Chapter 1

My father replied almost immediately.

[Sweetheart, you will always be welcome home. But you need to think this through. Once the bond is severed, there will be no going back.]

I confirmed my decision almost without hesitation.

Almost at the same moment, Edward came home.

He was still wearing the light blue matching shirt from the interview, with a smear of cream on his cuff.

Monica followed close behind him, holding Andrew’s hand.

“Is there anything to eat? Andrew said he was hungry as soon as the event ended.”

Edward draped his coat over the back of a chair and gave me his usual casual instructions.

“Make some pasta. Extra meat sauce. He likes it that way.”

I didn’t move.

Clutching the torn picture, Angela peeked out from behind me.

“Daddy, why didn’t you come to Family Day with me?”

Only then did Edward seem to remember that I had reminded him more than once that Angela’s Family Day was today.

He paused for two seconds before bending down to pat her head.

“Daddy had something come up at the last minute. I promise I’ll go with you next time, okay?”

Angela dodged his hand.

“Teacher said today was the last Family Day of the year.”

“It was just a school event. There’ll be plenty of time for Daddy to spend with you later.”

After placating our daughter with another empty promise, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold medal.

“Look what Daddy brought you.”

Angela’s eyes lit up for a moment.

But as soon as she took the medal, her smile quickly faded.

Another name was engraved on the back.

Andrew.

Monica immediately covered her mouth, feigning shock.

“Oh, Alpha, you picked up the wrong one! This is Andrew’s medal from this year’s family interview. He won the Award for the Closest Father-Son Bond.”

Edward frowned and took the medal from Angela’s hands.

“If it belongs to Andrew, then give it back to him. Be a good girl, Angela. Daddy will get you something else next time.”

Angela’s hands remained cupped as if she were still holding the medal.

It took a long time before she finally lowered them.

“But Daddy used to say that you had to earn a medal yourself. One you bought didn’t count.”

Edward’s expression stiffened.

Andrew had already snatched the medal and hung it around his neck. He tipped his head back and stuck his tongue out at Angela.

“Daddy Edward spent the whole day drawing pictures and playing games with me. Everyone said we were a happy family.”

Angela lowered her head and clenched the two halves of her picture tighter, crumpling them further.

I stepped in front of her.

“Why don’t you go out to eat?”

Edward’s face darkened.

“Catherine, the children are right here. Do you really have to act like this?”

Monica hurriedly grabbed his arm.

“Forget it. Catherine is still upset. Andrew and I can go back home. The power’s out there, but we can manage for one night.”

“How are you supposed to stay there without electricity?”

Edward rubbed his temples.

“The guest room is empty. You two can stay here tonight.”

I looked up at him.

“That’s not appropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate about it? It’s not as if we don’t have enough room.”

He glanced at Angela, his tone softening a little.

“I was wrong not to attend our daughter’s Family Day. I’ll spend some time playing with her later. Monica is only staying for one night. Don’t make things difficult for her.”

Angela suddenly tugged at my sleeve.

“Mommy, I want to go to bed.”

I took her hand and led her toward her bedroom.

Behind us, Andrew spotted the little wolf figurine on her bedside table. He broke free of Monica’s grip and ran into the room.

“This is so cute! I want it.”

It was the little wolf figurine Edward had personally sculpted for Angela’s birthday.

Angela finally panicked and reached for it.

“That’s mine!”

Andrew hid the figurine behind his back.

“Daddy Edward says you should share good things with everyone.”

As the two children struggled over it, the figurine slipped from their hands and shattered on the floor.

Angela froze.

Edward came over and immediately pulled Andrew behind him protectively.

“It’s just a figurine. If it’s broken, Daddy will make Angela another one.”

Angela lifted her face, tears welling in her eyes.

“Daddy, that’s the second time today you’ve given something of mine to him.”

Edward opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Angela lowered her head and hugged the torn picture tightly against her chest, as if it were the only thing she had left to prove that Daddy had once belonged to her.