Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei

The gifts Sonny's mother had sent were meant for his grandparents and father, but his aunt Chelsea had complained, pressuring him to call his mom and demand a New Year's gift for her too.

But Sonny didn't want to. He didn't think people who weren't good deserved gifts.

"Sonny," Mrs. Brown said softly, her words faltering. She didn't know how to respond, so she turned her frustration toward her husband. "You shouldn't have said all those things in front of Sonny. He's just a child. It's not right for him to hear that."

Mr. Brown, however, was unyielding. "Now you're worried about him being a child? If you didn't want his ears polluted, you should've dealt with Chelsea! She's the one with these shameless schemes-always looking to bleed Liberty dry.

"If it weren't for Sonny, do you think Serenity would've spared us back then? Mr. York had every reason to crush us. Instead, they let us off easy for Sonny's sake. But your daughter? She doesn't appreciate anything! She still wants to take advantage of Liberty. Does she think Liberty is just going to sit back and let her push her around like she used to?"

no retort. Her husband's anger silenced

over a pot of chrysanthemum

The best we can do is limit how

couple of days, and you've already been caught up in all this drama. From now on, I'll make sure your aunt doesn't bother you. You shouldn't have to hear her

voice clear and cheerful. "It's okay, Dad. I know you love me now. I'm not mad.” Children have a remarkable way of moving past adult conflicts, and Sonny's innocent understanding

for Sonny's custody. If Sonny had been forced to live in the toxic environment of the Brown household, it would have destroyed him. Hank reflected on his past decisions,

realized he hadn't shown that same dedication. When he remarried Jessica, his focus had been on having more children, not on Sonny's well-

softened with emotion. "Sonny, thank you for still wanting me

"You're my dad, and you'll always be my dad. Mom says Uncle Duncan is my second dad, so I'm luckier than most kids. I have