As I looked at the stubborn light in my son’s eyes, I gently stroked his head and softly said, "Okay."

Then, I lifted my gaze toward Daniel’s bedroom door and silently said in my heart, 'Daniel, our son has given you three last chances. If you waste them all… He and I will disappear from your life forever.

'May we live well apart, and never meet again.'

***

The next morning, Daniel left in a rush, skipping breakfast. I knew he had gone to see Claire Matthews.

They were childhood sweethearts and were pretty much a perfect couple.

However, during the upheaval years ago, Daniel was forced to relocate to the countryside, while Claire quickly married and moved to another city. From then on, their relationship was severed.

When he came to Red Fern Valley, Daniel spent months being depressed before finally regaining some spirit.

While he was living in our home, he got drunk one night, and we ended up in bed. He reluctantly married me because of that.

As a result of that single night, we had Noah.

When Noah was two, Daniel returned to the city and brought me along with him. Just when I started to feel secretly happy, thinking maybe he had feelings for me, he coldly warned me not to ever reveal I was his wife. In fact, I was to be nothing more than his live-in nanny.

I became his hidden, unacknowledged wife, and Noah, our hidden, unacknowledged child.

Even if we ran into him on the streets, we had to walk the other way.

Right before the end of the workday, I went to the factory manager to resign. She looked surprised. "Emma, even though you’re just a temp, the factory treats you well. Why are you quitting?"

I smiled and replied, "My husband’s in the countryside. It’s better if I go back."

"So you’re not a single mom? I always thought you were raising your kid alone. I figured your husband was long dead!"

Seeing the shock on her face, a wave of bitterness washed over me.

In a way, he was dead. I nodded anyway. "You’re right, I'm not. Since my husband’s in the countryside, things will be easier if I go back. Please accept my resignation."

After handling the resignation paperwork, I went to Little Pines Preschool to pick Noah up. However, on the way there, I saw Daniel and Claire together on the street.

Daniel’s expression was soft while his gaze was warm. I had never seen him look at anyone that way.

I stood stunned, watching them, then lowered my head to glance at my dusty work uniform. A deep sense of inferiority rose in my chest.

A co-worker, who came along to pick up her child, also saw them and sighed. "Mr. Thompson’s been single for so many years. He’s finally going to marry someone. Lucky woman."

"What’s there to envy? People like us don't even share the same world as Mr. Thompson. Only someone like Miss Matthews is worthy of him."

I bit my lip bitterly.

It was true. We weren’t in the same world. I’d spent eight years trying, and I still couldn’t be part of his world.

As they walked closer, Daniel finally noticed me. His gaze shifted, and he gave me a warning look, one that warned me not to speak recklessly in front of Claire and reveal anything about our relationship.

I let out a sarcastic smile, then calmly brushed past the two of them without making eye contact, like we were complete strangers.

Just as I looked up again, I was startled.

Noah was already standing at the kindergarten gate, his backpack on his back. His clear eyes stared unblinkingly at his father, who was affectionately walking with another woman. He continued to watch as his father strode away with another little boy.

When I saw the light in Noah’s eyes go out, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

At that moment, Daniel finally noticed his biological son standing just a few feet away.

However, his body merely stiffened for a second. Then, he walked right past the little boy indifferently as if he were a stranger.

Noah’s eyes suddenly turned red.

I hurried over to him. He was still staring at Daniel’s back when he softly asked me, "Mom, is that who Uncle Daniel likes? And their child?"

Hearing the sorrow in Noah’s young voice, I couldn’t find the strength to respond. Tears finally fell from my eyes.

Noah didn’t ask again. Although he obediently held my hand and walked home, the redness in his eyes said everything about his silent hurt.

I looked at Noah holding back his emotions, my heart aching with every step.

'Daniel Thompson, you have only two chances left.'

***

After finishing his homework, Noah hesitantly asked, "Mom, can Uncle Daniel come with me to the parent-child Sports Day on Sunday?"

I looked into his hopeful eyes and stayed silent.

Ever since Noah started school, Daniel had never once attended any school event, let alone anything involving parent-child participation.

I couldn’t bear to disappoint my son, so I softly said, "I will ask him for you."

I waited on the couch until midnight before Daniel finally came home. He casually dropped a toy robot on the table.

I said, "There’s a parent-child sports day at school on Sunday. Noah hopes you can come."

"I’ll go." I hadn’t held out any hope, but to my surprise, he actually agreed.

The next morning, when Noah woke up and saw me, he said in a low voice, "Uncle Daniel doesn’t want to come, does he?"

Then, he quickly comforted himself like a little adult. "It’s okay. Having you there is the same."

Seeing his thoughtful little face, my heart ached. I quickly said, "He promised to come."

"Uncle Daniel’s busy. I should be understanding…" He was still murmuring to himself, but when he heard what I said, his voice caught.

He looked up in disbelief and asked, "Mom, really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" I stroked his head with heartache.

Noah broke into a bright smile. It was the first time Daniel had ever agreed to accompany his son.

When Noah saw the toy robot on the table, his eyes lit up even more. Grinning from ear to ear, he said, "This must be the gift Uncle Daniel got for me, right?"

Looking at the robot, I also assumed it was meant for Noah. Smiling, I nodded.

Noah was so happy, it was like he was walking on clouds.

In the days that followed, he was filled with excitement. Even so, every day, he would still nervously ask, "Uncle Daniel will definitely come, right?"

Seeing his unease, my heart hurt. I repeatedly reassured him that Daniel would be there.

On Sunday, I took Noah to school first. Other kids’ fathers began to arrive one by one. Noah nervously kept glancing at the school gate.

I held his little hand, now slick with cold sweat.

Soon after, I saw Claire arrive on the playground with Max. The robot in Max’s hands stood out brightly, attracting a group of kids around him.

Noah looked over, and his eyes locked onto the robot. In an instant, they filled with tears.

I also saw it clearly. My fingertips trembled.

Daniel had brought that toy robot home just a few days ago. Since Noah was born, Daniel had never once bought him a single toy. I thought maybe he remembered Noah’s birthday was coming soon, and had picked something special for him.

It turned out that he had bought it for someone else’s child.

"This is from my dad! It’s the only one in the whole city!" The boy’s smug voice drifted into both mine and Noah’s ears.

I said in a trembling voice, "I will buy it for you. I will buy you lots of robots."

Noah wiped his tears and obediently nodded, but he never again cried out about why Uncle hadn’t come.

Looking at Noah’s reddened eyes, I silently said in my heart, 'Daniel Thompson, you have one last chance.'

Just before the Sports Day was about to begin, Daniel came running over, panting.

Noah spotted him immediately. The dullness in his eyes vanished in an instant, and like a little cannonball, he rushed out.

"Dad, you finally came!"

Daniel heard the voice and looked at Noah. His expression turned unpleasant.

"What are you doing here?"

Hearing his question, a wave of unease washed over me.

Noah skipped over to his side, lifted his little face, and said, "Dad…"

Daniel looked at him sternly and questioned coldly, "What did you just call me?"

The joy on Noah’s face froze. He obediently said, "Uncle Daniel, thank you for coming with me to the Sports Day.

"It’s about to start, let’s go!"

Noah was beyond happy. In class, other kids often called him a fatherless brat with no father. Now that Dad had come, he could finally hold his head up high.

Holding Dad’s hand, he wanted to tell them he wasn’t a fatherless brat!

"That’s my dad! You fatherless brat, get lost!"

The next second, a small figure rushed over like a whirlwind and knocked Noah to the ground.

My heart aching, I helped Noah up and looked at the wound on his palm while feeling furious.

"Where’s your mother? Is this how she raises you?"

Hearing my scolding voice, Daniel instinctively shielded the boy behind him. "Max didn’t do it on purpose. Why are you being so harsh?"

Max Matthews spoke up angrily, "Who told you to try to steal my dad?! Dad came to attend the Sports Day with me!"

Noah was stunned. Tears fell, and his expression broke into sadness.

Daniel looked at Noah’s tears and felt a bit uneasy. He instinctively called out, "Noah…"

Noah wiped away his tears stoically and said, "Sorry, I forgot my dad is dead. I mistook him for the wrong person."

"What did you say?" Daniel looked at Noah in shock.

However, Noah had already grabbed my hand and walked away. I could feel how much strength he was using.

Daniel wanted to catch up, but Max and Claire clung to him. "Dad, the Sports Day is starting. Let’s go join quickly!"

Noah held my hand tighter and almost ran off with me.

The lively Sports Day had begun. Noah turned down all events and quietly stood in the stands, watching his father carry another child in the parent-child games. As he watched, his tears fell without a single sob.

I could feel the sadness enveloping Noah’s small body. My chest was filled with anger, but I was helpless.

At last, Noah’s tears dried up. He softly said, "Mom, let’s go. It’s time to leave."

I immediately said with heartache, "Let’s go. We’ll leave tonight."

As the event came to an end, Noah and I ran into that family of three again.

Daniel looked at Noah and me, and suddenly reacted as though the child in his arms was burning hot.

Before he could put him down, Noah said from the bottom of his heart, "Goodbye, Uncle Daniel."