Chapter 3

However, to attend that elite elementary school, one had to own an apartment within the designated school district nearby.

To secure my son's admission, I engaged in countless negotiations before reaching an agreement with a family about to emigrate overseas. I wanted to use the money my parents had left me to pay the downpayment and arranged to transfer the remaining balance to their bank account each month.

I had originally thought that my son’s admission to North Bay Elementary School was secured.

That was why I had reserved a spot for him and specifically brought him along to familiarize himself with the school environment.

I never imagined that Koah would do something like this behind my back, destroying every plan and effort I had made for our son.

Just as I was wondering what to do next, Koah’s phone rang suddenly.

I did not know what the person on the other end of the line said, but his expression turned grave.

After hanging up, he looked anxious, sweat gathering on his forehead, and said apologetically, “Honey, something urgent just came up at work. My boss needs me to rush over and deal with it immediately.

“I can’t take you and our son to North Bay Elementary School anymore. I’ll drop you off here. You can take a taxi there.”

With that, he pulled over to the side of the road and opened the car door, motioning for my son and me to get out.

I stared at him in disbelief. “Koah, are you out of your mind? It’s 39°C outside today! You want me and our son to stand out here at noon waiting for a car?”

“Aren’t you afraid he’ll get heatstroke?”

Koah kept apologizing, but his hands kept moving. He got out of the car and pulled my son and me out anyway.

Then, he drove off without a backward glance, ignoring my furious expression and our son’s look of disbelief.

I took my son to stand under the shade of a tree, but even after waiting for a long time, we still could not get a taxi.

As the minutes ticked by, I knew we would not make it to the school in time for our scheduled visit even if we managed to get a car now.

As such, I called the teacher and canceled the campus tour.

When I was about to take my son home, I suddenly noticed him staring longingly at a nearby water park.

I stopped trying to pull on my son’s hand to guide him away from that place. In a gentle voice, I asked, “Sweetheart, do you want to go play at the water park?”

Even though my son was looking at that place eagerly, he still shook his head obediently and turned down my suggestion.

He had always been sensible and well-behaved, knowing just how hard I worked to earn money, and never willing to spend an extra cent.

Thinking of the way Koah had written in his diary about taking that mother and son to have fun in Shanrel Dinoland, my heart tightened.

I turned around and took my son by the hand, walking toward the water park’s ticket booth.

I spent 300 dollars to buy one ticket for him and one for myself, then took him inside.

While we were playing in the park, my son spotted a lion plush in a shop and could not take his eyes off it.

It was his favorite animal.

I took him into the store and had just picked up the lion plush when a child suddenly darted out from the side and snatched it away.

He grinned at my son with smugness. “I took it first! It’s mine!”

Not wanting to argue with a spoiled kid, I asked the clerk to bring out another lion plush.

However, the clerk looked troubled and said there was only that one left.

Seeing the longing look in my son’s eyes, my heart softened.

Turning to the child, I said, “We picked up this toy first. Please give it back to us.”

The child clutched the plush and spat at me viciously.

“I’m not giving it to you! Go to hell, you ugly freak!”

Frowning, I was about to look for the child’s parents when I saw Koah appear in front of me…. The very man who was supposedly working overtime at the office. He was holding onto Wanda, who was smiling brightly.

The color drained from Koah’s face the moment he saw me.

Suppressing the tremor in my body, I questioned, “Koah, didn’t you say you were going back to the office to work overtime? Why are you here?”

“So, this is what you meant by something urgent, bringing them to the water park to have fun?”

A flash of smugness and provocation flashed across Wanda’s eyes before she quickly stepped in to explain things for Koah.

“Don’t be mad, Xena,” she said softly. “Tim said he wanted to come to the water park. I was worried about his safety, so I asked Koah to help look after him. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”