Chapter 411 Unexpected Encounter
Ivan parked his car, stepping out onto the pavement with a punctual five-minute lead, his intention to collect the kids before Haley.
However, upon emerging, he sensed the weight of her gaze, sharp and icy, directed squarely at him. Drawing closer was a solitary figure, slender and imposing.
"Mr. Winston, what brings you here?" she inquired, breaking the silence that hung between them.
Haley's frown spoke volumes, her expression questioning his presence without words.
Ivan's lips curved into a smile, though it was delicate, almost fragile. "Haven't we agreed? Stop calling me Mr. Winston," he gently reminded, his tone suggesting a familiar routine.
In the past, when they pretended to be a couple, she would call him Ivan, playing along. Now, such pretenses seemed unnecessary. Haley's mouth twitched, a subtle response to his remark.
"I'll pick up Todd and Angela; you can go about your business," she stated evenly, her voice devoid of any emotion.
"I am their biological father, and these are my responsibilities," Ivan replied, his voice resonating deeply, like the vibration of cello strings. "You've had a hard time for four years. Let me help you share the burden from now on."
Haley's heart fluttered momentarily, her hand instinctively pinching her palm to quell the surge of emotions threatening to surface. She avoided meeting Ivan's intense gaze, opting instead for a composed demeanor.
"I'm used to it; really, you don't have to..." she trailed off, unsure of how to proceed.
"I have to," Ivan interjected firmly. "Don't worry. I'm not trying to fight for custody. I want to make up for the father's love they've missed all these years."
At this juncture, Haley found herself at a loss for words. The love Ivan harbored for Todd and Angela mirrored her own for Keith and Owen—a mutual desire to provide for the children, to compensate for the love they had been deprived of during the past four years.
Silently, they stood together at the preschool entrance, their shared understanding palpable amidst the tranquil atmosphere. The setting sun cast an orange glow over their figures, enveloping them in a serene sense of timeless peace.
"Wow, Todd, your dad's here again!" the preschooler pressed eagerly against the windowpane, having spotted the pair at the entrance moments before, prompting a gathering of excited little faces inside the classroom.
"Wow, I finally get to see Todd's dad! He's so cool-looking!" one child exclaimed.
"For sure, he's a hundred times cooler than my dad. I wish I had a dad like that!" another said with a tinge of envy.
"No wonder Todd is so handsome and Angela so beautiful. It all makes sense; their parents are good-looking too!"
The buzz of their chatter filled the room as the kids commented one after another.
Todd, usually poised, permitted a faint, controlled smile to appear on his lips, the edges turning up slightly. Recognizing the slight expression he had shown, he promptly regained his composure, trying to stifle the smile.
However, a child's excited exclamation cut through the chatter, "Woah, look, everyone, Angela's smiling!"
"Angela's smile is so pretty, just like a Barbie doll!" chimed another.
"Angela, smile for us again, please!"
Encircled by four or five of her peers, Angela maintained her radiant smile on her rosy lips.
Reacting promptly, Heidi directed the surrounding children away, saying, "Angela is a bit shy, everyone. Let's give her some space so she can keep smiling, alright?"
The children obediently retreated a step, observing Angela from afar, while some attempted to imitate her smile, with lips curled.
Heidi then instructed her students, saying, "Okay, kids. Hold hands. Let's head to the entrance. Your parents are here to take you home!"
The children formed a line, holding hands as they followed Teacher Heidi out of the classroom.
Haley immediately noticed Angela standing beside Heidi. Angela, who typically wore an expressionless demeanor, now beamed with a wide smile on her face.
"Ms. DeRoss, Angela has made so much progress these past few days!" Heidi exclaimed to Haley, her enthusiasm evident. "She's begun to engage with her peers, responding when called, and even initiating interactions by sharing toys and tissues!"
With Angela's newfound confidence and the supportive environment fostered by her teachers and peers, Haley couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude and hope for her daughter's future.
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