Chapter 3

"Maybe next time. Demi really wants to ride the Ferris wheel today. I'll accompany her this time," Michael said, leading Demi away hand-in-hand without looking back once.

Alani stood where she was, watching their backs disappear. I crouched down. "Alani, sweetheart, I'll go on the ride with you."

She shook her head. Her eyes were finally red-rimmed. "Mom, I don't have to ride it. I just want Dad to come with me… Does he not like me anymore, Mom?"

She buried her face in my shoulder. She didn't cry aloud, but her shoulders kept shaking. I looked at her, and something in me settled into a hard certainty.

If this "father" was nothing more than a presence that came and went, then maybe I should take Alani and let go of him.

By evening, the amusement park had started to empty.

Demi said she wanted cotton candy, so Michael immediately went to buy it. When Yvette went to the restroom, he quickly offered to keep an eye on her, too.

"Alani, take Demi to the slides for a bit. Ms. Miller and I will be back soon."

Alani and Demi ran toward the slide. I sat on a nearby bench and checked the time on my phone. The moment I set it down, a sharp scream sliced through the air.

I snapped my head up.

At the top of the slide, Demi stood, looking down. Alani was on the ground, not moving. My heart dropped, and I rushed over immediately.

Alani had a cut on her forehead. Blood was already running all over her face.

"Alani!" I screamed, kneeling beside her, my hands trembling. "Alani, look at me!"

Demi stood at the top of the slide and shouted, "She tried to push me!"

Meanwhile, Michael ran over, his cotton candy falling to the ground. His first instinct was to check on Demi. "Hey, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

She shook her head. Only then did he look at Alani, but his face dropped. "What happened here? Is this how you watch the kids?"

My hands were still shaking as I dialed emergency services. Then, I turned and slapped Michael across the face. "If anything happens to Alani, I am not letting this go! You hear that, Michael?"

In the emergency room corridor, I sat on the bench, my hands still smeared with Alani's blood.

Michael stood nearby, on the phone. "It's fine. Nothing serious. Just a fall… Alright, don't cry. Demi's fine… No, you don't need to come. I'll handle it…"

He ended the call and walked over. "What did the doctor say?"

I looked up at him. "I'm surprised you have the nerve to ask. Do you even know how Alani got hurt?"

He hesitated. "Wasn't it because she tried to push Demi and lost her balance?"

"And you believed it just because Demi said so?"

He frowned. "What else, then? Demi would never lie—"

"There were cameras at the park," I interrupted him. "I already asked the staff to pull the footage. They sent it to my phone."

I pulled out my phone and played the footage.

On the screen, Alani was standing at the top of the slide, ready to go down. Demi came up from behind, forcing her way through, and shoved Alani hard. Then, Alani fell off the side of the slide and hit her head on the ground.

Michael stared at the screen, totally speechless.

"You saw your daughter get pushed, end up with a head injury and bleeding, but your first instinct was to check on someone else's child."

He opened his mouth, wanting to argue.

Just then, the emergency doors opened. The doctor stepped out. "Patient's awake. She has three stitches on her forehead and a mild concussion. She'll need to stay overnight for observation."

Without hesitation, I darted into the ward. Alani was lying in a hospital bed, her forehead wrapped in gauze, her face pale. The moment she saw me, tears spilled over.

"Mom… I'm in pain…"

I held her tightly, my hands still trembling. "It's okay. I'm here now. I'm here, my darling sweetheart."

Michael had just started to step into the ward when his phone rang. "What? You cut your wrist? Don't panic, Demi! I'll be right there!"

Then, without another glance at Alani or me, he turned and rushed out.

At that moment, my phone lit up with a message. "Ms. Wilson, the evidence has been collected. I've sent it to you for your records. It's enough to ensure your husband leaves with nothing."

I stared at the screen, my eyes widening in shock. Then, I closed the message.

I gently touched Alani's small face. Slowly, my thoughts steadied.

After a long moment, I replied, "Let's not rush the court proceedings for now."

Before that, I wanted to catch a good show first.