Welson jumped at the call from his wife.
He thought it was a system malfunction and rushed back to check.
There on the screen were ten donation records, each for one hundred thousand, averaging one every five seconds.
His jaw nearly dropped in shock.
Holy sh*t!
A million dollars!!
Did that really just stream in so easily?
That was absurdly extravagant.
This was a million dollars, and he didn't even know if he could earn that much in his lifetime.
What kind of wealth did someone need to possess to casually gift a million like this?
This was the kind of thing he wouldn't even dream of.
"Smack!"
He slapped himself across the face.
The pain jolted him back to reality.
It was good that it hurt!
This was not a dream.
Someone truly generous had seen his book and gifted him a million dollars!
He was overwhelmed with excitement, nearly wanting to break into a celebratory dance.
"Stop losing it! You need to message this big spender and charm them if you don't want our family to worry!" Ella Ly shouted at him.
"Wife's right! If this major player appreciates me, maybe they'll want to adapt my novel!"
With visions of a bright future in mind, Welson rushed back to his computer to message the benefactor.
"Father, thank you for your kindness. Please let me know if there's anything you need."
He quickly received a reply:
"I'm Timmy's father. Timmy accidentally pushed your child today, and I'm genuinely sorry. This money is my compensation, as I discussed with your wife."
"And I also hope you can spare some time to be with your child and not let him always disturb Timmy."
!!!
At that moment, the room fell silent.
The couple exchanged bewildered glances, each stunned by the unexpected turn of events.
Welson felt his thoughts drift into a stupor.
What?
So, the donations weren't out of admiration for his book, but rather compensation for Timmy's actions?
He was shocked that someone would throw down a million to assert their dominance!
He understood the feeling of a character in a drama: "Here's five million, just leave my child alone!"
Half happy and half sad, Welson confronted the unsettling reality.
The sadness stemmed from realizing he simply wasn't the main character in this narrative.
Yet he felt pleased that his son appeared to be in the spotlight.
This situation mirrored the scenario where an underperforming protagonist finds themselves dismissed by the family of the lead, all because of money.
"Thirty years of good fortune cycles back..."
"Smack!"
Ella Ly's slap yanked Welson from his reverie.
"Son, hurry up and reply to Timmy's dad. I'll fetch our son and make sure he doesn't keep bothering his daughter."
Realization hit her as she connected the dots, understanding that Timmy's stepfather was the one behind all his fuss.
To think, she could be receiving such a hefty compensation for a light altercation among children!
Her shock mirrored her husband's.
Receiving such a large sum of money should have been a joyous occasion.
Yet, she couldn't muster any cheer.
It was frustrating to think that another person's husband could openly say he was merely living off his wife's success, while casually tossing her husband a million bucks.
Rich and indulgent towards his wife and child, she couldn't help but compare him to her own disappointing husband.
Feeling anger bubble up, she stalked to the door and firmly called out, "Hoson!"
Even though she wasn't directly involved, Welson felt a chill run down his spine.
He shrank back, dutifully typing a reply at his computer.
"I apologize, Timmy's dad. I'll make sure to discipline my child and ensure he doesn't disturb Timmy again."
He said this sincerely.
Reality wasn't as forgiving as fiction.
A million dollars casually thrown around made it hard to imagine the power dynamics at play.
If his child harmed someone's daughter...
How much money would they bring to teach him a lesson?
He could hardly fathom it.
For regular folks like him, a million could squash anyone into submission.
"Son, just listen to your dad and delay dating for a while. You're still too young. Wait until you're successful; then no one will dare to cross you."
Silently, he vowed to his son.
Back with James, seeing him so thoughtful, James opted to say no more.
Returning to Amanda's community, he exited the car and picked up the sleeping Timmy.
Kids full of energy could fall asleep just about anywhere.
Timmy was blissfully unaware, staying snug in his arms.
James felt her small hands tightly clutching his clothes as she softly murmured "Daddy" in her sleep, seemingly fearful of losing him.
James chuckled gently and shook his head.
Honestly, becoming a father overnight was an odd feeling to place into words.
It felt like suddenly snagging an additional heap of responsibility and concern.
He envisioned himself as a free spirit, treating everything like one grand game.
Yet, this little one's dependence established a newfound anchor in his life.
It was likely that sense of mission embedded in human nature was surfacing.
He quietly whispered reassuring words as he began to make his way home.
Amanda followed closely behind, watching the beautiful scene of father and daughter together, a soft smile breaking across her lips.
Upon entering their home, she arranged James's shoes neatly and retrieved the newly bought men's pajamas and shorts from the closet, placing them on the bathroom rack.
Moving with purpose towards Timmy's room, she gestured for James to wash up first.
James knelt beside the bed, helplessly showcasing the clothing Timmy had gripped earlier, signaling he was reluctant to pry it away from her.
Amanda stepped closer, kneeling as she began to unbutton James's shirt while whispering, "You're hopeless; can't you take off your shirt yourself?"
James hadn't even thought of that, his face flushing slightly. He stammered in response, "Uh... I just wanted to spend more time with Timmy."
Amanda's eyes flickered with mischief as she leaned closer, breathing softly in his ear, "Don't you want me to call you that?"
The sweet scent of her presence overwhelmed James, especially when she stood there in a fitted tank top, her creamy skin glowing under the soft light.
In a moment of impulse, James hastily discarded his shirt, scooping her into his arms as he ran toward the bedroom.
"Take a shower first," Amanda gently urged.
After a moment's consideration, James realized she had a point and proceeded to carry her into the bathroom.
After an hour of relaxation in the shower, night fell.
Lying in bed, the two found themselves free of distractions.
James shared many heartfelt insights, while Amanda simply listened with a smile, absorbing his words.
Noticing that their favorability hadn't increased at all, James felt a twinge of disappointment.
"Hey, sis, do you not believe what I'm saying?"
Amanda, propped up against him, embraced his arm with a satisfied smile.
"I believe you. I know you'll bring me happiness; I'm really looking forward to our future."
Her eyes sparkled with light, drawing him in further.
James felt a surge of emotion and stated, "If there's anything you want, just tell me, and I will help you achieve it."
"I don't have many wishes; I only hope you don't attract too much trouble," Amanda replied gently.
"I only have you and Tailsa; what trouble could I possibly stir up?"
James, trying to earn favor, shot her a playful grin.
"Really? I just saw someone sent you a message saying they missed you. Who is she?" Amanda teased, her tone full of curiosity.
James was taken aback, as he hadn't checked his phone for incoming messages and didn't know who she was referring to.
"Not that I'm trying to pry, but if you have too many women, I'm afraid you won't have time for me and Timmy."
As they spoke, James's phone rang, cutting off the conversation.