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Chapter 4

Author: Sandwich Biscuit
Ian's POV

I slipped the divorce agreement into my bag and checked the time. "Aren't you guys going to the amusement park? You can still make it if you leave now."

I'd made plans for the amusement park more times than I could count, so I knew its opening hours by heart.

I turned to Betty and reminded her, "You're allergic to peanuts. Don't sneak any food containing them again."

I still remembered how she used to cry herself to sleep every night, begging to see her mother. But Celine always said she was too busy with work.

So one day, Betty secretly ate some chocolates with peanuts. She broke out in hives all over her body and could barely breathe. I panicked and called Celine repeatedly, begging her to come home.

Afterward, the Erwins took turns blaming me. They said I'd distracted Celine and caused her to lose a multimillion-dollar deal. They also chewed me out for not watching Betty closely enough.

I beat myself up over it. But Betty seemed to have noticed that when she got sick, her mother would come home. So whenever she wanted to see Celine, she'd search the house for anything containing peanuts.

She never realized that every time she did that, she broke my heart all over again.

"Betty, you're a big girl now. You need to learn how to take care of yourself," I said.

Betty pouted and turned away from me, wrapping her arms around Pierre. "Once you and Mom are divorced, you won't be my dad anymore. I don't need you to lecture me!"

A memory of her as a toddler suddenly flashed through my mind. She had just learned to walk back then, trailing after me and babbling "Dad" over and over again.

My nose stung, and my voice came out hoarse. "Fine, I'll stop."

Celine scoffed. "Are you happy now? You always ruin everything."

Pierre stepped between us, playing peacemaker. "Celine, that's enough. Ian's probably hurting right now. Maybe he just acted on impulse. You guys should talk it out once things cool down.

"Besides, how could he ever bear to walk away from Betty? He probably just said it out of anger."

Betty fired back, her face twisted with anger. "He doesn't want me? Please. I don't want a dad like him either!"

Celine looked at me coldly. "I've given you plenty of chances. You brought this on yourself. You have to live with the consequences of your decisions."

But the moment I asked for a divorce, I'd already decided I wasn't turning back.

A flash of delight crossed Pierre's eyes. "Look, Ian, I still think you should think this through. Anyway, we're off to the amusement park. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Betty."

Celine sneered. "You've got what you wanted. Why are you here? Waiting for me to beg you to stay?"

I turned to leave. "Take care, and have fun."

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