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Then once a month.
Eventually, he only appeared on important occasions where photos could be taken and posted online beside the “brilliant son” he barely helped raise.
There was never proper child support.
Never birthday calls.
Never real effort.
Only excuses.
Still, Laura never poisoned Ethan against his father. Even during the nights Ethan fell asleep beside the apartment window waiting for a car that never came, she would stroke his hair and whisper:
“Your dad loves you in his own way.”
Then she would lock herself in the bathroom and cry silently for an hour.
Because some kinds of love hurt exactly like abandonment.
Suddenly, the principal’s voice echoed through the auditorium speakers.
“And now, to conclude the first portion of today’s ceremony, we invite our valedictorian, the student with the highest academic record in this graduating class—Ethan Bennett—to deliver a few words.”
Thunderous applause erupted from more than a thousand people.
Laura’s knees nearly gave out.
Ethan had never told her he was giving a speech.
In the front row, Richard leapt to his feet clapping dramatically, glancing around proudly at the other wealthy parents as though Ethan’s achievements were his personal trophy. Sabrina held up her phone again, preparing to film.
Ethan climbed the stage slowly.
He stood behind the podium, unfolded a perfectly prepared speech, and glanced down at the pages.
Then something unexpected happened.
He folded the speech once.
Then again.
And with a calm movement that confused even the principal, he slipped the pages into the inside pocket of his jacket.
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