Chapter 2The Son’s Birthday

The clatter of a bowl hitting the floor shattered the moment.

As David lunged to his feet, a tureen of steaming hot soup sloshed over the table, right onto our son’s arm.

A piercing scream cut through the room, and everything descended into chaos.

My parents rushed to pour cold water on Tim's arm.

His grandparents were already in tears, trying to soothe his hysterical crying.

And David, the cause of it all, just stumbled back, a flicker of apology in his eyes before he turned and ran out of the room without a second thought.

His younger sister, Sarah, looked terrified, rushing to cover for him.

"Lily is… she's one of his junior employees. Something awful happened with her family, she's not doing well. As her boss, he can't just ignore it... I'm sure he'll be right back."

Lily?

So she even knew the girl's name.

What else had she been hiding for him?

Sarah was five years younger than David. When I married him, she was just starting college. She used to follow me around, calling me her big sister, promising we’d be best friends for life.

Now, that same girl couldn't even meet my eyes as she stammered, "Chloe, you and my brother have been married for so long… You understand, right?"

My throat felt like it was clogged with stones, raw and aching.

I didn't answer her. I just reached out and pulled my son into my arms. "We're going to the hospital."

At the emergency room, the diagnosis came back: second-degree burns. Blisters of all sizes and angry red welts covered his entire arm. He had cried himself into exhaustion.

My parents were furious, their voices shaking with a mix of anger and heartbreak.

"This is insane! What kind of employee is more important than his own son? Tim is only five! Why should he have to suffer like this?"

David's parents were deeply ashamed, trying to comfort me while urging Sarah to call him.

"Get that worthless boy on the phone right now! My grandson is seriously hurt. He needs to be here!"

But for three hours, through five bags of IV fluids, David didn't answer a single call from any of us.

Instead, a friend request popped up on my phone.

[This is Lily. I'm pregnant.]