로그인We saw Grayson again at Alicia's art exhibition.It was Alicia's first time leaving Bitaly and stepping into an unfamiliar world, yet she adapted with remarkable ease, quickly merging into the rhythm of her new life. Her talent in painting was extraordinary, the kind that made teachers vie for her attention. This exhibition was organized personally by her mentor, and all proceeds from the auction that day were pledged to local orphanages.The moment the auction began, every single one of Alicia's pieces was snatched up by one buyer at high prices. A strange premonition stirred within me.And then, during the artist's thank-you segment, we saw Grayson. He looked slightly tense, standing there as if unsure, yet the moment he saw us, tears shimmered in his eyes.Alicia froze.Grayson fumbled as he accepted the bouquet she offered, then pulled her into a fierce embrace. I could even see the clear drops of his tears falling onto her back."I'm sorry, Alicia. Daddy lost you," he whis
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
"Nonsense! Who said Alicia is a mistress's child?"Grayson couldn't believe his ears. To hear such a cutting accusation come from an eight-year-old's mouth felt like a blow to the chest.Bobby flinched at the roar but stubbornly continued, "Everyone in this city knows Alicia is your mistress's daughter. You never acknowledged her. She doesn't even have the right to call you Dad. Not like me—I can call you Dad openly!"He puffed out his chest, pride brimming in his voice.Grayson felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, chilling him from head to toe.He remembered the day Alicia had painted his portrait, and the cold expression he had shown her in public. And she had never been allowed to call him "Dad" since her birth.The realization hit him all at once: how much damage had his past actions done? Had Alicia already given up on him? What had he done back then?Anger, regret, and helplessness filled his chest. Without a word, he flung Bobby out of the house.
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
Grayson's head throbbed. He forced himself to resist the impulse to rub his temples.He immediately apologized."Sorry. This was my oversight. I'll arrange a new contract immediately. To make amends, I'm willing to lower the price by another five percent."The partners fell silent, quietly calculating their potential profit.Sandra continued to cry, but no one had the patience or inclination to comfort her, no matter how seductive she appeared.A flicker of panic crossed her face. She stepped closer to Grayson, eyes red, pleading, "Grayson… I didn't expect this to happen. What should I do?"Grayson, already overwhelmed, felt even more helpless at her cries. He had never dealt with such chaos before—because I never let him face situations like this. I always handled things silently, never letting Alicia interfere with his work.In his mind, I was the perfect, considerate wife, and our daughter the obedient, well-behaved child who never caused trouble. Not like Sandra and Bobby, w
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







