I leaned toward Leo, placed my hand on his shoulder, and in a controlled voice, I whispered,
“Say thank you, sweetheart. We’ll deal with it later.”

I added nothing. I didn’t react. Not yet.

I waited. Calmly. Patience intact.

As the other children went back to playing, I noticed Leo drifting away. He disappeared behind the hedge and sat at the small table, markers and paper in hand. I watched him write with concentration—careful, calm. No tears, no anger. Just a quiet seriousness.

My heart tightened: he was turning humiliation into something thoughtful and powerful.

Then came the last gift.
The one Leo had set aside.
A gift carefully prepared by Leo himself.
An envelope intended especially for his father’s family.

When Vanessa opened it…

All the color drained from her face.

At that precise moment, she understood.
The real shock was only just beginning…