Chapter 1

I pushed the door open and walked in.

"What are you doing here, Lilian?"

Jasper Anderson carried Xander Reid down the award stage as his hand carefully shielded the back of his smaller head.

Dakota Reid walked next to Jasper, and her lipstick was a little smudged.

It was a closed-door family tournament.

If it were not for Sadie Anderson's performance being in the same art center, I would not have bumped into them.

In the front row, Beatrice Anderson was holding a bouquet of flowers.

Ten minutes ago, she had just told me that Jasper was at the airport.

Kai Anderson was holding his phone up to record the ceremony. On his phone screen, the video stopped when Xander called Jasper "Daddy."

Kai had told me that Jasper was stuck on the highway.

Vincent John was waiting at the registration counter. On his phone screen was a photo of the meeting room that he had sent me.

Beatrice stood up first.

"Jasper worries that you'll overthink when you see Dakota. That's why he asked all of us to keep this from you."

"So all of you worked together to lie to me?"

Kai looked away.

"Xander has been Jasper's godson for a long time.

"He doesn't have a father. So what if he calls Jasper daddy?"

Three years ago, Jasper had told me that Dakota was having a tough time after coming back to the country with her son.

Hence, he became Xander's godfather, and he started occasionally helping out with Xander's school fees and medical bills.

I thought that it would only be a matter of a few transactions. I had never imagined that he would actually play the father figure in Xander's life.

Vincent whispered, "Mr. Anderson just asked me to hold you off. I didn't know that Ms. Reid would kiss him."

Jasper walked closer to me and softly brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

"You're the one that I married, and you have the title of Mrs. Anderson.

"I'm just accompanying Xander for a few events, it shouldn't threaten your place in my life."

However, he whispered in my ear in a different tone.

"Don't make a scene before the kids. I'll make whatever you want to eat for dinner."

Xander suddenly gasped and pressed his hands against his chest.

Jasper immediately looked worried. He skillfully dispensed some medicine and announced the dosage. Then, he asked Dakota to start the timer.

He knew how many pills Xander should take when he had palpitations, yet he could not remember when Sadie was going to perform.

Sadie ran over in her tutu, and she had scraped her knee.

"Daddy, you didn't see me spin."

Xander yelped in pain, and Jasper carried him in his arms before immediately walking away.

Sadie grabbed his sleeve.

"Daddy, I'm bleeding too."

"You're older. You should be stronger. Xander's in poor health."

"But I'm only seven years old. He's eight."

Jasper paused before prying Sadie's fingers off.

He crouched down and wiped the blood away from Sadie's knee. He was very gentle, but his words were cruel.

"I've already comforted you, so you can't make your mother mad over such a small matter."

Once the elevator doors were shut, the dance teacher ran out and asked tentatively.

"Are you the principal dancer, Lilian?"

I had not heard anyone call me that in four years.

Back then, I was the principal dancer of a ballet company. I had also participated in the choreography of two ballet productions.

After I got pregnant, the ballet company invited me to rejoin them three times. However, Jasper said that Sadie needed me.

The teacher, Melanie Smith, passed me her name card.

"The old ballet production, Aura, is being revived. The team lacks a choreographer.

"If you're willing to return to ballet, this position will be reserved for you."

On the way home, Jasper sent me a voice message.

[Xander's fine now.]

[Please don't talk nonsense in front of Sadie. I'll make it up to you both tonight.]

In the past, I would always make up excuses for him because of how gentle he was after making a mistake.

However, this time, I contacted my lawyer to draft up a divorce agreement.

[My lawyer will be in contact with you.]

He replied very quickly.

[Are you threatening me with divorce again? Lilian, without me, where can you go?]

Sadie was hugging her trophy as she slept in the backseat. She was holding that unused ticket meant for Jasper.

I put it away for her.