's wrong with him drawing things? It's just kids playing around!"

Simone peeked out from behind Arlo at just the right moment. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her voice barely audible. "Ms. Jordan, it's all my fault. Please don't blame Arlo. If you're angry, I'll kneel and apologize, okay? Please don't scare Hayden."

As she spoke, she bent her knees as if she were going to kneel.