But clearly, Alexander had already taken my place in both Maya’s heart and Hannah’s.
Seeing that I remained silent, she let out a sigh.
"How about this, if you stop causing a scene, I’ll let you join us for the TV show taping. You can enjoy some of the spotlight too."
Just as I was about to turn her down, her phone rang.
She glanced at me, hesitated for a beat, then walked into the corner to answer it.
Whatever she heard on the other end made her expression twist in rage. She stormed over and slapped me across the face.
"Dylan! How dare you!"
I staggered back, the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth.
"If anything happens to Alexander or his son, I swear, I’ll never forgive you!"
She spun on her heel and stormed out, the door slamming so hard it rattled the whole house. Hannah chased after her, flustered and confused.
I wiped the blood off my lips and quietly went back to packing my suitcase.
In the dead of night, my phone buzzed over and over again.
I stared at the screen, at that all-too-familiar number, took a breath, and picked up without saying a word.
On the other end came Alexander’s low, mocking chuckle. "So? Did it crush you, hearing Ivy call me ‘Dad’ with your ears?"
My fingernails dug deep into my palm, but I kept my voice steady.
"What do you want?"
"I just thought you should know that Ivy and Maya had dinner at my place earlier. They’re staying the night, so don’t wait up."
"Maya couldn’t stop praising my braised ribs. She even said they tasted better than yours. Just like me and you, heaven and earth. No matter how much she once loved you, it’s nothing compared to one smile from me."
I understood precisely what he meant.
I bit down on my lower lip until I tasted blood.
In the days that followed, neither Maya nor Hannah came home.
But through Hannah’s social media, I watched their little “family of four” flaunt their happiness online, matching family outfits at Disneyland, enjoying candlelit dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, and laughing as if they had never known pain.
They became an overnight sensation.
Some netizens began to question.
[Wait… is he the real dad or just the godfather?]
[Is this a drama, or are they actually trying to go viral?]
Maya herself replied in the comments.
[This isn’t for show. Alexander is my daughter’s godfather. As for my ex-husband, we’re finalizing the divorce.]
When more level-headed users began questioning whether she had cheated during the marriage, Maya responded by posting the signed divorce agreement, loud and proud.
She claimed we had already agreed to part ways once our daughter entered university.
Not to be outdone, Hannah stirred the pot online, sparking a trending hashtag on Twitter.
#My biological father bribed thugs to cripple my godfather and little brother. Does a man like that deserve to be called Dad?
The internet went up in flames.
Each day, I received a flood of insults and threats.
My front door was splashed with red paint.
I didn’t even dare step outside to buy groceries.
Then Maya sent me a message.
[This is what you get for bullying Alexander and his son. If I didn’t still have a shred of sympathy for you as my ex-husband, you’d already be behind bars.]
I didn’t respond.
Instead, I forwarded my lawyer the recording of Alexander’s smug phone call that night, along with all the evidence I had quietly gathered.
On the day of the TV show taping, Maya messaged me again.
[As long as you publicly apologize to Alexander and his son, I won’t go through with the divorce. And I’ll make sure Ivy acknowledges you as her father again.]
[But… the fact that we’re still legally married can’t be revealed. Everyone already thinks Alexander and I are husband and wife.]
To tighten the noose, she even made a public statement in front of the press, saying, "My ex-husband will be attending today to give everyone a proper explanation."
The live camera swept across the crowd.
Every head turned, every neck craned, waiting to see me humiliated on national television.
At that moment, I was seated on a flight bound for another country.
Just before takeoff, I tapped once and released everything online.
The hotel check-ins were between Maya and Alexander. Bank transfers she’d made to both him and his son. And most damning of all, the paternity test.
