Chapter 6

Vance arrived before I did.

I spotted him from a distance.

Wearing a blue delivery uniform, a ridiculous propeller beanie on his helmet, straddling an electric scooter.

So he'd been delivering food to make money.

The teacher glanced at him, her frown deepening. "Mr. Vance, this is a premium bilingual preschool. Don't tell me you're just an Uber Eats driver?"

Vance shook his head, took off the beanie, and ran a hand through his hair. Even in that ridiculous uniform, his face could've launched a thousand ships.

"I'm a father," he said simply. "That's my job title today."

The teacher's lip curled. She was one of those people who measured parents by the car they arrived in.

"The enrollment fee is twelve thousand per semester. And there's a materials fee, a uniform fee, an extracurricular activities fee—"

"I know. Sophie already paid."

He said it without shame. The old Vance would've thrown a black card on the desk. This Vance just stood there, hands in his pockets, accepting reality.

I walked up beside him. "Is there a problem?"

The teacher's attitude shifted immediately when she saw me—designer bag, heels, the whole package. In this world, money talked.

"Not at all, Mrs.—"

"Ms. Sophie. Vivi's mother."

Vivi clung to Vance's leg, peeking out at the unfamiliar classroom.

"Daddy, will you pick me up after school?"

Vance crouched down, eye level with her. "Every single day. I promise."

"Even if it's raining?"

"Even if it's a typhoon."

"Even if there's a dragon?"

"Especially if there's a dragon. I'll fight it."

Vivi giggled and hugged his neck. Over her shoulder, Vance's eyes met mine.

For the first time, I didn't see the broken villain or the bankrupt CEO.

I saw a dad.

And damn it all, I felt something crack in the wall I'd so carefully built around my heart.