Chapter 231

Vivian’s POV

I knew that car all too well.

The door opened, and Dylan stepped out from the driver’s seat, wearing a dark, lightweight jacket, holding his car keys.

Allen instantly let go of my hand and sprinted to hug Dylan’s leg, looking up and shouting, "Dad! You’re here!"

Dylan bent down and picked him up. Allen wrapped his arms around his neck, nuzzling his cheek affectionately, but his eyes darted toward Serena with a provocative look. It was as if he were saying: See, I have a dad too.

I frowned and looked at Dylan. "Why are you here?"

Allen answered first, his voice crisp: "Mom, I asked Dad to come. I wanted Mom and Dad to play with me together."

His reason was sound, his expression innocent, as if everything were only natural.

I looked at Allen, then at Dylan, and ultimately chose silence. Since he was already here, I couldn't exactly chase him away in front of the kids. But the discomfort in my heart felt like oil floating on water—no matter what, it wouldn't settle.

Brian stood to the side, keenly sensing the tension between us, and broke the silence. "Since we’re all here, let’s go together. The more the merrier, and the kids will have more fun."

I didn't answer, taking Serena’s hand and walking inside.

The amusement park was teeming with people, filled with colorful balloons and cheerful music. Roller coasters roared overhead, screams echoing one after another. The lights on the carousel flickered, and the laughter of children drifted through the air with the music.

Allen stuck close to me the whole way, holding one hand and grabbing the hem of my coat with the other, as if afraid I’d run off. He dragged me from bumper cars to the mini-train, and even insisted on buying cotton candy.

After every ride, he would look back to make sure Serena was following. Seeing Serena holding Brian’s hand obediently, not trying to steal my attention, he would turn back with relief.

Serena was exceptionally well-behaved today. She didn't pester me as she usually did, nor did she try to take Allen’s place, just following quietly behind Brian. Occasionally, when she saw a ride she was interested in, she would whisper to her father, "I want to play on that," and Brian would take her there. She didn't fight, didn't grab, and didn't make a scene—like a small flower blooming quietly in the noisy crowd.

At the balloon-shooting booth, I won a large brown teddy bear. It was fluffy and nearly half the size of a person when held.

I handed the bear to Allen. Allen hugged it tightly, his eyes smiling. "Mom is so amazing! Thank you, Mom!"

Serena stood to the side, looking at the bear, her envy impossible to hide. But she didn't say anything, just stared for a second before bowing her head to fiddle with the flowers on her dress.

I noticed.

I picked up the air rifle again, aimed, and pulled the trigger—ten for ten.

The stall owner took a pink rabbit plushie off the rack and handed it to me, praising with a smile, "Your aim is very accurate."

I took the rabbit, crouched down, and handed it to Serena. "Serena, this is for you. Do you like it?"

Serena’s eyes lit up instantly. She took the rabbit and hugged it tightly, burying her face into its fur. "I love it! Thank you, Ms. Wilson!"

Allen held his bear and looked at the rabbit in Serena’s hands; the smile on his face slowly faded.

He rushed over, stood in front of Serena, and extended a hand, his voice sharp and loud: "Give the rabbit back! Mom won it, it’s mine!"

Serena immediately hugged the rabbit tighter. She shook her head. "No, Ms. Wilson gave this to me. I can’t give it to you."

Allen’s face turned bright red, his voice rising: "Why do you keep taking my mom? Don’t you have your own mom? Why are you always sticking to my mom?"

The noisy background noise of the amusement park seemed to hit a pause button.

Serena froze, her eyes turning red instantly, her lips trembling slightly. She looked at the rabbit in her arms, then up at me, tears welling in her eyes.

In the end, she couldn't help it; she buried her face in Brian’s chest, her shoulders shaking violently as she sobbed.

Brian held her, patting her back gently. He whispered a few words of comfort to Serena, then looked up at me, his tone frighteningly calm. "Sorry, we’re going to walk over there."

Brian took Serena’s hand and turned toward a different path.

I stood there, watching their backs drift away. Serena’s shoulders were still trembling, but she was very sensible and didn't look back.

I took a deep breath, turned around, and my gaze landed coldly on Allen.

"Go, apologize to Serena." My tone was beyond question.

Allen hugged the teddy bear and stepped back, shaking his head stubbornly. "I won’t. I didn't say anything wrong."

I crouched down, bringing my eyes level with his, trying to suppress my anger and explaining patiently: "Serena’s mother passed away when she was very young. She doesn't have a mother. You can’t hurt her like that. Losing a mother is already painful enough, and then to say things like that—how sad do you think she is?"

Allen was stunned, a look of shock flashing in his young eyes; clearly, he had never considered this fact.

But this shock was quickly masked by grievance, and his lips began to tremble again.

"Even if she doesn't have a mom, she can’t take mine away! You’re my mom, not hers."

I stood up, looking at his stubborn expression, the rage surging in my chest ready to explode. For a moment, I felt a deep sense of disappointment in him.

I looked at Dylan, who was standing to the side, and said coldly, "I’m going to check on Serena. You talk to him."

With that, I walked toward Serena’s direction without looking back.

Dylan’s POV

Allen instinctively wanted to chase, but I grabbed him. He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound, the word "Mom" stuck in his throat, finally turning into a stream of tears. He clung to the teddy bear so hard his knuckles turned white, and that suppressed whimpering made me feel a surge of irritability.

I crouched down, not trying to coddle him, and only after his sobbing subsided did I say in a low voice: "Allen, remember, no one wants to take your mother away. She has her own life, and you need to learn to respect that."

He kept his head down, his lashes wet with tears. I roughly wiped the dampness from his face and ordered coldly: "Go apologize to Serena in a bit. No matter how you feel inside, that 'sorry' has to be said."

He nodded sullenly, following me while clutching the big bear. The park was crowded, and it took a while before we spotted them. His eyes were red and swollen, his little arms holding the bear aching, but he didn't fuss anymore, following me like a frightened little beast, looking around obediently.