Chapter 3

Faye's POV

"Stop talking nonsense in front of the kid!"

Cassian reached out to cover Anne's ears, but she just stared at him calmly.

"I'm staying with Mom," she said.

He froze for a few seconds, then let out a chuckle. "Fine. In that case, I won't give you any money for living expenses next month."

He patted Anne on the head, as if amused by her childish bluff. "You'll see soon enough that this kind of threat won't work on me."

Just then, my phone lit up with an email notification. It was a reply from the company in Borwick, with the word "interview" in the preview.

Cassian caught a glimpse of the screen and snatched the phone out of my hand. "What kind of interview is this?"

Before he could tap on the notification, his phone rang with the special ringtone he'd set for Noah.

Cassian forgot about me at once, tossed my phone onto the table, and answered the call.

Noah was crying loudly on the other end. "Dad... why did you disappear again? I had a nightmare that you didn't want me anymore..."

Cassian grew anxious, his voice turning gentle. "Don't be scared, buddy. I'm on my way right now. Where's your mom? Tell her to stay with you until I get there."

As he spoke, he grabbed his jacket off the couch and headed straight out. The front door slammed shut, leaving the apartment completely silent.

Anne was still standing in front of me, stiff and unmoving.

When I stepped closer to check on her, her eyes were brimming with tears.

A sharp ache squeezed my chest. I quickly pulled her into a tight hug. "Go ahead and cry, sweetie. You'll feel better once you've let it all out."

After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice muffled against my chest. "Mom, he's gone to be someone else's dad. Can I stop calling him 'Dad' from now on?"

My throat tightened so much I couldn't get a word out. I wiped away my own tears when she couldn't see and nodded.

I packed our bags that afternoon and booked plane tickets for three days later.

The next day, Anne finally got her graduation photos taken. She wanted to say goodbye to a few of her close friends, so I'd reserved a private room a few days earlier.

When I arrived and gave the server the room number, they told me the guests had already arrived.

That couldn't be right. Anne's friends weren't due for another half hour. My heart sank. Holding Anne's cold hand, I walked over to the room.

The door was wide open, and cheerful laughter echoed from inside. Esther and Noah were sitting right in the center. A banner hung behind them that read, "Happy Birthday, Noah!"

I'd ordered a custom cake and picked out all the desserts on the table myself.

When Esther saw me, she didn't look flustered at all. She even flashed a small smile.

"Faye, what are you guys doing here?" she asked.

I held tight to Anne's cold hand and said, "I booked this room, and I ordered all that food."

Esther set her glass down unhurriedly. "Yes, you made the reservation, but Cassian paid for it. He's using it to celebrate Noah's birthday, so it has nothing to do with outsiders."

Anne couldn't hold it in anymore. "You're the outsiders! My mom picked this place for me!"

Noah jumped out of his chair and lifted his chin defiantly. "What do you mean, 'your place'? My dad booked it for me!"

He pointed a finger at Anne, his voice full of arrogance. "Stop trying to steal my dad! He doesn't love you! You're just after his money and trying to get free food!"

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Dad!" He ran toward the doorway.

Cassian walked in carrying two bottles of juice.

Esther stood up, her smug expression turning wounded. "Cassian, you're finally back. Faye seems to want to kick us out, but it's Noah's birthday today..."

Cassian immediately shot me an irritated look.

I stared back at him, my voice raspy. "Cassian, I'm asking you one last time. Who are you a father to?"

He glanced at Anne's pale face, a flash of hesitation crossing his eyes. But Noah tugged at his sleeve, looking pitiful.

Cassian stepped forward and lowered his voice. "Faye, stop making a scene. Take Anne and book another room. I'll pay for it. It's Noah's birthday. Anne's a good girl. She'll understand."

Good girl. There he went again.

Because my daughter was a good girl, she was expected to give in every time and sacrifice what mattered to her, over and over.

Before I could say a word, Cassian turned to the room and raised his voice. "Today is my son Noah's birthday! Kids, have a great time!"

And just like that, he made his choice. He had acknowledged Noah as his son in front of everyone, and Anne was nothing to him.

Then he gave me an impatient look. "Take Anne and go."

The moment he said that, the kids burst out laughing and started mocking her.

"She really doesn't have a dad!"

"Showing up to crash someone else's birthday party? How embarrassing."

"Her dad's probably too broke anyway!"