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

His reply came fast, I won’t let this touch the kids. The school gym smelled of glue sticks and sugar, cookies, kids darting between folding tables covered in crayon colored masterpieces. Ethan walked in with Lily’s hand in his, scanning the crowd until Harper and Mia spotted him.

You came, Harper beamed, tugging Mia over. They each grabbed one of his hands like they’d known him for years. Come see our foxes.

Olivia appeared moments later in a deep green blazer, her hair pulled back in a way that made her look untouchable until she knelt to thank Lily for coming. For a second, the CEO melted into just, Mom. The moment broke when Derek Cole’s voice cut through the chatter.

Well, if it isn’t the hero from the park. Ethan turned to see him, tall, tailored suit, two bodyguards in his wake. Derek’s eyes slid past Ethan and landed on Olivia with a smile that didn’t touch his eyes.

You always did collect strays, he said. Leave, Derek, Olivia replied, ice in her tone. This is a children’s event.

But Derek stepped closer to Ethan. You think you embarrassed my boy? You embarrassed me, and I don’t forget that. Ethan didn’t flinch.

If your kid learned not to pick on girls, I’d say it was a good day. Parents had started glancing over. Olivia moved between them, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

Walk out, or I’ll make sure the press hears about how you harassed a father and two little girls at an elementary school. Derek’s smirk faltered. He leaned in toward Ethan, his voice low.

Pawns get swept off the board without anyone noticing. Then he turned and left, the bodyguards trailing. Ethan exhaled, but Olivia’s hand stayed clenched around his arm.

You’re in it now, she said. And Derek never plays fair. It started the next morning.

Two customers canceled without warning. By noon, Ethan’s biggest repair job, a contract that would have covered next month’s rent, mysteriously fell through. That evening, Lily’s school called to verify a complaint about her attendance.

The principal’s tone made it clear someone had been feeding them lies. Ethan didn’t need a detective to tell him whose fingerprints were on it. By the third day, a black SUV, different from Olivia’s, was idling across from his shop…