Chapter 1: The Gift Wrapped in Crayon Paper
Chapter 1: The Gift Wrapped in Crayon Paper
Seven-year-old Ethan waited nervously outside his father's office, clutching a small package wrapped in crooked blue paper covered with hand-drawn hearts.
"Dad," he whispered as Daniel finally emerged after another late meeting. "I made something for Mother's Day."
Daniel smiled sadly.
"You mean for Carol?"
Ethan nodded, forcing a smile. "Maybe... maybe she'll like me this time."
Daniel had no idea that while he was buried in work every day, Carol barely tolerated his son. She locked Ethan in his room whenever Daniel traveled, threw away the drawings he made, and constantly reminded him that he wasn't her real child.
That evening, Ethan handed Carol the gift with trembling hands.
"I made it myself."
Carol opened it carelessly.
Inside was a handmade bracelet crafted from colorful beads and a folded card.
"Thank you for taking care of me. I know I'm not your real son, but I love you anyway."
Instead of gratitude, Carol rolled her eyes.
"What am I supposed to do with this cheap junk?"
She tossed the bracelet into the trash.
Ethan quietly bent down, picked it back up, and whispered, "It's okay."
But Daniel had walked back into the kitchen just in time to see everything.
His smile disappeared.
"Carol... what exactly did you just throw away?"
Carol laughed nervously.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just childish garbage."
Daniel looked at Ethan's devastated face for the first time.
Something wasn't right.
Very, very wrong.
That night, after Ethan fell asleep hugging the rescued bracelet, Daniel couldn't stop thinking about the fear in his son's eyes whenever Carol entered the room.
For the first time in years...
He decided to stay home instead of leaving for another business trip.
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He wanted answers.
He had no idea those answers would destroy his marriage.
