Chapter 4

Two days before her birthday, for once, Logan actually came home. I was in the living room drawing with Mia.

At the sound of the door, we both looked up.

"Logan."

"You're back."

We greeted him first. Logan gave a cold nod and handed Mia a beautifully wrapped gift box.

"For me?" Mia was overwhelmed. It was only the second present Logan had ever given her in her whole life.

"Thank you, Logan!" Mia couldn't wait to tear it open. Inside was a Lego race car, already built.

I frowned.

A couple of days earlier, I'd happened to see Serena's Instagram Story, and that exact Lego race car had been sitting in a corner of her living room. Obviously it was junk Leo had gotten bored of and thrown away.

"Is there anything else?" I said, when he didn't move. It was a clear hint for him to leave..

Logan looked at me. "Switch Mia to a different school. Pick anywhere you want. I'll have my assistant handle the paperwork."

My heart sank.

Mia and Leo went to the same school. He hadn't come back to give her a present. He'd come to get Mia transferred, so she wouldn't be around Leo and give anything away.

I looked at Mia. Her head was down, and her tears were already falling, drop by drop, onto that beat-up Lego car.

"Fine," I said, nodding numbly.

Having gotten what he came for, Logan turned to leave.

"Logan!" Mia suddenly jumped down from her chair and ran up to him.

She'd gathered every bit of courage she had, the tear tracks still on her face. "The day after tomorrow is my birthday. Will you spend it with me? Just this once."

My heart ached so much I had to look away. I couldn't bear to watch my daughter make herself so small.

Logan was silent for so long I thought he'd say no.

In the end, he nodded. "Okay."

Mia smiled happily, ran to the table, grabbed an invitation, and pressed it into his hand. "The time and place are on there. Don't be late!"

Logan took the card and walked out the door.

"Mommy! He said yes!" Mia bounced over and threw herself into my arms.

I was deeply worried. I would rather Logan had just said no than keep putting out the hope Mia lit, over and over again.

Meanwhile, Logan took the invitation to Serena's place, and Leo happened to see it.

"Waaah!" Leo plopped down on the floor and started wailing. "Mia invited the whole class to her birthday party, and she won't invite me! She hates me!"

"Stop crying. You're always picking on her. Of course she won't invite you." Serena pretended to scold him, glancing at Logan out of the corner of her eye.

"No! I want to play with everyone! I want to have a party that day too! I want it! I want it!" Leo rolled around on the floor like crazy.

"It's not even your birthday," Serena said, pretending to be torn.

"Then have it early! Mommy, please, I want to play with everyone!"

Seeing she couldn't calm her son, Serena teared up too.

Logan frowned, walked over, and picked Leo up. "Stop crying. I'll throw you one. On that day. We'll invite your whole class."

"Really?" Leo instantly broke into a smile.

Logan nodded.

He had no idea that one careless promise was pushing Mia into the abyss.

Mia and I knew nothing about any of it.

The day before her birthday, I went to the school and withdrew Mia.

When we got home, Mia kept staring at the clock, wishing time would move faster.

On the morning of the party, I texted Logan: The party starts at 5 p.m. Don't be late.

He answered quickly: Mm.

Watching Mia play on her iPad, I let out a small breath.

If Logan really did come, maybe I'd soften... and stay.

That afternoon, I took Mia to the hotel to blow up balloons and decorate the room. Mia kept glancing out the window.

Then a parent called to say their kid had suddenly gotten sick and couldn't come. After that, one parent after another texted or called. All apologies. All no-shows.

"Mommy, is no one coming?" Mia had heard the calls. Her face was pale, but she still forced a smile. "It's okay. As long as Logan comes. I just want to spend my birthday with Mommy and Logan."

My heart ached so much. I texted Logan, but this time, there was no answer at all.

Five o'clock came and went. Six o'clock came and went. The party room was empty.

My phone screen lit up. Serena had posted on Instagram.

It was a video of the "huge party" she'd thrown for Leo. The whole class and all their parents were there, and Logan was standing right in the middle of the crowd, smiling like a loving father.

My hand shook, and my phone fell to the floor.

Mia came over, picked up the phone, and stared blankly at the video. This time, she didn't cry.

"Mommy, let's have cake." She put the phone back on the table, pulled the cake over to herself, and struggled to stick the candles in. "Light the candles for me, Mommy."

I lit the candles and turned off the lights.

"I wish Logan will always be happy. I wish Mommy and I will always be together."

Hearing Mia's wish, I couldn't hold it in anymore. The tears poured out of me.

She blew out the candles, cut a slice of cake, took one bite, and finally burst into sobs.

I held her in my arms.

Logan's chances were all used up.

That night, Mia and I packed our bags and left that house.

We bought tickets on the earliest flight to London.

Before we boarded, I sent Logan one last message: Logan, I hope you'll be happy.