Chapter 5

As the words left his mouth, Steve’s face instantly turned livid.

He looked at Andy and me, saw our lack of reaction, and his voice grew colder. “I am Andy’s father. But Mr. Anderson, why are you with my wife and child?”

“Mr. Anderson came to hike with us!” Andy hugged Mr. Anderson’s neck, his voice full of affection. “He’s super strong! He carried me for a long time and didn’t get tired!”

Steve seemed to be trying hard to suppress his anger. He pulled back the hand that was protectively around Olivia and Chloe, stepped forward, and reached out to Andy. “Come here, I’ll carry you. Don’t bother outsiders.”

Andy’s smile instantly froze. He twisted his little face and buried it tightly in Mr. Anderson’s arms.

“It’s no trouble at all,” Mr. Anderson said, his arms steady as he held the child, his smile still gentle.

I spoke softly, “Don’t you still need to continue therapy with Olivia and Chloe? Don’t delay your important work. Go on. Andy will understand.”

Steve, however, seemed glued to the spot. No matter how Chloe tugged at his sleeve, he didn’t move, just stared intently at me, his eyes filled with incredulous anger.

“Emily,” his voice was hoarse. “Are you… truly so indifferent?”

“Work is important,” I replied blandly.

Steve scoffed, laughing in anger. “Fine. Don’t regret this.”

Seeing this, Olivia’s eyes immediately reddened. She pulled her daughter close, her voice trembling:

“Steve, don’t be like this… Emily and Andy must still be angry with us. You should spend time with them. Chloe and I… can just go back by ourselves…”

“No need,” Steve sneered, then his voice instantly softened as he turned to her.

“Didn’t you say you learned a new dish? I’d love to try it. And I can still draw with Chloe.” He said, naturally putting his arm around Olivia’s shoulder and taking Chloe’s hand.

Before turning away, he gave me a deep look. “I’ll be home late tonight. Don’t call to disturb us.”

I was very obedient. I didn’t call him once.

It wasn't until late at night that my phone screen lit up. It was a message from him:

“Emily. Good, you are very good.”

Then, for two weeks straight, Steve didn’t come home.

His Ins, however, constantly showed photos of him traveling with Olivia and Chloe. The location was the Maldives—the very place we had planned for our wedding anniversary trip but never went.

The scenery was indeed beautiful. I instinctively tapped 'like'.

That same night, Steve called. His voice held a hint of suppressed triumph:

“Emily, stop pouting. I saw your like. Isn’t Andy’s birthday the day after tomorrow? I’ll buy him presents and rush back.”

I was half-asleep. “No need to bother. Andy’s birthday was the day before yesterday. Mr. Anderson celebrated with him and gave him lots of presents.”

The other end fell silent.

“I… I got it mixed up.” His voice was tight. “I’ll be back tomorrow to throw Andy a make-up party.”

I was about to refuse, but he hung up.

Oh well. He is the child’s father, after all.

The next day, I took Andy to the hotel, following the address Steve had sent.

The party was grander than any before. He came forward, bending to hug Andy. “Happy birthday, Andy. All the gifts I bought you have been sent home. Do you like them?”

Andy instinctively shifted, avoiding his touch, and nodded. “Thanks. I like them.”

Steve’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face.

He led us into the banquet hall, where a giant screen displayed scrolling photos of Chloe.

He quickly explained, “It’s also Chloe’s birthday today, so I thought the two kids could celebrate together. You know, her father left them after she was born…”

“It’s okay,” I cut him off. “I understand.”

Chloe’s birthday celebration was first.

She wore an expensive, limited-edition princess dress, dancing gracefully on stage, holding a microphone, and thanking Steve for filling the void left by her father.

I looked down at Andy, who was just quietly eating his cake, completely unfazed. I smiled softly, wiping the cream from the corner of his mouth.

Before it was Andy’s turn on stage, Olivia called me to the hotel poolside.

She had shed her usual gentleness, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

“Emily, do you see? Even if you’ve been married for six years and have Andy, as long as I’m around, in Steve’s heart, you and your Andy will always come second to us.”

“Whether it’s the trip you looked forward to, or Andy’s birthday… guilt isn’t love. It’s just pity.”

“Are you suggesting I divorce him?” I said calmly.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find a chance to bring it up.”

She paused, looking confused. “You’d give him up? You even gave up a chance to study abroad for him back then.”

I vaguely remembered that in college, Steve was a campus celebrity, handsome and brilliant.

But his personality wasn’t my type.

Until that one time, he saved me from a dangerous situation.

After that, I became completely obsessed with him, convinced I couldn’t live without him, and pursued him all through college.

I even had a huge fight with my parents, gave up my career prospects, and desperately wanted to marry him.

But now, looking back, my heart was completely calm, and I even felt that my past self must have read too many romance novels back then, which led to so many embarrassing actions.

I shook my head, my voice sincere. “It’s nothing. If you like him, you can have him.”

“Emily, what are you saying?!”

Steve stood behind us, his face ashen, his eyes slightly red.

Olivia glanced behind me and coldly snorted. “Keep up the act. I’ll make you give up.”

Before I could react, she suddenly fell backward! I instinctively reached out to grab her, but the momentum pulled me with her into the cold swimming pool!

“Emily!”

“Mom!”

Cold water suddenly filled my nose and mouth. I struggled desperately.

Through my blurry vision, I saw Steve hesitate for a moment, then swim without hesitation… toward Olivia.

The pool water completely submerged my head, cutting off all sound.

In the chaos, a firm arm suddenly lifted me, and I was pulled into a warm embrace.