Chapter 444 Parent-Child Interaction
The playground was already filled with children and parents when they arrived.
Angela flashed a sweet smile toward Andy and Nate. In response to her friendliness, Andy scoffed and turned away, deliberately ignoring her.
Confused by this reaction, Angela tried again with Nate. Unlike his brother, Nate—who lacked such calculated resentment—smiled back at Angela. After all, even if she was their father's child with someone else, she was still a sister of sorts.
Andy, irritated by his younger brother's warmth, stomped on Nate's foot.
"It hurts! Why did you do that?" Nate protested.
"The teacher's about to speak. Pay attention!" Andy snapped.
Angela looked wounded—weren't they supposed to be friends?
Ashley noticed the tension between the children and sighed heavily. This wasn't the place to address it; she'd have to talk with Andy about his feelings later.
On the stage, the host began, "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to join our annual Family Day. Today's event consists of two activities. First, fathers will wear baskets on their backs while carrying their children. As they run, the children must collect balls along the path and deliver as many as possible to their mothers in the shortest time."
"The second activity is a jump rope competition. Fathers will carry their children while skipping rope—whoever completes the most jumps wins. Winning families will receive prizes, but remember, participation and enjoyment are what truly matter. Now, let's begin with the first activity..."
The event area was already set up. Andy and Nate's class was assigned to another section of the playground. Since they were twins, Atticus clearly couldn't carry both boys at once.
The teacher, having anticipated this, explained, "For Andy and Nate's dad, we've organized two separate teams. It doesn't matter whose father participates—each child will take turns being carried."
"That works," Atticus agreed.
Ethan watched from nearby, feeling an inexplicable jealousy. Looking at the adorable Andy and Nate, he couldn't help thinking how unfair it was—how wonderful it would be if these children were his. He even felt a strong urge to be the one carrying them.
The parents and children formed two separate lines, with their original order now randomized.
This game would clearly test the fathers' strength—not just their speed, but their pride as well.
"Begin!" the teacher announced, blowing the whistle.
The first row of parents sprung into action as cheers erupted from the crowd, "Go! Go!"
Atticus stood somewhere in the middle, while Ethan was three positions ahead of him. Counting the spots, Atticus calculated that after carrying one child, he would return just in time to carry Andy.
Ethan glanced back at Atticus with a meaningful look.
Atticus froze, puzzled by Ethan's expression. As he watched, Ethan appeared to speak with two parents, who nodded and switched places with him. The order was disrupted, and suddenly Ethan's position aligned perfectly with Andy's!
Atticus's mind raced. Recalling Ethan's look, he couldn't shake the feeling he'd been deliberately outmaneuvered.
"Next group, get ready!" the teacher called.
Ethan smiled, looking tenderly at Andy as he crouched down. "Andy, hop on. Let me carry you."
Andy blinked in confusion. How had this happened? His "deadbeat dad" was going to carry him? No way did he want that!
Just as Andy tried to change positions, Ethan's strong arms swept him up onto his back. His father's broad shoulders felt like a mountain—solid, secure, full of protection and love.
The normally defiant Andy blushed, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through his chest.
The teacher announced, "Everyone, get ready!"
Ethan assumed a ready stance and said, "Andy, this is our first time teaming up. Let's make it count."
"Don't trip," Andy declared proudly. "I'll get every single ball on this course."
"Go!" the teacher shouted.
Ethan took off running while Andy sprang into action. The path was lined with transparent tape holding colorful balls. Father and son worked with surprising synchronicity, collecting every ball along their route with remarkable efficiency.
From the sidelines, Ashley watched Ethan carrying Andy as they raced toward her, her heart pounding.
God, father and son actually bonding—she wasn't sure whether to feel happy or heartbroken. While she processed her conflicting emotions, Ethan arrived before her, his gaze unconsciously intense.
"I'd say our haul is the best of the day, wouldn't you?" he asked.
Ashley's heart raced even faster as her face flushed. She lowered her head, trying to suppress the strange feeling rising within her. "Yes," she managed to say.
Ethan set Andy down. "I'm off for the next round."
Andy nodded. "Okay." His eyes followed his father's retreating figure with newfound admiration.
Tugging at Ashley's sleeve, Andy whispered, "Mommy, having a daddy feels really nice..."
Ashley stroked his head tenderly, her face etched with guilt. "Andy, I'm sorry you've had to go through this."
Andy shook his head. "It's okay. You're still the one I love most. Having a daddy or not doesn't really matter."
While they were talking, Ethan had already joined the queue again, carefully calculating the timing so he would be paired with Nate for the next round.
After Atticus had run twice, both times missing his chance with either Andy or Nate, he confronted Ethan in frustration. "Hey, are you doing this on purpose? You're deliberately messing with the order just to carry Andy and Nate. What's your game?"
Ethan turned, raised an eyebrow, and gave him a dismissive look that clearly showed how little he thought of Atticus. "Just a coincidence."
A coincidence? How could it be a coincidence twice?
Could Ethan somehow know that Andy and Nate were his children?
Ethan turned to Nate. "Nate, come on, let me carry you."
Nate cheered and jumped onto Ethan's back.
"It's up to you now," Ethan said. "Let's collect another round of treasures and win this thing."
"Okay... Daddy..." Nate caught himself. "I mean, okay!"
The candid little boy had almost slipped up.
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