A car accident had kept me in the hospital for three months.
On the day I was finally discharged and fully recovered, I bought my daughter’s favorite toy, wanting to surprise her.
But when I returned home, I found a strange boy sitting in my daughter’s room.
Still puzzled, I heard a woman say to me, “Who are you? Why are you in my house? Leave right now, or I’ll call the police.”
Looking around at the familiar furnishings, I felt a wave of confusion.
Just then, the door opened and my husband, Ethan Carter, came in from outside.
I was about to ask what was going on when the boy suddenly rushed over, grabbed Ethan’s leg, and shouted, “Dad, this woman is a thief! Get her out of here!”
…
When Ethan saw me, he looked a little guilty.
I asked coldly, “What’s going on? Is he your son?”
Ethan patted the boy’s head affectionately and said, “Olivia, don’t overthink it. Rachel Moore is my high school classmate. She just returned to the United States, and it’s not easy for her to raise a kid on her own. Since we have a spare room, I let them stay here for a while.”
“This boy’s never had a father figure. I played with him a few times, and he just started calling me ‘Dad.’”
“So I went along with it and became his godfather.”
Ethan gave the boy’s head another pat. “Call her ‘Aunt.’”
The boy said defiantly, “I’m not calling her that. Who is this woman? Dad, tell her to leave. I don’t like her.”
Ethan didn’t scold him, nor did he bother to explain who I was.
He just said to me, “He’s a kid. You haven’t spent much time together, so of course he’s a little hostile. Give it some time.”
Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the gift I had bought for Sophie and shoved it into the boy’s hands. “This is from your aunt.”
I snatched it back immediately. “Ethan Carter, what are you doing? I bought this for Sophie.”
Ethan frowned. “Olivia, don’t be so petty.”
Before he finished speaking, the boy suddenly ran over and bit me hard on the arm.
I screamed from the pain, and he pushed me forcefully, snatching the toy away.
Holding it high, he said smugly, “Dad said this toy is mine.”
I said with a cold face, “Put it down.”
But Ethan stepped in front of the boy, looking displeased. “Olivia, how old are you? Why are you stooping to a child’s level?”
“Rachel and her son are guests in our home. You’re really making me lose face with your attitude.”
Just then, I heard a loud crack from behind him.
I pushed past Ethan and saw the boy slam the toy onto the floor.
The crystal wind-up violin shattered into pieces, fragments and gears scattering everywhere.
The boy grinned with satisfaction. “If I can’t have it, then no one can.”
I stared at the broken toy, my eyes stinging.
It was a limited edition—Sophie had wanted it for a long time.
It had taken me a lot of effort and connections to get it.
Ethan and Rachel, however, were hugging the boy, checking him over to make sure he wasn’t hurt.
Rachel looked up at me and said softly, “Olivia, you shouldn’t have bought a gift like this. Lucas is a bit mischievous—what if he got hurt?”
I said coldly, “This wasn’t even for him. And now that he’s broken it, you’ll need to replace it.”
Rachel’s eyes welled up instantly. “I’m sorry, it’s Lucas’s fault. He shouldn’t have taken it.”
That pitiful look of hers made Ethan’s face soften with sympathy.
He waved his hand and said, “Replace it? It’s just a toy. Besides, it’s not Lucas’s fault—I told him to take it.”
