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Chapter 4
Chapter 4
“No, Jasper. No, it’s not like that.”
I shook my head, trying hard to keep my son from falling apart, desperately denying the truth.
I wanted to tell him that his dad still had one more chance.
That he didn’t need to give up hope just yet.
But instead, he squeezed my hand, leaned into me, and said,
“Mom, let’s go. I don’t want to give him another chance.”
I looked up, stunned, only to see the faint redness around his eyes.
My boy–so sweet, so mature for his age.
All he ever wanted was just a little bit of love from his father.
Just a little. That’s all.
At first, he thought Declan didn’t want him calling him “Dad” because he wasn’t doing well in school.
So he pushed himself, worked harder than ever, until he had straight A’s across the board.
Even when he had a fever, he still insisted on going to class.
But Declan still refused to let him call him Dad.
Later, he thought maybe it was because of his hearing–that Declan didn’t like that he couldn’t hear well.
So no matter how painful the surgeries and treatments were, he gritted his teeth and let me take him to every single appointment.
And now, with his hearing àlmost fully recovered…
Declan still hadn’t smiled at him.
Instead, he whispered another child’s name right next to his ear.
The pain in my chest was suffocating.
I closed my eyes and nodded.
“Okay.”
Declan, this time, we’re done with you–for good.
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Chapter 4
We started packing.
Everything Declan ever gave us–we left it all behind in that house.
And then, my boy smiled again.
That bright, radiant smile.
Like a little gentleman, he helped me carry our bags downstairs.
The day of our flight?
It just so happened to be the same day Declan was going to Elodie’s son’s field day.
The night before, he was afraid we’d crash their perfect little family moment.
So he came by.
For once, he wasn’t cold.
He brought gifts. Tried to hug his son.
But standing in front of the father he used to dream about hugging…
My son took a step back.
He looked up and said,
“Thanks, Mr. Declan. You can just leave it on the coffee table.”
And when Declan heard that-
The way his face fell, that panic in his eyes-
He turned to me in disbelief.
“What… what did Jasper just call me?”
I gave him a smile, one laced with bitter irony.
“Isn’t that what you always wanted, Mr. Declan?”
Eight years of a secret marriage.
Eight years where he never once acknowledged me as his wife.
And not once did he let our son call him “Dad.”
The only difference now?
Back then, it was him making our son call him “Uncle.”
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Chapter 4
Now, it’s our son drawing that line himself.
Declan looked at me, his eyes flickering.
“This is… this is because of the field day, isn’t it?”
“I can talk to Jasper. I can explain.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“And what about Elodie? Her son?”
“You planning on explaining it to them too?”
Only then did it seem to hit him.
He let go of my hand.
I let out a quiet laugh, picked up Jasper’s hand, and turned to leave.
That’s when he finally noticed the packed suitcases by the door.
“You guys taking a trip or something?” he asked.
“Didn’t realize you needed so much stuff just for a vacation.”
I gave him a calm, steady smile.
“Yeah. When you’ve got a kid, you always end up with a ton of bags.”
“You wouldn’t know, though. You’ve never actually traveled with him.”
Just a few words.
But they said everything.
All those years of absence, of silence.
His face twisted into something like guilt. Maybe even regret.
He reached out, stopping us before we went upstairs.
“When’s your flight? I’ll drive you.”
“Tomorrow,” I said plainly.
Because I knew.
He wouldn’t show.
Declan blinked.
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Chapter 4
Didn’t say anything for a second.
Then finally: “Well… just be careful, okay? Traveling alone with a kid…”
That flicker of concern in his eyes?
It didn’t matter anymore.
The next morning, I took Jasper to the airport.
We were about to check our bags when I heard someone calling behind us.
“Serena! Jasper!”
Declan came running in, all smiles, completely out of breath.
“Jasper! Let’s go to Disney World in Orlando together!”
“Wouldn’t that be fun? Daddy’s coming too!”
It was the first time he ever called himself Jasper’s dad.
But my son?
He glanced at the suitcase in Declan’s hand, then shook his head.
Firm. Unshaken.
“No thanks, Mr. Declan.”
“Mom and I are going to New Zealand to find my real dad.”
“So please… just leave us alone.”
