Chapter 5

I still went to the parent-child event on Friday.

The classroom was decorated warmly and festively. Each child was on stage, displaying their drawing of "My Family."

When it was Leo's turn, he proudly held up his drawing.

I wasn't in the picture.

Only him, Chloe, and Liam.

The parents in the class politely applauded.

Liam, sitting in the front row, had red-rimmed eyes, nodding repeatedly with emotion.

The teacher hosting the event seemed a little awkward and asked softly: "Leo, who did you draw? Why isn't your dad in the picture?"

Leo clutched the corner of his shirt, his voice clear.

"Dad always scolds me, won't let me eat candy, won't let me watch TV."

"Mr. Liam plays with me and buys me yummy food. I want Mr. Liam to be my dad."

Kids are brutally honest, and sometimes their honesty cuts deepest.

A few embarrassed laughs rippled through the classroom, and some parents tried to smooth things over, saying children don't know any better.

I stood up, striding to the front of the stage, wanting to take Leo home.

Chloe suddenly grabbed my wrist from the side.

"Ethan, what are you doing?"

Apparently, in her eyes, even my disappointment and sadness had to be timed so she wouldn't lose face.

I forcefully pulled my hand away from hers and stormed out of the classroom.

Just as I reached the stairwell, Liam *pretended* to follow me out.

"Ethan, don't be mad at Leo..."

He mumbled apologies, but forcibly shoved a photo from the parent-child event into my hand.

In the photo, Leo was standing on tiptoes, hugging Liam's neck, while Chloe stood beside them, smiling gently and indulgently.

Liam leaned close to my ear.

"Ethan, children are actually more honest than adults. They know who is better to keep around."

"Staying in this family will only make everyone miserable."

I crumpled the photo into a ball and tossed it into a nearby trash can, leaving the kindergarten without looking back.

Soon after I got home, Chloe returned with Leo.

She walked directly to the coffee table, pulled a document from her briefcase, and pushed it heavily towards me.

It was a divorce agreement.

"Ethan, since no one is happy, let's just get divorced."

She leaned back on the couch, her tone as calm as if discussing the weather.

"You can stay in this house for now, but I must have custody of Leo."

"You've seen how unstable Leo is right now. He can't be without Liam's care."

I looked at the neatly printed agreement and suddenly found it utterly absurd.

"Chloe, are you asking me to give my wife and son to a homewrecker?"

She frowned, her voice full of impatience.

"Don't say such nasty things!"

"We've gotten to this point because you weren't good at managing a family. Even our son rejects you, so don't blame anyone else."

"Just sign it. Let's part ways amicably."

Leo hid behind Chloe's legs, tightly hugging the teddy bear Liam had given him.

I squatted down, looking at the son I had raised from infancy, my voice tight.

"Leo, do you want to come with Dad? Dad promises that from now on..."

"No!"

Leo hugged the bear even tighter, tears welling in his eyes.

He backed away repeatedly, crying and shouting at me.

"Dad, can you stop pushing me!"

"I don't want to choose you! I want to be with Mom and Mr. Liam!"

In that moment, I suddenly didn't want to fight anymore.

I stood up, walked to the bedroom, and retrieved the three divorce decrees.

And a cross-district school transfer application form I had already stamped.

I pushed all these documents towards Chloe.

Chloe's face finally changed when she saw the transfer application, her brow deeply furrowed.

"Ethan, what do you mean? What game are you playing now?"

I picked up the pen on the table and swiftly signed my name.

"It means that this time, I'm not looking back."