Chapter 2

I walked to the classroom door and picked up Leo.

The moment he saw me, he ran over and excitedly grabbed my hand.

"Mommy, today is my birthday! Can I finally call him Daddy tonight?"

Standing in the middle of the crowded hallway, tears welled up in my eyes.

"Your dad..."

Before I could finish, my phone buzzed.

Ethan had finally found the time to reply.

[I'll be home tonight.]

I stared at the message for a few seconds, my heart completely numb.

This would be the last time.

I locked my phone, looked down at Leo, and said softly, "Daddy said he'll be home tonight."

Leo's eyes instantly lit up, his voice bursting with pure joy. "Really?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Really."

That evening, I cooked a table full of his favorite dishes. Leo finished his homework early.

He sat on the couch wearing his party hat, checking the front door every few minutes.

At 7:00 PM, Ethan wasn't home.

At 8:00 PM, there was still no sound at the door.

By 9:00 PM, the food on the table had gone completely cold.

I sent text after text, asking where he was.

But just like always, there was no reply.

Leo seemed to realize what was happening. He looked at me timidly. "Mommy, is Daddy not coming back?"

I walked over, pulled him into my arms, and gently stroked his hair.

"I'm so sorry, baby."

Leo shook his head, obediently holding up his birthday hat. "Mommy, can you help me put it on?"

I nodded. But as I reached for the hat, my eyes caught a new Instagram notification from Chloe.

[Such a wonderful day. He took me and my baby out for a candlelit dinner. ❤️]

Attached was a photo of a high-end restaurant.

Even though his face was cropped out, I instantly recognized the wedding band on the man's hand in the corner of the photo.

It was the ring we had picked out together when we got married.

How ironic.

On his own son's sixth birthday, he was having a romantic candlelit dinner with his mistress.

I tapped the "like" button and put my phone down.

I turned back and placed the birthday hat on my son's head.

"Happy birthday, Leo."

Under the warm glow of the single candle, Leo closed his eyes and folded his hands.

"My birthday wish is to stay with Mommy forever."

I snapped a photo of him with my phone to capture the moment.

"Okay. Mommy promises you."

That night, neither of us mentioned Ethan again.

Once Leo fell asleep, I pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared beforehand from the drawer.

The last shred of hesitation in my heart completely vanished.

At 2:00 AM, Ethan finally came home.

Seeing the half-eaten cake on the table, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes.

"Sorry, I lost track of time."

I almost laughed out loud. I had sent him dozens of texts.

Did he really not see them?

Or did celebrating another boy's birthday make him forget everything else?

I flipped the divorce papers to the signature page and handed them to him, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Sign this..."

Before I could finish, Ethan's phone rang.

Chloe's panicked voice echoed through the quiet house.

"Ethan, Mason has a fever. He won't stop crying and keeps asking for you. I don't know what to do..."

Ethan stood up instantly, anxiety written all over his face. "Hold on, I'm coming right now."

Hanging up, he didn't even look at what I handed him. He just scribbled his signature on the bottom line.

I stepped back into the shadows and silently watched him rush out the door.

*Ethan, you're the one who abandoned this family.*

*From now on, Leo and I will never wait for you again.*