Chapter 4

Teddy stared at Zion's bright, shining eyes for a long time.

"Daddy, isn't my eye pretty?"

A sharp pain stabbed my chest. I quickly flipped the tablet facedown and gently coaxed him back to his room.

"Come on now, Teddy. No more watching. Daddy will stay with you."

He nodded, but his small hand clutched mine tightly—so tightly.

After he fell asleep, I sent the transfer application to the principal's email.

Fifteen hours left. It would all be over soon.

I was halfway through packing when Emma came home with Daniel and Zion, clearly worn out from a day of fun.

The moment she walked in, she saw my open suitcase.

She froze for a second, then immediately let go of Zion's hand and hurried to stand in front of the suitcase.

"Honey, why are you packing? Where are you going? Where's Teddy?"

She looked at me helplessly, fear flickering in her eyes—so real it almost made me hesitate.

But I didn't bother digging deeper. I gave a casual excuse instead.

"Teddy's been in a bad mood. I was thinking of taking him out for a bit."

She visibly relaxed.

"That's good… as long as it's not—"

She stopped herself and changed the subject.

"Daniel hasn't found a suitable place to stay yet. We're friends, so I thought I'd let them stay here for a few days. Honey, you don't mind, right?"

When I didn't respond, she hurried to add, "I already scolded Zion about what happened this afternoon. He knows he was wrong. You see…"

I hummed softly and continued packing.

"Let them stay."

After all, tomorrow, I would be leaving with Teddy.

The moment she got my approval, Emma eagerly ushered the two of them upstairs, as if afraid I might change my mind if she delayed even a second.

Ten minutes later, a child's piercing cry suddenly rang out from upstairs.

My heart lurched. I rushed up the stairs and burst into my son's room.

Daniel's child stood there smugly, stepping on something, his face lit with excitement.

My son, still in his pajamas, was sprawled on the floor, frantically feeling around.

"My eye… my eye…"

Hearing my footsteps, he looked up at me, crying helplessly.

"Daddy, I can't find my eye. My eye… help me find my eye…"

His sobs were fragile and desperate. My heart felt as if it were being clenched into a fist, pain tearing through me.

In an instant, I rushed to Teddy and pulled him into my arms.

Startled, Zion slipped and fell to the floor, bursting into loud cries.

Daniel shot me a venomous glare and instinctively raised his hand, but halfway through, he seemed to remember something.

A cruel smile spread across his face as he asked mockingly, "Leo, don't you think Zion's eye is beautiful? When the doctor said Zion might go blind, Emma immediately helped me search nationwide for suitable organ donors.

"Turns out this new eye is incredible. Not only did Zion have no rejection, it's even healthier than before. So tell me—whose eye do you think it is? I really ought to thank that person properly."

My son's crying abruptly stopped. He buried his face in my chest, his small body trembling uncontrollably.

Daniel leaned in closer, clearly enjoying himself, and whispered deliberately, "Actually, there were several matching donors back then. But Emma wanted to reduce the surgical risk, so she specifically chose the eye of a five‑year‑old child. Said it was safer.

"Leo, look—Teddy's eye looks so beautiful on Zion's face."

That was it. I could no longer hold back my rage.

I swung my fist hard.

Daniel couldn't dodge in time. He clutched his face and shouted, "Leo, you lunatic! Let me tell you something—Emma lied to you about the scar on your waist. She said it was from the car accident, but it's actually from donating a kidney.

"And not just your son's eye—your kidney too. They were both gifts Emma gave to me."