On Perfect‑Husband Challenge Day, He Abandoned Our Daughte

Chapter 3

The next morning, I was awakened by the noise downstairs.

I slipped on a robe and slowly went downstairs. The scene in the living room hurt me all over again.

Mia was clutching the limited-edition LEGO Castle I had given her, her eyes red with tears.

Grace stood in front of her, dressed in a brand-new custom-made pink princess gown.

She was pulling hard at the other end of the LEGO Gift Set, refusing to let go.

"It's mine! Mommy gave it to me for my birthday!"

Mia's voice trembled as she fought back tears, filled with hurt and indignation.

"But I like it. I want it."

Grace turned toward Daniel, who was sitting on the sofa. "Daddy Daniel, I want this."

Daniel set down his coffee cup and rose calmly, stepping between the two children.

His tone was gentle, yet firm and unmistakably biased.

"Mia, be considerate. Give it to Grace."

"She's not my sister! I don't want to give it to her!"

For the first time, Mia gathered the courage to shout back. Tears streamed down her face.

"It's mine! Why should I give it to her?"

"It's only a toy. What's wrong with letting Grace play with it first? Grace doesn't have a father. She's already pitiful enough. You need to learn to be understanding."

Daniel frowned, his voice clearly laced with displeasure.

"I'll buy you a bigger, better one tomorrow. Be good. Let go."

Mia bit down hard on her lower lip as tears fell one after another.

But she still hugged the gift set tightly and refused to release it.

"This child is becoming more and more unreasonable. She's stubborn and spoiled."

Daniel's face darkened completely. He reached out to pry Mia's fingers apart.

"Daniel."

I stopped him, my voice calm and clear.

He looked up and saw me standing at the foot of the stairs. His expression softened slightly, and he spoke with a helpless sigh.

"Emma, good timing. Talk to Mia. Tell her not to be so petty."

I walked downstairs slowly and stopped in front of the two children.

"It's sad Grace doesn't have a father. But that is not Mia's fault."

Without looking at Daniel, I crouched down to level with Mia's tear-streaked face.

"Mia, sweetheart, let go," I said softly.

Mia stared at me in shock, unable to believe what she had heard. Her voice caught in her throat.

"Mom..."

"Give it to her. This is the last time," I repeated calmly.

Those words were not only for Mia. They were also the last of my tolerance for this ridiculous marriage and this house.

Mia's fingers slowly loosened. The hurt she had held back for so long immediately burst free, and tears poured down her cheeks.

Grace let out a cheer, grabbed the LEGO Gift Set, and ran to the other side of the sofa, her face full of triumph.

Daniel sighed in relief and gently patted Mia's head.

His voice carried a perfunctory note of comfort.

"That's more like it. That's my sensible little girl."

Mia suddenly shoved his hand away.

Then she turned and ran upstairs. Her thin back trembled slightly, radiating disappointment and hurt.

Daniel withdrew his hand awkwardly. He turned to me and tried to justify himself in a low voice.

"You see? She's getting more stubborn by the day. She really needs to be taught properly."

"Yes."

I slowly stood, smoothing the hem of my robe. My eyes were cold.

"She certainly does."

He didn't catch the meaning behind my words. Instead, he raised his wrist to check the time.

"It's getting late. I'm taking Grace to Oceanview Aquarium. Claire has a follow-up appointment at the hospital today, so I'll drop her off on the way."

"Mm." I walked to the dining table and poured myself a glass of warm water.

"We won't be home for lunch. If you get bored, call your friends and go shopping. Use the supplementary card as much as you want."

He spoke casually as he changed his shoes, as though he were doing me a favor.

"Got it," I replied.

I watched him leave, holding Grace's hand.

Then I set down my glass, walked over to the sofa, and picked up the empty LEGO box Grace had tossed aside.

I threw it into the trash can outside the front door. The pink slippers I had discarded yesterday were still lying at the bottom.

I turned and went upstairs, pushing open Mia's bedroom door.

She was lying face down on the bed, her face buried in her pillow. Her shoulders shook as she tried to suppress her pitiful sobs.

I sat beside her and gently patted her trembling back.

"Mom."

My daughter lifted her tear-streaked face. Her voice trembled.

"Does Dad not like me anymore? Does he only want to be Grace's dad?"

Seeing her look so cautious and full of self-doubt broke my heart.

Daniel had given all his fatherly love to another man's child, while neglecting and hurting his own daughter day after day.

How absurd.

I gently wiped away her tears with a tissue and looked at her tenderly.

"Mia, what kind of home do you want?"

She blinked in confusion, unable to understand what I meant.

"A home where you don't have to fight for toys, give in to anyone, watch other people's moods, or make yourself unhappy," I said softly. "Do you want to live in a home like that?"

Mia nodded hard, and light returned to her eyes.

"Yes."

"Good." I stood, took out her coat, and helped her put it on. "Then we're leaving now."

I took out the private phone I hadn't used in five years and dialed a number I had never once called on my own.

The call was answered after only one ring.

"Ms. Lloyd."

John Whitaker's calm, respectful voice came through the phone.

"You finally called."

"Old John." I looked out at the neatly trimmed lawn, my voice calm.

"Send a car for Mia and me. We're coming home."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll arrange it immediately."

John's voice was full of joy. "Mr. Max Lloyd and Mr. Ethan Lloyd have been waiting for you for five years."

I lowered my gaze and said quietly, "Yes. It's time to end this absurd game."