Chapter 148
He took a deep breath and said, "Formal fallacies and informal fallacies."
Ivan was visibly surprised.
He thought the kid was just pretending to read, but to his astonishment, the boy had truly delved into the material. Books on logic are dry and dull, even more so than mathematics; to fully grasp and understand the content was no mean feat. What was more astounding was the fact that this child was just over four years old.
Closing the book, Ivan spoke in a measured tone, "Let's see if you can handle another question about logic."
Todd had reached his limit. "I don't want this book anymore."
"To study logic, you'll need more patience than that," Ivan said coolly, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. "The question I have for you involves your mom."
The mention of his mom made Todd tense up.
He paused deliberately as he spoke, "You better stay away from my mom, or else—"
"The question I have..." Ivan cut him off, "is exactly about that. Say you tell me today to stay away from your mom or you'll kill me, and at least three people hear it. The next day, I'm found dead. How would you explain this situation from a logical standpoint?"
Todd had spent the past couple of weeks immersed in logic. He found it fascinating.
Ivan's question intertwined several theories in logic and even brought up his mom, sparking an urge in Todd to answer.
He pursed his lips, then replied calmly, "This is a post hoc fallacy in logic, assuming a cause from a consequence. Most people would think in terms of simple causation—if this scenario were true, they'd conclude that I killed you. This is a common logical mistake people make..."
He spoke with authority, an aura seemed to envelop him.
For some reason, Ivan saw the shadow of Keith in him.
Keith too had once been captivated by logic but set it aside to deal with business affairs.
"So, are you satisfied with my answer?" Todd finished, raising his eyebrows lightly, a confident and spirited gleam in his eyes.
Ivan's smile returned.
Around Haley, he was the sweet, sensible boy who took care of his sister.
But now, with Haley absent, he was a completely different person.
Brazen and willful, there was a rebellious streak hidden in his gaze.
The child was far from simple as he appeared.
A child with a high IQ can be a comfort to the adults yet manage to pull off incredible feats behind their backs.
Keith was there to rein him in, to keep him somewhat at bay.
But this kid—
Did that woman Haley even realize the extraordinary intelligence her son possessed?
Ivan tossed the book back at him: "Not bad, keep reading."
Todd took the book and climbed the stairs to his room, locking the door behind him.
Ivan, left sitting on the couch, suddenly felt an awkward sense of embarrassment.
Haley and her kids were up on the second floor, and little Owen had scampered upstairs as well. Downstairs, he felt somewhat out of place, isolated in his solitude.
He fished out his phone and scrolled through the news, articles and headlines that once captured his undivided attention now slid past his gaze unnoticed. He stood and paced the room, anxiously seeking distraction.
Above the couch in the living room hung a family portrait, a cozy snapshot featuring Haley and her two children, set against a warm, golden backdrop that radiated a sense of home.
His eyes drifted around the room, landing on the dining area where two more family pictures hung from the walls, including individual shots of the children. Yet in none of these could he find the presence of any man. The whole house didn't seem to bear the mark of a man's touch...
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