Seven Years a Shadow: The Stand-In's Escape novel Chapter 12

"Mom, look! Isn't that Dad?"

My daughter, who had been disappointed earlier, suddenly brightened up and excitedly pointed ahead.

I was shocked and followed her finger, only to see Gavin's face.

He had just called and said he couldn’t make it because of work—so why was he here now?

I soon realized he was holding hands with another woman and a little boy, chatting and laughing like a close-knit family, with a warmth in his expression that I had never seen before.

I stared at them, and before I could say anything, Yara had already pulled her hand away from mine and ran toward them.

"Daddy!"

My heart tightened, and I hurriedly chased after her.

When Gavin saw me and Yara, instead of looking happy, his face showed a moment of panic.

He instinctively let go of the little boy’s hand, his expression awkward. “Why are you both here...?”

I found his guilty look almost laughable.

He had no idea we were here because, after all, he had never once picked up or dropped off Yara in all these years.

“Why are you with them and not with Mom and me?” Yara asked, wide-eyed and confused.

As soon as she spoke, both Gavin and Susan froze.

Gavin bent down and pinched Yara’s face. “Yara, be a good girl and let Mommy stay with you. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Then he pulled me aside and said, as if it were the most natural thing, “You stay with Yara for the event. I’ll join you later.”

I sneered. “So this is what you call ‘having work’?”

A fleeting look of confusion passed over his face.

But quickly, he impatiently interrupted me, "Enough!"

“I’m just accompanying Harry to the event. He’s so young and doesn’t have a father, so he needs me more.”

“Can’t you just be a little more magnanimous?”

I looked at him expressionlessly and didn’t say a word.

Harry was Susan and her husband’s son. Just a year ago, Susan’s husband had tragically passed away.

Since then, Gavin had used the excuse of looking after his deceased brother’s family to frequently spend time with this mother and son.

Seeing that I was silent, Gavin knew I was angry.

He furrowed his brow and opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to explain.

“Mom!” Yara’s clear voice called from a distance. I ignored him and turned to take Yara’s hand.