Claire came back with Caleb. She couldn't even wait to step inside before rushing to share the good news with me.

"The Lancaster family said they're sending someone on Christmas Eve to pick up the new heir. You should help pack Caleb's things."

I sat quietly on the couch and gave her a calm nod. "Perfect timing. Let's sign the papers."

Claire's smile faded. Her eyes landed on the divorce papers already sitting on the coffee table. She froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard. "You already prepared them?"

I nodded, keeping my tone steady. "Didn't you say they were coming for him on Christmas Eve? You might as well start getting things ready."

A flicker of guilt crossed her face. "Timothy, there's no need to rush. As long as Lincoln acknowledges Caleb..."

I waved her off. "If Caleb's going to be publicly recognized as a Lancaster, he needs to be the legitimate son. If you don't marry Lincoln, people will laugh at you."

"Mom! He's right! Just hurry up and divorce him! Then, you can marry Lincoln!" Caleb was holding a brand new remote-controlled sports car—clearly a gift from Lincoln.

He looked up at me smugly, his eyes filled with disdain. "Hey, Timothy. If you know what's good for you, you'll just let us go."

"Caleb!" Claire scolded him. "Don't be rude. Even if I do take you into the Lancaster family, Timothy will always be your father. You'll just have two dads from now on..."

"I don't want that!" Caleb turned around and spat at me. "Why would I want a dad like you? You've got no money and no power! All you do is cook at home. My dad should be someone like Lincoln, who's the heir to a fortune!"

Then, he made a face and ran off. As he passed by the old toy car on the floor—the one I gave him last Christmas—he stomped on it until it shattered into pieces. "I'm done with this cheap junk!"

He had a new toy now. Why would he care about the one I gave him?

What he didn't know was that the car I gave him was a limited-edition collector's model. It was worth several times more than the real car that Lincoln had used to pick him up from school that day.

"Timothy..." Claire looked at me uneasily. "Don't take it to heart. Lincoln hasn't seen Caleb in years, so he's spoiling him a little. Caleb's just a kid. He's still figuring things out. I believe he'll come around and treat you better eventually."

"I understand. I won't take it out on a child." I pushed the divorce papers toward her. "Let's just get this signed."

Claire hesitated. She picked up the papers, skimmed the first page without really reading it, then set them down with a troubled look and turned to head upstairs. "I'll think about it."

I couldn't explain what I felt at that moment. After everything, could she still not bring herself to cut things off cleanly?

...

It was my birthday that day.

Claire had said she'd spend the day with me, so I cooked a table full of food. However, just before dinner, she took a call and said there was an emergency at work.

"Sorry, Timothy. Something urgent came up. I'll be back later, and then we'll celebrate your birthday."

I nodded and quietly made myself a plate of pasta. I told her it was no big deal. After all, it was just a birthday. She should go handle her work.

She leaned in with a smile and tried to kiss my cheek.

I quickly dodged. "I've got oil on my face."

She giggled. "You've always liked making pasta, but it's your birthday. Why not treat yourself to something nicer?"

She had completely forgotten.

A dull ache formed in my chest.

While I sat alone eating, Lincoln showed up at the house. "I'm here to pick up Caleb. He said he wanted me to take him to his tutoring class in my new sports car."

"Appreciate it, Mr. Lancaster." I didn't look up and merely called out upstairs, "Caleb, your ride's here."

"Don't mention it. You're the one who's been raising him over all these years. I should be thanking you," Lincoln said.

The smug look on his face made my skin crawl.

"Lincoln!" Caleb came barreling down the stairs, lighting up at the sight of him.

"Caleb, listen to Mr. Lancaster on the way..."

"Don't tell me what to do! Lincoln is my real dad. I don't need you minding my business!" He threw his arms around Lincoln's neck and shot me a glare filled with hostility.

"Caleb!" Just then, my in-laws, Margaret and Oscar, who were about to leave, turned around at the door.

Margaret frowned and scolded Caleb, "That's enough. How can you talk like that?" She sighed and turned to me. "Timothy, since it's your birthday, I ordered a cake for you. We wanted to celebrate with you, but we have a business dinner at the Ridgeview Hotel tonight. Eat without us, alright?"

I felt moved, if only for a moment.

I had done everything I could for Claire and Caleb all these years, and her parents had always treated me kindly.

I had been secretly supporting the Bennetts for years and even helped them become one of the more prominent families in Marindale.

Take tonight's dinner at the Ridgeview Hotel, for example. If I hadn't called George in advance, there was no way they would have secured one of the luxury private rooms.

After they left, I called George again.

"George, my in-laws will be arriving at the hotel tonight. Look after them."

"Of course, sir. But aren't you joining them? I saw your wife, your son, and even Lincoln are already here."

At that moment, it felt like ice water was being poured down my spine.

I silently stood outside the private dining room with clenched fists.

Oscar said, "Why are you still calling me "Mr. Bennett"? We're family now. Just call me Oscar."

Margaret added, "Exactly. Lincoln, don't be so formal. I wish you were my son-in-law ten years ago."

Caleb beamed. "Come on, Dad, just treat us like family now. And I can finally call you my dad!"

Lincoln grinned and greeted, "Oscar, Margaret, and my sweet boy." Then, he leaned over and kissed Claire on the cheek. "Honey."

She blushed.

Right then, as I stood outside the door, I felt a chill settle deep in my chest.

So, this was their "family celebration dinner."

All this time, I thought that at the very least, Claire's parents still respected me.

But it was all fake. Claire was fake, Caleb was fake, and their whole family had lied to me. Only the years I had given to them were real.

Just then, a waiter passed by with a tray. "Excuse me, sir. Are you with them?"

Everyone turned their heads at once and saw me standing in the doorway.

Claire stood up immediately. "Timothy? What are you doing here?"

I calmly walked in and met each of their gazes.

I looked at Claire and asked, "Didn't you say you had work tonight?"

Then, I turned to Caleb. "Didn't you say you had tutoring?"

Finally, I looked at Margaret and Oscar. "Didn't you say you had a business dinner?"

The tension in the air was so thick it felt like no one could breathe. That was also when the masks started to come off.

"You followed me here?" Claire was the first to lash out. "Timothy, are you insane?"

Lincoln stepped in with fake concern. "Come on, Timothy, if you wanted to join us, you could've said so. No need to make it so awkward for everyone. Here, someone grab him a seat."

"I don't want him here!" Caleb shouted in annoyance the moment he saw me. "You're useless and pathetic. Everyone's been avoiding you, and you still can't take a hint! You're such a disgrace, clinging to us like this. I don't want a dad like you. Only someone like Lincoln deserves to be my father!"

I smiled a smile that stung more than tears.

"What are you laughing at?" Claire snapped, clearly rattled.

"Because it's funny." I wiped my eyes and pointed at Caleb. "You want to be officially accepted into the Lancaster family? At least wait until you're really a part of it."

Margaret waved her hand dismissively and chimed in, "Who do you think you are? If Claire hadn't gotten pregnant back then, do you really think we would've let you marry into our family?

"The Lancasters are picking him up in a week. From that point on, you'll have nothing to do with them. Don't even think about clinging to them!"

I nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Claire reached for my arm, but I stepped aside without even looking at her.

She opened her mouth to say something, but I didn't want to hear it anymore.

Just then, George came running after me. "Sir, do you still want us to waive their bill?"

I paused for a moment. "Just this once. Think of it as my parting gift. After today, don't bother."

...

That night, Claire came home and saw that I had already packed my bags. She looked surprised.

"Timothy, where are you going?" She grabbed my arm. "I never told you to leave. Just wait for me here. Once the Lancaster family takes Lincoln and Caleb in on Christmas Eve, I'll come back after everything's settled."

"Are you really coming back?" It was the second time I asked her.

I looked into her eyes. Once upon a time, I'd seen sincerity in them. That innocence used to be the most precious thing I ever wanted to protect.

But now, all I saw was a tangle of lies.

Claire froze for a second, then quickly recovered. "Of course. You're not still upset about the dinner, are you?"

She tried to tug at my sleeve. "Timothy, I admit I should've told you, but Lincoln promised to invest a billion dollars into my dad's new project once he becomes the heir of the Lancaster family. That's why my parents insisted on hosting him at the nicest hotel.

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, so I didn't tell you." She looked remorseful and pulled out a gift she claimed she picked out for me.

It was a tie, still with the free gift tag attached. It was the same brand I saw around Lincoln's neck at the Ridgeview Hotel earlier.

I knew right then—there was nothing left worth waiting for.

...

On the morning of Christmas Eve, the Lancaster family's private jet landed just outside the Bennett villa.

Claire grabbed my hand, her eyes full of something I couldn't read. "Timothy, wait for me at home. I'll be back once everything is settled."

"Are you really coming back?" It was the third time I asked her.

She opened her mouth, then finally said, "Of course."

Right in front of everyone, Lincoln turned to Margaret and Oscar with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry. The butlers must've made a mistake. I don't know how they ended up parking the jet right at your front gate."

He waved behind him and shouted at the two men near the jet. "Hey, this way. My house is over here, not there!"

Oscar chuckled. "No problem at all. We're all family now. But I swear I've seen those two before."

Lincoln shook his head. "Oscar, those two are my grandfather's most trusted men. I've only heard about them but never actually met them. There's no way you'd recognize them."

Just then, the two men stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and spoke in unison, "Welcome home, sir."