Single dad stops bully attacking twin girls at park, not knowing her mom is his …

The laughter at the park wasn’t sweet, it was mean. Two twin girls were cornered by the swings, clutching each other’s hands, while a bigger kid shoved them toward the sand. A man in a faded navy tee stepped between them before the next shove landed.

Back off, he said, calm voice, steel eyes.

The boy hesitated, chin tilted in defiance. Move, they started it.

The man didn’t blink. Name’s Ethan, try telling the truth. The twins, Harper and Mia, stayed glued together, cheeks blotchy, the younger one hiding a torn sketchbook behind her back.

Ethan gently crouched to their height. You two okay? Anything hurt? Harper shook her head, voice small. He ripped my sister’s drawings.

Ethan held out a hand. Mia placed the mangled sketchbook in it, like it was broken glass. He brushed off grit, smoothing a page where a bright orange fox had been half creased.

These are good, he said, meaning it. No one gets to treat your work like trash. The boy snorted.

My dad owns half this town. Ethan stood, returning the sketchbook to Mia. Then he can afford new manners, apologize.

Silence stretched. Parents glanced over. The boy’s friends took a step back.

He mumbled, sorry, then stomped off toward the basketball court. Thank you, Harper whispered. Anytime, Ethan said.

I’ve got a daughter too. If someone messed with her, I’d want a grown up to step in. A woman in a tailored blazer and low heels rushed across the grass.

Polished, focused, eyes blazing. Harper, Mia. The twins ran into her arms…