Selene glanced over at Harrison, and for a moment, her gaze froze.
Well, isn’t this a surprise–hell must have frozen over. She had tried countless times before to get Harrison to come to the kindergarten and join in on family activities.
He always said he was too busy.
Even her mother–in–law had scolded her for it, telling her not to bother Harrison with school events.
Raising the child, taking care of everything related to him–those were Selene’s duties as Mrs. Vaughn.
Now, in the blink of an eye, Felicity and Harrison stood right in front of her.
“Selene, I brought Harrison with me!” Felicity announced cheerfully.
Harrison caught the distant look in Selene’s eyes and nearly laughed.
How could Selene not still love him? From the way she looked at him, it was painfully obvious–she still did.
He took a seat beside her, while Felicity sat down on his other side.
Across the room, the other well–heeled mothers couldn’t help but turn and stare. Some leaned in closer, eager for gossip, cracking sunflower seeds as they whispered.
“Just wait–Dames is about to show his project. You’ll be blown away!” Felicity whispered excitedly to Harrison, their heads so close together from behind they seemed to nearly touch.
“Did you take the day off?” Selene’s voice cut through the buzz.
Before Harrison could answer, Felicity jumped in, “Harrison’s swamped today. I had to beg him to spare even an hour to come watch Dames‘ presentation.”
A bitter smile curled at Selene’s lips. “Well, if Felicity asks, it must be important.”
She’d always thought her husband was simply too busy for anything else. Turns out, she just never mattered enough.
The children’s presentations began.
Felicity pointed toward the stage, voice brimming with excitement. “Look, your son’s up next!”
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22:26
Chapter 12
Dames wheeled a trolley onto the stage, carrying a huge red box nearly as tall as he was. A shiny “Best Project” sticker was slapped right in the middle.
As he caught sight of Harrison in the audience, Dames straightened up, chest puffed out with pride.
Felicity hadn’t lied–his dad was really here. All it took was a word from Felicity, and he came.
Dames‘ clear, childish voice rang out through the hall, amplified by the microphone. “Today, I want to show you the space fortress I built out of plastic straws. I made it together with Flick!”
Felicity sat back, arms folded, a satisfied smile on her face.
Under the expectant gazes of the audience, Dames opened the box.
But as he peered inside, his expression went blank.
A parent sitting next to Felicity leaned over and whispered, “How come you’re the one helping Young Master Vaughn with his project?”
Felicity replied matter–of–factly, “His mom doesn’t want him anymore. I was the only one left to help.”
The parent tutted in disapproval. “Your sister is really irresponsible!”
Meanwhile, Felicity noticed Dames was still frozen on stage, staring into the box as if glued to the spot.
She grew anxious. “Dames, come on, show everyone your space fortress!”
Dames‘ cheeks flushed bright red. He shook his head at Felicity, eyes brimming
with tears.
“What’s wrong with Dames? The notes are right there on the screen–can’t he read?” another parent muttered.
Felicity had worked so hard to drag Harrison away from his work–just so he could see Dames take first place with her help.
She wanted Harrison to know she, not Selene, was the better mother for Dames.
And now, Dames was letting her down.
No, this wouldn’t do.
“He probably just doesn’t know how to get the fortress out of the box. I’ll go help him,” Felicity decided, slapping her knee and standing up.
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20.3
“Wait, ma’am! You can’t go on stage!” a teacher called out, trying to keep order.
But it was too late. Felicity marched right up, stepping into the camera’s view, without hesitation.
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