Lily of Love

During the kindergarten open house, my fiancé, Cade Wexler, accompanied his dream girl's son to the event.

Their intimate behavior made them seem like a real family.

I demanded an explanation from Cade, but he accused me of being unreasonable.

"You're an adult now, and you're jealous of a child?"

Later, a man sponsored by my father made a grand gesture of affection towards me. He was quite handsome.

Cade, with reddened eyes, pleaded, "Please, don't leave me alone."

I smiled and asked, "Aren't you too old to be competing with a boy?"

1

Cade claimed he had a company event over the weekend, yet he appeared at the kindergarten where I worked.

He wore a sharp suit and had his hair meticulously styled, a stark contrast to his usual casual demeanor with me.

He clearly hadn't expected to see me there, and his face couldn't hide the awkwardness, along with a hint of guilt.

"Lily, what are you doing here?"

His tone implied that I was the one who shouldn't be there.

A month ago, I started working at a new kindergarten.

I shared the news with Cade immediately, but he was distracted, barely paying attention.

"Congratulations for finally landing her dream job, " he said, though his mind was elsewhere.

This oversight led to today's embarrassing situation. While I was momentarily stunned, a sweet, cloying voice sounded behind me.

"Cade, Rylie couldn't find you anywhere and cried for her daddy. You should go check on her."

I turned to see Martha Ford, Cade's unattainable love.

She was also surprised to see me but quickly regained her composure.

"Lily, today is Rylie's open day of kindergarten, and both parents are required to attend. I had no choice but to ask Cade for help. You know how tough it is for a woman to raise a child alone. It's just for a day, acting as a stand-in dad. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

Before I could say anything, Martha started acting pitifully, her voice fragile as if she had suffered a great injustice.

Seeing her like this, Cade hurried over to comfort her softly. "It's okay, Martha. It's not your fault. Tell Rylie I'll be there soon, and I'll give her a shoulder ride."

Their silent understanding and closeness made me feel like an outsider.

The scene stung, and I locked my gaze intensely on Cade's eyes.

"Cade, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

2

Cade glanced in the direction Martha had left, irritably tugging at his tie.

"Martha explained it clearly. It's a simple matter. Is it so hard to understand?"

I was taken aback.

He spoke with such confidence, as if I was the one caught in the wrong.

Holding back my emotions, I told him bluntly, "I can't understand. My fiancé willingly plays dad to someone else's child. How am I supposed to understand that?"

I was his fiancée.

We would have our own children in the future.

When he played the role of a model husband and father for another woman, where did that leave me?

"Lily, sometimes I really think you're quite heartless. You're an adult, yet you're competing with a child? Rylie doesn't have a father. Isn't that pitiful enough? Can't you make room for him?"

Cade frowned, his face full of disdain.

I laughed in disbelief out of anger.

Competing with a child?

Wasn't it because he couldn't set boundaries that I was in this awkward position?

I wanted to ask him if playing both sides was really that good.

Initially, I trusted Cade completely, believing his relationship with Martha was purely schoolmates.

Cade said their field was small, and mentorship was important, so everyone helped each other when in need.

With this context and knowing Martha was raising a child alone, I couldn't help but feel some sympathy for her situation.

But at a class reunion a few days ago, someone let slip that Martha was actually the dream girl of Cade.

When I calmly reconsidered their relationship, I found numerous inconsistencies.

If everything was above board, why the need for secrecy?

I had a huge argument with Cade.

I told him if he didn't sort out his relationship with Martha, there was no point in getting married.

He held me tightly, promising he wouldn't cross the line.

He also said if Martha approached him again, he would avoid her.

Yet, he broke his promise.

"Lily, stop making a scene, okay? Let's talk about this at home. The event is about to start, and we shouldn't keep Rylie waiting."

Cade was anxious, trying to sidestep me and leave.

I grabbed his sleeve directly.

I wasn't the kind of person who would make a fuss over nothing usually, but I lost my composure at that moment.

I couldn't just stand by and watch him play happy family with someone else.

He had just promised me, and now he was breaking that promise.

At that moment, only one thought occupied my mind.

I couldn't let him go.

I needed a clear stance from him.

As we were at an impasse, I was suddenly shoved, losing my balance.

A boy, about four or five years old, pushed me hard and then kicked me, shouting, "Witch! Don't take my daddy! Let go of my daddy!"

He kicked for a while before Martha hurried over to take the boy away.

Even after being pulled away, the boy continued to curse.

Martha held him without reprimanding or explaining, only repeating, "Rylie, no matter what, you can't hit people."

A crowd quickly gathered, and uninformed parents began to gossip.

"She must be the other woman. Didn't you hear the kid call her witch?"

"Yeah, kids don't lie. How can the kindergarten have such a teacher?"

"Shameless! We must demand an explanation from the principal. How can we trust her to teach our children?"

"Look at that poor mother. She's being bullied, and she doesn't even say a word!"

The insults were endless.

I became the target for things I had never done.

The principal and other colleagues arrived.

Hearing the parents' comments, the principal's expression turned sour.

She had high hopes for me during the interview, but now her eyes were filled with disappointment.

I glanced at Cade, hoping he would clarify the situation, but he turned his face away.

The kid scanned the room, growing more emboldened with the increasing crowd. His face flushed as he pointed at me and asked Cade, "Dad, who is this woman to you? Are you going to abandon me and Mom?"

Cade looked at me, a bit guilty.

He hesitated for a moment, and then he walked over to Martha and her son.

He crouched down, wiped the tears from the boy's face, and softly reassured him, "That lady... is just a friend of Dad's."

4.

The kid's face lit up with a smug expression.

"Did you hear that? You witch. Stay away from my dad from now on!"

If I had held onto any hope before, it was completely shattered at this moment.

Since Cade said I was just a friend, I might as well fulfill his wish.

Disappointment reached its peak, yet I found a strange calm.

However, I couldn't accept being wronged.

Facing the gossiping parents, I tried to remain composed.

I showed everyone the selfies of Cade and me from my social media, proving he was my fiancé.

As for how he became someone else's stand-in dad, that was for him to explain.

Cade was visibly embarrassed and came over to grab my wrist.

"Lily, do you have to make a scene and upset everyone?

Can you just be a bit considerate, can't you?"

I shook off his grip and sneered, "Don't touch me!"

Perhaps my attitude provoked him, and he became somewhat exasperated.

"So what if you're my fiancée? Does that mean you can restrict my normal interactions with others?"

By now, it was clear to everyone what had happened.

I was exhausted and didn't want to entangle with him any further.

"I won't restrict you anymore. You're totally free from now on."

I meant what I said, but Cade didn't take it seriously.

"Unbelievable." he shouted behind me.

I apologized to the principal and then asked for a leave of absence, explaining that I needed some time off due to personal reasons. I went back to our shared home to pack my things. Cade and I had decorated the house ourselves, piece by piece. Every brick, every light was ordered after thorough research online.

Cade used to tease me for being overly meticulous.

He didn't know I was determined to spend my life with him.

But in an instant, he undermined everything I worked for.

From a rational perspective, I should be glad to leave someone unsuitable, but the agony was real.

With tears streaming down my face, I packed Cade's belongings.

His things filled two large boxes, all of which I had bought.

I dragged the boxes to the hallway and piled them in a corner.

I also changed the lock's password.

After doing all this, I sent Cade a message to inform him about this.

5

Back at my parents' house, I briefly explained the situation.

My mom hugged me, crying in sympathy, while my dad shook his head and sighed.

"This is really unexpected to me. I thought Cade was a good man. Is there some misunderstanding?"

My dad, a university professor, spent his life immersed in academia

and was sometimes overly optimistic about human nature's complexities.

"Vance, what do you think about this?" my dad asked.

Vance Singh, a student my dad had supported since high school, had now achieved success.

He had just graduated this year and was recruited by the school as a promising candidate.

Since he lived nearby, he often helped take care of my parents.

"Mr. Hardy, I think Cade isn't a good choice, " Vance said without much emotion, quietly placing a piece of steak on my plate.

"Oh, how so?" my dad asked, surprised.

Vance rarely spoke much and seldom gave such direct opinions about people.

"Appearance, physique, personality, age-he falls short in every aspect, " Vance replied.

My dad adjusted his reading glasses, puzzled.

"It makes sense in some points, but if I remember correctly, he and Lily are the same age."

"He's even older than me... " Vance muttered softly, but I heard him.

The peculiar rivalry among men was something no one could escape.

The next day, before dinner, there was a knock at the door.

Vance went to answer it and returned shortly.

"It was a salesman. I sent him away."

No sooner had he spoken than someone outside called my name.

It was Cade.

I glanced at Vance, realizing he had driven Cade away earlier.

He noticed my gaze and quickly turned his head away.

This serious boy had developed quite a few little schemes.

The person outside was persistent.

"Lily, can we talk face to face?" Cade called out. "Mr. Hardy, Mrs. Hardy, it's me, Cade. Please open the door. I want to talk to Lily."

Cade's voice was loud, and my dad couldn't sit still.

My dad thought highly of Cade and didn't want to make things awkward for him. Also, since the neighbors were mostly his colleagues, he was concerned about what they might think if there was too much noise or commotion outside. So he was a bit hesitant about the situation.

My dad tentatively suggested, "Why not let him in and hear what he has to say?"

6

Cade climbed the stairs with a pile of things, his face sweaty.

Once inside, he barely put down his things before trying to grab me.

Before I could react, an arm came between us.

"Speak your mind, but keep your hands to yourself, " Vance said.

Vance, being tall, completely shielded me from view.

Cade seemed surprised by Vance's intervention, his expression turning sour.

He opened his mouth but said nothing.

My dad stepped in to ease the tension, inviting Cade to help him in the kitchen.

The scene was reminiscent of the early days of our relationship.

My mom hadn't initially approved of Cade, hoping I'd find someone more compatible.

But my dad saw potential in him, saying it wasn't easy for a young man to make it out of the mountains and that one shouldn't be judged by their background alone.

Cade hadn't let my dad down.

When my dad had a broken leg, Cade carried him up and down the stairs without complaint, even in the sweltering heat.

He always helped out in the kitchen without complaint.

My mom was moved by his sincerity and agreed to let us date.

When did he start to change from the sincere man he once was?

During dinner, I sat next to Vance, deliberately keeping my distance from Cade.

Just as we sat down, Cade's phone rang.

"Cade, Rylie isn't feeling well. Can you come to the hospital with me?"

My parents paused, their expressions darkening.