Chapter 2

I stood in place, looking at the closed door. It felt as though every bit of strength had been sucked out of me, while weariness and a deep sense of injustice swept over me like a tidal wave. I didn't sleep at all that night, staying awake until dawn.

It was Friday morning, and I made breakfast for Adam and helped him check his backpack. I slipped the wrapped paintbrush set into the side pocket of his bag and said, "You have to remember to give Xavier his birthday present—and not to kick off your blankets tonight, Adam."

Adam ate his cereal, his cheeks stuffed. "Got it, Hunter! You're the best!"

I patted his head, my heart freezing over. I had cared for this child so devotedly, so his current innocence felt like a blunt knife slowly sawing at my heart.

I messaged my supervisor to request leave after sending Adam off to kindergarten. I found a hidden spot that still gave me a clear view of the entrance outside the kindergarten, put on a mask and a hat, and waited quietly.

It was finally 3:20 pm, and the children rushed out of the gates like a flock of chirping little birds.

I caught sight of Adam right away in the crowd. He stood at the entrance with his blue backpack, glancing around as if searching for someone.

It wasn't long before a white SUV pulled up in front of him, and the front passenger window rolled down, revealing a man's profile. He smiled and beckoned to Adam, who ran over cheerfully, opened the rear door, and climbed into the car.

I clenched my hands in my pockets until my fingernails dug painfully into my palms. I then hailed a cab, pointed at the white SUV that was turning around, and said to the driver, "Please follow that car ahead, but don't get too close."

Upon hearing that, the driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror. He seemed completely used to this kind of situation as he asked, "You're trying to catch the cheater, huh? You'd better hold on tight, then—I won't lose track of them."

It wasn't long before the SUV drove all the way to a well-decorated restaurant downtown.

I pulled my cap lower over my face and followed them into the restaurant, sliding into a table toward the back corner where I had a decent line of sight on them but was unlikely to be noticed.

"I want to eat that bear-shaped cake, Joseph!" Adam exclaimed in a crisp, cheerful voice.

"I'll order the biggest one for our darling Adam," Joseph said in a gentle, deep voice.

Queenie turned around and asked softly, "What would you like to eat, Joseph? Didn't you say you were hungry?"

Joseph smiled faintly and said, "I'm fine with anything. I mean, what matters most right now is what you want to eat, Queenie. You're eating for two now, so you need to eat more."

I froze completely. I peered through the gaps in the decorative plants and noticed Joseph holding Queenie's hand.

Queenie, on the other hand, was smiling with a tenderness I hadn't seen in a long time. I noticed that she had a visible bump that even a loose dress couldn't hide.

"When is the baby coming out to play with me?" Adam asked curiously.

Joseph ruffled Adam's hair and replied, "There are still four months to go, Adam. You'll become an uncle, then. Oh, and next week, Queenie and I are getting married. Do you want to be our ring bearer, Adam?"

"I'd love to! I want to wear a suit!" Adam exclaimed.

Queenie suddenly said, "It's just that we have to make up an excuse for Hunter…"

Adam asked innocently, "Why can't you tell Hunter, Queenie? He's such a nice person!"

In that instant, the atmosphere became tense.

Queenie spoke somewhat stiffly, saying, "You're too young to understand what's happening. You'll get it when you grow up. You should eat your cake now, Adam."

I hadn't even taken a single sip of the lemonade I ordered, and the ice had completely melted. There were droplets of condensation covering the outside of the glass, blurring its surface like my thoughts at that moment—numb and heavy.

I kept thinking about Joseph and Queenie's baby and the wedding next week—each thought landing like a blow, dismantling my remaining illusions about our relationship.