Sad to Say Goodbye

I had promised to give Grayson one last chance. If he disappointed our daughter again, I would take her and leave—forever.But in truth, I had long been ready to go. I had seen the fire in his eyes for Sandra and felt the cold indifference he reserved for me. Eight years was more than enough to erase every illusion I'd ever harbored about him.While I was preparing Alicia's passport and printing school documents, her homeroom teacher approached me."Mrs. Ulrich, I wanted to talk to you about something."The teacher handed me an application form."Master Danni, the renowned artist, is looking for an apprentice at our school. I think Alicia has incredible talent and a real chance to be noticed by him. Do you want to help her seize this opportunity?"My heart leapt. Alicia had told me that Master Danni was her favorite artist. If she could study under him, her future would be limitless.I made a silent decision to put aside all plans to go abroad. If Alicia could become Danni's stu

Grayson stared at his phone, lost. Eight years of marriage, and this was the first time I had refused his call.Did I seem angry? Why?His mind went back to the scene at the competition hall—me and our daughter—and a flicker of unease stirred in him. He didn't understand why we had appeared there, but suddenly, he realized just how little he knew about his wife and daughter.Could it be that the "competition" I had mentioned before was actually Master Danni's apprentice selection?His expression darkened, and he shot to his feet.Rushing down the hall, he collided with Sandra, who was carrying a cup of coffee."Grayson!"The coffee spilled across his suit, leaving a dark stain."Oh my god, are you burned?" Sandra exclaimed, panic written across her face, waving tissues frantically over him.She pressed close. The intense scent of perfume hit him like a wall, making him catch his breath.Grayson was allergic to strong fragrances. After our marriage, I had never worn perfume, e

Grayson seemed to remember a moment from when our daughter was five—his birthday party.How had he reacted when he learned that our daughter had been mocked because of his coldness?He had simply walked away, thinking she was overly dramatic. Even when she ran a high fever for a week, he had blamed me for not taking proper care of her. It was after that day that she never called him "Dad" again.The thought made a strange swell of frustration and regret rise in him.It didn't matter—he could make it right now. If she called him "Dad" in the future, he would answer.He arranged the little cakes nervously, shaping them into a heart with painstaking care. Once everything was ready, he sat at the table, his eyes fixed on the front door.But as the sun sank completely below the horizon, the door remained silent. The phone did too.Anxiety twisted tighter in his chest. Just as he was about to rush out searching for us, there came a light knock at the door.Elated, he rushed over."A

Sandra went wild, striking Grayson over and over, her face twisted and frightening.Bobby pushed at Grayson too, his small hands shoving with all his strength as he shouted, "Bad Daddy! You're my daddy! Your house, everything you have—it should all belong to me and Mommy!"Grayson's gaze hardened. "Did you teach him that, Sandra? When did I ever say that everything I have belongs to you?"Sandra stared at him as if the answer were obvious. "You want to be with me, don't you? Once I become your wife, everything you own will belong to me and Bobby.""I will never marry you," Grayson said coldly. "Because I already have a wife. And a daughter."It was the first time he had ever said those words aloud.Sandra froze, disbelief spreading across her face."You treat me so well—you put me in your company, you let Bobby call you Dad… Weren't you trying to start over with me?"Her voice trembled with a rising hysteria."The woman and the girl I saw that day—they're just your mistress an