Chapter 3

Countdown Day 3.

Today was the awards ceremony for the provincial children's art competition.

Nina wore the new princess dress I'd bought her and sat in the front row of the art gallery.

Her eyes were fixed on the entrance doors, unblinking.

I sat beside her, holding her slightly sweaty little hand, my heart aching.

I knew that man wouldn't come, but children always hope.

Nina said quietly, "Mom, Dad said he'd definitely come watch me receive my award today."

I didn't speak, just held her hand tighter.

Ten minutes before the ceremony began, my phone lit up.

Luke sent a message.

[Emergency task came up. Can't get away.]

[Tell Nina I'm sorry for me.]

The familiar excuse. The familiar broken promise.

I turned my phone face down on my lap without telling Nina.

Nina looked back at the entrance. "Maybe he's stuck in traffic."

The ceremony proceeded smoothly.

The host picked up the microphone. "Now, we'll reveal the grand prize winner of this competition!"

Nina's hand squeezed my fingers.

"The winning piece: 'Dad in the Flames'!"

The big screen lit up, displaying Nina's painting.

The Luke in the picture wore rescue gear, his back to the flames. She'd spent half a month painting this picture of her dad.

It was filled with her admiration for him.

Nina stood up and looked back at me. "Mom! It's my painting!"

I smiled, ready to push her toward the stage.

The host continued, "Please welcome the winner, Ryan Sean, to receive the award!"

The smile on Nina's face froze.

The signature in the bottom right corner of the screen read "Ryan Sean," not "Nina Brown."

Her painting—the signature had been changed to Linda's son's name.

Nina stood frozen in place, opening her mouth but making no sound.

A parent nearby leaned over, whispering, "Why did that little girl stand up? Didn't they call Ryan?"

Nina heard it. She sat back down in her chair and lowered her head.

I clenched my fists and walked straight toward the family section.

Linda was just standing up with Ryan, straightening his tie.

I blocked her path. "Linda, stop right there."

Linda looked up, the smile still on her face.

"Oh, Mia, you're here too?"

I stared at her. "That painting was drawn by my daughter. What right does your son have to sign it?"

Linda stepped back, lowering her voice and shrinking her shoulders.

"Mia, don't be angry. Luke handled this himself. I didn't know anything..."

She paused, then leaned closer, speaking in a voice only we could hear, and smiled.

"But Mia, who drew the picture doesn't really matter, does it? What matters is who Luke wants to cherish."

"So what if your daughter stayed up late every night painting? With one word, Luke gave all her hard work to our Ryan, didn't he?"

"That's what they call love by association. No matter how angry you get, you can't change the fact that Luke doesn't care about you two at all."

"You're shameless!"

Looking at her face, I raised my hand and slapped her.

Linda's head snapped to the side as she clutched her face and cried out.

I was about to drag her to find the organizers when someone rushed out from the side and shoved me hard.

"Mia! What the hell is wrong with you!"

I was pushed back several steps, my lower back hitting the back of a chair.

I bent over in pain.

I looked up. It was Luke.

He protected Linda and Ryan behind him, glaring at me with red eyes.

Linda buried herself against Luke's back, crying.

"Luke, it hurts so much... Don't blame Mia. It's my fault. I shouldn't have let Ryan accept this award. I'll return it..."

Luke saw the red mark on Linda's face, held her tighter, then turned and pointed at me angrily.

"Mia, are you sick! Hitting people in public—do you realize you look like a shrew right now!"

I steadied myself against the chair and looked at him.

"Luke, that painting took Nina half a month to finish. You put Ryan's name on it, and now you're shoving me for this woman?"

"It's just a painting!" Luke cut me off. "Nina can paint more! Ryan grew up without a father! He's being mocked by classmates! He needs this kind of recognition to build confidence!"

"Sean died saving me! What's wrong with giving an award to his son?"

"As an elder, you have no generosity at all. You even hit Linda. You're completely unreasonable!"

Shrew. Unreasonable.

My daughter had her work stolen—the painting of her father stolen.

I sought justice, and in return, her biological father shoved me to the ground for another woman.

I shut my mouth.

Ryan was led onto the stage by staff.

He held up the trophy, standing in front of Nina's painting, smiling at the camera.

Linda leaned into Luke's embrace, the corners of her mouth lifting.

She picked up the microphone, her voice choking.

"Ryan could have today all thanks to his godfather, Captain Luke..."

"Captain Luke treats us mother and son better than family..."

Luke sighed.

"Mom." A voice called from behind.

I turned around. Nina stood not far away.

She looked at Ryan holding the trophy, at Luke embracing Linda, at me clutching my waist.

"Nina..." I tried to reach for her.

Nina stepped back.

She looked down at the contestant badge on her chest.

She reached out and tore the badge apart bit by bit, throwing it into a nearby trash can.

She stood up and dusted off her hands.

"Mom, let's go."

My daughter kept her little face tense, forcing back tears.

My heart was breaking. I walked over and hugged my daughter tightly without a word.

I turned and left that place.

I didn't argue anymore.

Arguing with a blind and heartless man was pointless.

When we got home, Nina sat in her room for a long time, then opened her composition book and wrote a new entry.

The title was "Dad Gave My Painting to Someone Else and Hit Mom for Them."

I opened the booking app and changed our flight tickets to the day after tomorrow.