Chapter 3

I looked down to find Damian's reddened eyes. He bit his lip hard, but he still wouldn't let himself cry.

I gave him a small smile and asked, "You really don't want your dad anymore?"

He shook his head without saying a word.

Walter went all in during the family event to make sure Aaron won. Olivia and the two of them actually looked like a family, enjoying the day together.

Meanwhile, I won a plush toy for Damian.

Suddenly, Aaron rushed over and pointed at the toy Damian was holding. "Daddy, I want that toy!"

Walter ruffled his hair and gave him a smile, agreeing. Then, he walked over to Damian and held out his hand.

"Aaron wants the toy, Damian. Give it to him," he said like it was no big deal.

Olivia giggled, teasing Aaron for being a little troublemaker.

No one seemed to care that it was a toy a mother had won for her son.

Damian wouldn't budge, and Walter frowned. "Damian, haven't I said this before? Aaron should get what he wants."

Still, Damian stood his ground.

Walter's voice grew sharper. "Damian, give Aaron the toy."

With the support behind him, Aaron stepped up to snatch it. But he lost his balance in the tussle and fell to the floor, immediately bursting into tears.

Walter's face darkened and he shoved Damian. "What's the matter with you, Damian? It's just a toy. Why is it so hard to give it to Aaron?"

Damian bit his lip, eyes full of hurt. He held onto the plush toy as tight as he could. If I hadn't caught him in time, he might've hit the back of his head on the floor.

All eyes were on us.

Walter was livid and snapped, "Bella, how are you raising Damian? It's just a toy! Look at how hard Aaron's crying!"

Olivia's eyes reddened as she comforted Aaron, her face a picture of distress.

I locked eyes with Walter, my expression cold and my voice calm. "This is a prize I won for Damian. Why should he give it up? Walter, have you forgotten that Damian is your son?"

Walter's expression shifted slightly.

Aaron's cries only grew louder, and the noise was getting on my nerves. I took Damian and went to sort out his withdrawal from school.

…

On the way home, I asked Damian why he suddenly didn't like his dad anymore.

Damian used to be scared of Walter but still wanted to be close to him. He'd tried to live up to Walter's expectations, hoping to earn his approval. But now, it seemed like he was really disappointed in Walter.

Damian's face fell, his eyes filled with hurt.

After a long silence, he finally spoke quietly. "Daddy said that if it weren't for you, Ms. Lowry would've been my mom. He said you took her place. He told me I should always go along with Aaron and treat him like my real brother, and we'd all be one family.

"But I know he just thinks I'm Aaron's toy. Daddy's so nice to Aaron, Mommy. Is he Aaron's dad, too? But why does Aaron have the last name Liddell and not Scott?"

I patted Damian's shoulder, feeling like my heart was being ripped out. I couldn't believe Walter had actually said that to Damian.

No wonder that day, when Damian had seen Olivia come home, he had pushed me into the guest room and told me not to sleep with Walter anymore. He had said Walter was gross.

I thought the same. Walter was disgusting—inside and out.

That night, just as I finished packing our bags, Walter called. He said tomorrow was Damian's birthday and he'd set aside time to spend with him. He asked where Damian wanted to go.

I watched Damian's eyes light up as he listed off a bunch of places.

Walter remained cold, but he agreed to all of them.

Damian was too excited to sleep that night.

Early the next morning, he jumped out of bed. He grabbed my hand as we rushed downstairs, buzzing with excitement.

But Walter never showed up even until noon.

Instead, Olivia called. Her voice was smug, almost mocking. "Sorry, Bella, today's Aaron's birthday. Walt's spending it with him. As for Damian, it looks like it's on you to keep him entertained."

I could hear Aaron's excited shouts and Walter's voice in the background. They were getting ready to ride the pirate ship.

I looked at Damian, who was staring up at me with his lips pressed into a tight line.

I smiled and said, "You guys have fun. Tell him not to worry about Damian anymore."

I hung up, took Damian's hand, and grabbed our bags. We were heading for the airport. On the way, I called a lawyer to start drawing up a divorce agreement.

This time, I didn't ask Damian what he thought. I couldn't bring myself to forgive Walter, and I couldn't force myself to compromise for the sake of Damian.

During the trip, Damian stayed quiet. But as soon as we got off the plane and he spotted his grandparents, his face lit up. It was as if all his sadness melted away, replaced with pure happiness.

Mom glanced over my shoulder. "He didn't come?"

I shook my head. "I'm getting a divorce. Damian's staying with me."

Mom sighed but didn't say anything else. She prepared a huge spread and even ordered a two-tiered cake for Damian's birthday.

Damian was so excited. He took forever making his birthday wish.

I had just posted on Instagram when Walter called.

"Bella, where are you guys? Why aren't you back yet?" he asked. "Didn't we agree to celebrate Damian's birthday? I got a cake, so you don't need to buy one. Hurry back, let's finish celebrating before midnight."