Chapter 2

After sending the message, I stood on the balcony in the cold wind for a long time.

Soon after, Fiona came back.

She also brought Thiago and his son Matias.

Matias was eight years old, with two dimples on his face, wearing a little white suit.

He'd been to our house a few times. Each time he came, Fiona would have me prepare snacks and gifts.

I thought it was her taking care of her brother-in-law.

Now looking back, it was a complete humiliation...

Fiona opened the door.

Thiago kept his head down, his voice soft. "Sorry to disturb you both."

Fiona bent down and picked up Matias. "Did Matias miss mommy?"

Matias hugged her neck and sweetly called "Mommy."

They didn't even avoid me anymore, right in front of my face.

I came downstairs, coldly watching this scene.

Just then, Marcus woke up too and pushed open a crack in his door, groggily calling for daddy.

My heart immediately tightened, wondering if he'd heard what Matias just called her.

But soon, Marcus saw Matias, froze for a moment, then ran over with a smile.

"Matias!"

The two kids went upstairs holding hands. Marcus said he wanted to show Matias his new toys.

The living room grew quiet. Thiago glanced at me, then quickly lowered his head again.

"William, I'm sorry... we're disturbing you."

I laughed.

"You can even sleep with my wife, what's staying at my house for a night?"

Thiago's face instantly went white.

He jerked his head up to look at Fiona, his voice trembling. "You... you told him everything?"

Fiona didn't speak, just picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip.

Thiago stood up and walked in front of me, his eyes red.

"William, listen to me, it's not what you think... I..."

Suddenly, there was a loud crash from upstairs, followed by Marcus's crying.

I rushed upstairs and pushed open my son's door.

Marcus stood on the floor, his face covered in tears.

Ceramic shards were scattered on the ground—it was his favorite ceramic Winnie the Pooh.

Fiona had brought it back from a business trip last year. He hugged it to sleep every night.

Matias stood beside him, still holding a piece of the broken ceramic.

"Daddy! He grabbed my bear! I offered him other things but he didn't want them. He insisted on this one. I wouldn't give it to him, so he grabbed it and smashed it..."

Marcus was crying so hard he could barely breathe.

I crouched down and pulled him into my arms, gently patting his back.

Thiago ran in, his face changing.

"Matias! How could you grab Marcus's things? Apologize to Marcus right now."

Matias pursed his lips and said nothing.

Thiago sighed and looked at me, his tone apologetic.

"William, don't be angry. Matias just hasn't seen such nice toys... Marcus has good toys to play with normally, so he shouldn't miss this one, right?"

I looked up at him.

"Because Marcus has it, he deserves to have it smashed by Matias?"

Thiago's eyes reddened. "That's not what I meant..."

Fiona stood in the doorway, her expression not good.

"William, what kind of tone is that! Apologize to Thiago!"

I held Marcus and didn't move. "His son broke my son's things, and I have to apologize?"

"I'll buy Marcus another one." Fiona was getting impatient.

My voice began to tremble. "How is that the same?"

Fiona frowned.

She walked to Marcus's bed with a cold face, picked up another bunny lamp—also one of Marcus's beloved toys—and made as if to throw it on the ground.

"Are you apologizing or not?" Her tone was frighteningly cold.

I closed my eyes. Something inside me quietly shattered.

"I'm sorry, Thiago."

My voice was small, as if squeezed from my throat.

Fiona put the bunny lamp back on the bed.

"See? That wasn't so hard."

She led Matias out.

Thiago followed her, his lips moving but ultimately saying nothing.

I held Marcus. He was still crying, his shoulders shaking.

I put him on the bed, tucked him in, and comforted him for a long time.

When I walked out of the room, no one was in the living room.

Fiona was in the study, the door closed.

I had just reached the stairway landing when a cup of scalding liquid splashed on my face.

The heat made me scream and immediately cover my face!