"Maybe next time. Demi really wants to ride the Ferris wheel today. I'll accompany her this time," Michael said, leading Demi away hand-in-hand without looking back once.

Alani stood where she was, watching their backs disappear. I crouched down. "Alani, sweetheart, I'll go on the ride with you."

She shook her head. Her eyes were finally red-rimmed. "Mom, I don't have to ride it. I just want Dad to come with me… Does he not like me anymore, Mom?"

She buried her face in my shoulder. She didn't cry aloud, but her shoulders kept shaking. I looked at her, and something in me settled into a hard certainty.

If this "father" was nothing more than a presence that came and went, then maybe I should take Alani and let go of him.

By evening, the amusement park had started to empty.

Demi said she wanted cotton candy, so Michael immediately went to buy it. When Yvette went to the restroom, he quickly offered to keep an eye on her, too.

"Alani, take Demi to the slides for a bit. Ms. Miller and I will be back soon."

Alani and Demi ran toward the slide. I sat on a nearby bench and checked the time on my phone. The moment I set it down, a sharp scream sliced through the air.

I snapped my head up.

At the top of the slide, Demi stood, looking down. Alani was on the ground, not moving. My heart dropped, and I rushed over immediately.

Alani had a cut on her forehead. Blood was already running all over her face.

"Alani!" I screamed, kneeling beside her, my hands trembling. "Alani, look at me!"

Demi stood at the top of the slide and shouted, "She tried to push me!"

Meanwhile, Michael ran over, his cotton candy falling to the ground. His first instinct was to check on Demi. "Hey, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

She shook her head. Only then did he look at Alani, but his face dropped. "What happened here? Is this how you watch the kids?"

My hands were still shaking as I dialed emergency services. Then, I turned and slapped Michael across the face. "If anything happens to Alani, I am not letting this go! You hear that, Michael?"

In the emergency room corridor, I sat on the bench, my hands still smeared with Alani's blood.

Michael stood nearby, on the phone. "It's fine. Nothing serious. Just a fall… Alright, don't cry. Demi's fine… No, you don't need to come. I'll handle it…"

He ended the call and walked over. "What did the doctor say?"

I looked up at him. "I'm surprised you have the nerve to ask. Do you even know how Alani got hurt?"

He hesitated. "Wasn't it because she tried to push Demi and lost her balance?"

"And you believed it just because Demi said so?"

He frowned. "What else, then? Demi would never lie—"

"There were cameras at the park," I interrupted him. "I already asked the staff to pull the footage. They sent it to my phone."

I pulled out my phone and played the footage.

On the screen, Alani was standing at the top of the slide, ready to go down. Demi came up from behind, forcing her way through, and shoved Alani hard. Then, Alani fell off the side of the slide and hit her head on the ground.

Michael stared at the screen, totally speechless.

"You saw your daughter get pushed, end up with a head injury and bleeding, but your first instinct was to check on someone else's child."

He opened his mouth, wanting to argue.

Just then, the emergency doors opened. The doctor stepped out. "Patient's awake. She has three stitches on her forehead and a mild concussion. She'll need to stay overnight for observation."

Without hesitation, I darted into the ward. Alani was lying in a hospital bed, her forehead wrapped in gauze, her face pale. The moment she saw me, tears spilled over.

"Mom… I'm in pain…"

I held her tightly, my hands still trembling. "It's okay. I'm here now. I'm here, my darling sweetheart."

Michael had just started to step into the ward when his phone rang. "What? You cut your wrist? Don't panic, Demi! I'll be right there!"

Then, without another glance at Alani or me, he turned and rushed out.

At that moment, my phone lit up with a message. "Ms. Wilson, the evidence has been collected. I've sent it to you for your records. It's enough to ensure your husband leaves with nothing."

I stared at the screen, my eyes widening in shock. Then, I closed the message.

I gently touched Alani's small face. Slowly, my thoughts steadied.

After a long moment, I replied, "Let's not rush the court proceedings for now."

Before that, I wanted to catch a good show first.

For the next three days, Alani was hospitalized. Michael never showed up again—not even a single call or message.

After she was discharged, she needed a few days of rest, so I sent her to stay with my mother first.

At the same time, Alani's homeroom teacher, Ms. Clarkson, sent a notice in the group chat.

"The parent-teacher meeting will be held this Friday. All parents are required to attend. Thanks."

Almost immediately, a message from Yvette popped up.

"Got it. Alani's dad will be coming too, right? He's always so involved in the class."

I looked at the screen and replied with a smile, "Of course."

Right after I sent it, my phone rang. Michael was calling to scream at me.

"Joanna, who told you to answer in the group chat without checking with me? Anyway, I'm busy this Friday. You go instead."

I surmised he was probably "busy" playing some other kid's father. He could leave Alani in the hospital for days without a word, but strangely, he was so eager to be involved in another kid's life.

I couldn't help but wonder how I had settled for a man like him back then. At least now, I expected nothing from him.

Of course, things wouldn't be fun if he didn't show up. How could the show go on without the showman himself?

…

Friday evening came, and so did the parent-teacher meeting. When I arrived at 7:00 pm, the classroom was already full.

Michael was sitting in the second row. Yvette sat right next to him, close enough that there was barely any space between them.

Around them, a few parents were already whispering.

"Alani's dad is really nice, isn't he? I heard he's helped them a lot."

"Yeah. Being a single mom isn't easy. From what I heard, he's been a great help."

"Now, that's what a responsible man looks like."

"I also heard Demi's dad never showed up to any of the meetings. So, Alani's dad stepped in and acted like a father figure for her."

I stood at the doorway for two seconds, then found a corner seat.

Ms. Clarkson's voice faded into the background. I didn't even hear a word she said. Instead, my eyes stayed fixed on the front row.

Michael was holding Demi, feeding her biscuits, and wiping her mouth with tissues.

Meanwhile, during the days Alani was in the hospital, it seemingly never crossed his mind that nobody would've looked after her if I hadn't been around.

"Now, we will present this semester's Outstanding Parent Award."

Ms. Clarkson picked up a certificate and smiled. "Based on class votes and teacher recommendations, the Outstanding Parent of this semester is…"

She paused briefly. "Mr. Michael Carter, Alani's father! Let's give him a round of applause!"

Applause broke out across the room. Michael stood up, with Demi still sitting on his shoulders. He set her down, smiled, and walked up to the front.

Yvette clapped enthusiastically, her eyes even a little red. "He's really so patient with children. Demi absolutely adores him."

Up front, Michael accepted the certificate and cleared his throat. "Thanks, everyone. Actually, I haven't done much—just fulfilling a parent's responsibility. Children are the future backbone of our country, and as parents—"

Before he could continue his speech, I stood up and cut him off. "Michael."

Everyone turned to look at me.

He froze, his smile stiffening as his face slowly scrunched into a frown. "What are you doing, Joanna? This is a parent-teacher meeting. Don't make a scene!"

I walked straight to the front row and stopped there, meeting his eyes. "You talked about fulfilling your responsibility as a parent. I just want to ask, whose parent are you actually being responsible for?"

Ms. Clarkson looked flustered. "Mrs. Carter, if it's possible to take this conversation to a more private—"

I smiled and waved her off. "No, we should do it right here. Let's clear the air here once and for all."

My gaze swept across the parents. "Do you all know who this man is? He's my husband, yet he's been acting as the father for another woman's child at this school."

The classroom felt silent. Yvette's face turned ashen.

From the side, a few parents started whispering, "What's going on?"

I looked at everyone and continued, "This man cheated during our marriage. Over the past year, he spent more than 200 thousand on this woman and her child—bought them a house, paid tuition, her clothes, toys… Everything."

Michael scrambled over and grabbed my arm. "You'd better stop talking now!"

I shook him off and pulled out a folder from my bag, slamming it onto the front table. "Here are the bank transfers, the hotel records…"

Yvette stood up, her voice shaking. "That's nonsense! Michael told me you two were already divorced! I'm not his mistress. I'm his official girlfriend!

"He even said he only stayed with you because of the child. Otherwise, he never would've suffered living with you!"

The room erupted in shock. I looked at her and let out a cold laugh. "And you believed him? Sorry, but he lied. He never divorced me, and neither can he marry you. Wanna know why?"

I opened another folder. "Because he has another wife waiting for him back in his hometown."