Too Late for a Second Choice

I did not own a car, and umbrellas were practically useless in such heavy rain, so Cyrus and I ended up having to brave the rain.

Just as I got him to the kindergarten, Niall happened to speed by in his car, splashing muddy water all over the two of us.

It was Lulu Blanc who got out of his car.

I could still recall how lonely my son looked back then.

"Didn't you say that Daddy had something else to deal with, Mommy?" he asked. "Why is he sending another girl to school?"

I rushed forward to interrogate Niall, but he shoved me unceremoniously to the ground.

"If Lulu catches a cold from being out in the rain, nothing you do will be enough to compensate for it!" he snapped frostily.

Cyrus ran over to stand in front of me, yelling, "Bad Daddy! You're not allowed to push Mommy!"

However, Niall did not care whether his son caught a cold or came down with a fever. He instead concentrated on embracing Lulu, ensuring not a single raindrop touched her.

He did not even spare a glance for Cyrus, who was thoroughly soaked.

Cyrus developed a fever by noon. It took a whole afternoon of tender care before he finally got better.

However, during the night, my son kept thinking about celebrating Niall's birthday with him. He insisted on looking for his father, which led to tonight's events.

As I looked into my son's pale face, I silently apologized, "I'm sorry. It's all my fault for not taking good care of you."

The next morning, the same doctor from yesterday—Dr. Cooper—came to check in on Cyrus.

"Where's the child's father?" he asked again. "Did he not come at all? That's so irresponsible!"

I pursed my lips, unsure of what to say.

"Young people nowadays are just so irresponsible. You'd be better off marrying a pig than a husband like this! Take my advice—you should remain sharp when looking for a husband.

"Dr. Luther from our hospital, for example, is a great man! I heard that his wife and daughter were almost hit by a car in front of the hospital yesterday. He almost turned the entire hospital on its head in his worry!

"That's how huge the gap between a good and bad man is!"

The bitterness in my heart grew the more I listened to the doctor's words. "That's right. I'd be better off marrying a pig than a man like this!"

In the past few days, I finally learned that the hospital staff had a tacit agreement that Niall and Chelsea were already together.

So, this was what Niall had meant when he said he was afraid I would drag down his career. He was not afraid for his career. He was just afraid that if news of our marriage were to spread, it would affect his ability to play a loving couple with Chelsea while at the hospital.

It was not that he disliked children. He just did not like me and my son.

"As his mother, you're at fault too!" the doctor accused. "How could you let your child get soaked in the freezing rain?"

Cyrus replied before I could, saying defensively, "Mommy didn't cause me to get soaked! Daddy clearly promised me that he would send me to kindergarten, but he ended up sending someone else…"

He trailed off, then asked me, "Does Daddy not like me, mommy?"

I tried to put on a strong front, but I crumbled when I caught sight of the news being broadcast on television.

"It was reported that a young girl suffered minor abrasions while at an amusement park last night. The girl's father immediately conducted a full set of medical examinations for her and spent a full hour thoroughly ruling out all possible hidden dangers.

"In the end, it was confirmed that it was just a scratch. Throughout the entire process, he displayed incomparable care and patience for his daughter. His actions were filled with fatherly love, and netizens have crowned him as the most responsible father!"

When the doctor heard the news report, he said in delight, "That's Dr. Luther, the man I was telling you about. Look, that's the kind of man a woman should be marrying! Responsible, loyal to his family, and loyal to love!

"You may not like me telling you this, but if things don't work out between you and your husband, I suggest you file for divorce. What use is trash like that?"

My heart was filled with bitterness. Who would know that the "most responsible father" and the "most irresponsible father", according to the doctor, were both actually the same person?

Cyrus watched Niall hugging Lulu tightly on screen.

He realized that she only had a minor scratch. On the other hand, he had gritted his teeth through the pain of receiving stitches.

He did not understand why there was such a difference between them.

Cyrus, who had not shed a tear despite all the pain he had gone through last night, looked at me with red eyes, asking, "Mommy, Lulu's actually Daddy's child, not me, right?"

I could only hug him tightly and reply, "No, that's not it. You're his child! It's all my fault…"

"Daddy doesn't like me, but he likes Lulu. It's alright, Mommy, so don't cry. I don't like Daddy anymore, either. I don't want him anymore, either!

"He's never kept any of his promises to me, and he treats you badly, too. Let's not be with Daddy anymore, okay?"

My son was evidently incredibly sad, but he was still trying his best to comfort me.

As I listened to his words, I felt as if my heart was being stabbed with a knife, and I burst into tears.