Conrad was feeling pretty pleased with himself, but Lillian kept staring at him suspiciously.
“What’s wrong? Do I have something on my face?” He was starting to doubt himself – she never stared at him like this unless something was up.
“Did you have something to do with this?” she asked directly.
Conrad froze mid-motion. “What are you talking about?”
Lillian pressed her lips together, glancing at the two kids. Luckily, they were too busy excitedly greeting the staff to notice the tension. Quincy had already forgotten about his dad’s departure.
“Ethan’s ex-wife got into a car accident,” Lillian said. “You had nothing to do with that?”
Conrad hated being falsely accused more than anything. He took a sharp breath, turned his head away awkwardly, and said gruffly, “I’m not that low or shameless. I didn’t even know why he left. Lillian, you’re just biased.”
Conrad continued, “Ethan’s always the good guy, and I’m always the one doing shady stuff? Even if his ex hadn’t gotten hurt, I could still stick around and pester you. Why would I bother pulling something like this? If I really wanted to get rid of him, I’ve got plenty of better options. Why would I stoop to hurting some woman?”
Frustrated, Conrad rattled off his argument in one breath, then turned his head away, clearly upset.
Melissa, who had been celebrating Ethan’s departure, suddenly panicked at the sight of their tense exchange.
“Wait, what’s going on? Why does Conrad look mad now? Did all his lessons go to waste!?”
“Does he even know who he’s talking to right now?!” Melissa huffed, rolling up her sleeves like she was ready to jump in herself.
George quickly stopped her. “Hold on, just watch first. Don’t rush in yet.”
Lillian, still skeptical, couldn’t help but ask again, “Are you sure it wasn’t you?”
“Oh, so you want it to be me?” Conrad shot back.
“You’ve never been one to shy away from dirty tactics when you’re determined. How would I know?” Lillian wasn’t intimidated – not anymore.
Conrad was full of frustration, practically itching to kick the trash can beside him.
But he still forced himself to explain, “It really wasn’t me. I swore in front of God – as long as they kept Jasmine healthy, I wouldn’t go back to my old ways. I can’t break that promise, and I wouldn’t joke around when it comes to my daughter.”
He didn’t look at her; his gaze stayed fixed on something far away. But even from the side, it was obvious he was deeply upset.
“Daddy!” Jasmine called out with a cheerful smile. Then, almost instantly, she sensed the tension in the air.
Ugh, this dad of mine… No wonder I have to stick around and babysit him.
Look away for one second, and he’s already making me worry.
“Daddy~” Jasmine’s voice turned serious as she placed her hands on her hips. “Did you make Mommy mad again?”
Conrad froze, frowning instinctively. With his sharp features, that expression only made him look even fiercer – especially with his face already darkened by frustration.
Seeing Jasmine’s lips start to quiver like she was about to cry, Lillian softened.
“No, sweetie,” she said gently. “Your dad and I were just talking. It’s almost lunchtime, and we were deciding where to take you guys to eat – somewhere cool and fun.”
“Really?” Jasmine asked, clearly skeptical.
“Really.”
“Then you have to hold hands!” Jasmine insisted, her face serious. When kids at my kindergarten get upset, the teacher says holding hands makes everything better.”
Lillian’s smile stiffened. Awkwardly, she said, “But sweetie, Mommy and Daddy are grown-ups…”
“What’s the difference?” Jasmine countered. “Right, Quincy?”
Quincy, caught off guard, scratched his head. “Uh… yeah, I guess?”
Before Lillian could protest, a large hand suddenly reached out and clasped her slender wrist.
Fingers intertwined, firm and unrelenting.
Jasmine beamed, flashing a sweet smile. “Now you have to keep holding hands! Don’t let go!”
Satisfied, she turned back to watch her favorite characters on stage.
Lillian tried pulling her hand away a few times but couldn’t shake him off. “That’s enough,” she warned with a frown.
Conrad, however, looked delighted, his lips curling into a smug smile.
“Nope,” he said smugly. “I held on fair and square. Why should I let go? You promised our daughter – what kind of example would it be if you broke your word? And you’re a famous director, Barbara. That’s not very professional of you.”
He had the audacity to act like this in broad daylight – completely shameless, like he didn’t even care how ridiculous he sounded.
Lillian was so exasperated she didn’t even know what to say.
“You’re not worried about losing points with me?” she asked through gritted teeth.
Conrad arched a brow, glanced down at her, and said with genuine surprise, “I still have points?”
“Of course not,” Lillian snapped.
“Exactly,” Conrad grinned. “So I might as well enjoy this while I can – opportunities like this don’t come around often.”
“Let go!” Lillian warned in a low voice.
But Conrad refused. “My hands are covered in blisters from making breakfast,” he complained. “And Ethan ate most of it too. He bullied me, and you didn’t even stand up for me.”
His voice was tough, but his words sounded oddly pitiful.
As if to prove his point, he deliberately raised his hand, showing her the red, irritated spots across his palm.
Lillian shot him a sideways glance, only to notice the old scar on his wrist.
It had been five years, yet he had never bothered to get it treated. The jagged, stitched-up wound still stood out on his inner wrist, ugly and stark.
It wasn’t hard to imagine how dangerous things must have been back then.
Conrad followed her gaze and noticed what she was looking at. He chuckled and muttered, “It’s been fine for a while now.”
Lillian blinked, then asked dryly, “Did the doctor say you’re fully recovered?”
“It was lucky they treated it in time,” he replied. “But getting back to how it was at its best? That’s impossible.”
A shooter’s hands were everything. Once injured, there was no way they could handle intense training again.
“What about day-to-day life?”
“No problem,” he said casually. “Carrying you, carrying Jasmine – easy as ever.”
He made it sound so nonchalant, but anyone could see that in a situation like that – to do it, to dare to do it, to be ruthless enough to hurt himself – it must have taken immense courage and determination.
Severing his own hands in a fast-moving vehicle… that was practically sending himself straight to the afterlife.
Lillian stared at the parade float in the distance. The performers were doing their best to interact playfully with the children, while the sky stretched bright blue behind them, dotted with drifting balloons.
Suddenly, Conrad moved quickly, snatching a pink-and-white balloon from the air and stuffing it into the hand that was still holding hers.
Now, between the two of them, the balloon floated like a heart.
“Do you regret it?” she asked, her eyes fixed on the fluttering ribbon.
“Not at all. I just regret not taking him out sooner – before he put you in danger. Even if I’d lost both hands… as long as you’re still here, it was worth it.”
In the distance, Melissa was practically pacing in frustration.
“What are they even talking about?!” she huffed.
Lionel smirked. “Does it matter? They’re holding hands, and she hasn’t shaken him off yet.”
“That’s a huge win. Come on, time for the next step!”
A group of them sneakily disappeared into the crowd.
Conrad turned his head, narrowing his eyes. So unnecessary…