Chapter 102 Choose Between William And…
“Mommy, look! Do you like my drawing?”
Felix’s voice, full of hopeful anticipation, pulled Renee from her reverie. He sat cross- legged on the soft carpet of the living room, his small hands gripping a crayon, while she lounged beside him, fiddling with a chess piece but her thoughts drifting elsewhere.
Her gaze was drawn irresistibly towards the kitchen, where the unfamiliar sound of bustling activity had been resonating. It was William–cooking. It had been so long since the kitchen echoed with the rattle of pots and pans. She could count on one hand the times she’d been in the kitchen over the last three years. Whenever she found a spare moment, the training room was where she preferred to be.
Hearing William busy in the kitchen stirred a tangled mess of feelings within her. She was supposed to loathe him, but Felix’s connection to him stirred unexpected pity. William was his father by blood, after all. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let them have a bit more time together.
“Mommy? Are you okay? You look sad.”
Noticing Renee lost in a daze, Felix leaned closer and peeked up to check if she’d dozed
off.
Snapping back to the moment, Renee smiled gently at Felix, masking her turmoil. “I’m fine, sweetheart.”
A wide smile spread across Felix’s face as he passed his drawing to Renee, clearly craving her admiration. “Mommy, what do you think? Is it good?”
Renee took the paper from his outstretched hands. The drawing depicted a vivid scene: one figure stood by the stove–a clear representation of William, and in the foreground, two others sat in a living room, unmistakably them. The figures were roughly drawn, yet the emotions and dynamics were captured with a surprising depth that seemed beyond Felix’s young age.
A wave of admiration washed over Renee. Felix had always shown a flair for drawing,
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and with a teacher’s guidance, his talent had only flourished.
Felix’s voice was tinged with pride as he pointed at the little figures on his drawing. “This is Mr. Mitchell, this is you, and this is me. We are a happy family of three,” he declared, his eyes sparkling with certainty.
Renee felt a sharp pang in her chest, and her voice faltered slightly as she corrected him gently, “No, Felix, Mr. Mitchell isn’t part of our family.”
Confusion clouded Felix’s youthful face. He furrowed his brow, struggling with the contradiction. “But my teacher said, if there’s one person cooking and two people eating and playing together, that’s a complete family,” he answered, his tone earnest.
Renee sighed, her heart heavy. “Didn’t your teacher also mention that a complete family usually has a daddy, a mommy, and a child?”
Felix propped his chin on his hands, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he looked up, his eyes wide with a new, perplexing thought. “So, Mommy, you don’t want my daddy to be around, and you want Mr. Mitchell instead?”
Renee sputtered, choking on her surprise.
At that moment, William, who had been quietly setting the table with tonight’s dinner, couldn’t conceal a grin at Felix’s innocent inquiry. He shot a curious glance at Renee, eager to catch her reaction.
Renee felt William’s gaze and her features stiffened. She addressed Felix with a firm tone, her words clear and deliberate.
“That’s not quite right, sweetheart. Only two people who truly love each other can make that kind of decision. Mr. Mitchell and I are just friends.”
Felix’s face scrunched up in a thoughtful frown. “But he told me he wants to be my
daddy… Mommy, I really like Mr. Mitchell and Daddy. But I can only have one daddy and I don’t know who to pick!”
Renee couldn’t believe her ears. Was Felix actually convinced he could choose his own
father?
“Concentrate on your drawing, Felix,” she insisted softly, her voice tinged with a weary firmness. “And stop calling others ‘Daddy,‘ okay?”
Felix’s habit of referring to Ryder as “Daddy” was a longstanding issue–one she had tried correcting multiple times without success. Eventually, she had resigned herself to silence, knowing all too well Felix’s yearning for a family like those of his friends–a
mom and a dad both.
“Food’s ready!” William’s voice carried from the kitchen, breaking through her reverie.
At the sound, Felix hurried to pack away his crayons and paper. Renee rose, her movements slow, almost reluctant, as she approached the dining table where an array of dishes gradually claimed every inch of space. Her heart was a storm of conflicting emotions.
She was certain William had overheard her earlier admonition to Feliz. Her stance had to be unmistakable now.
“William, thank you for today,” she said, her voice steady but cold. “Eat with Feliz.. After that, I’d like you to leave and not return. I just can’t… I can’t deal with this anymore.”
With that, she turned to leave, only for William to catch her arm, halting her.
She faced him again, his expression sorrowful, his eyes pleading.
His gaze pierced her like a needle, sharp and cold, straight to her heart.
“I made this meal for you and Felix.” Emotion tightened William’s voice, leaving it rough and unsteady. “You stay and eat. I’ll be the one to go.”
