When she heard Daddy was backing out, her expression immediately dulled.
"Honey, it's not right to break promises to a child. Let's go early and come back in time to help James, okay?"
"Ugh, I've planned out his entire day with poems, English, and math. If we delay, he won't finish."
Nina's face crumpled with sadness, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Does he need to learn so much when he hasn't even started elementary school? You've hardly spent time with Nina this past month, focusing only on his son!"
Seeing my daughter's drooping face ignited a wave of anger in me.
"Ava, James is struggling. If I hadn't hired Emma, he wouldn't have gotten into kindergarten. Do you need to argue with me about this?"
"What are you talking about, Jeremy? They stay here without paying for food or rent, and I'm paying Emma much more than market price. Is this what you want, to turn your daughter's father into their private property?"
Nina finally broke down, crying.
"Wah— I only have one daddy. Mommy, don't give Daddy away! I can't bear to lose him!"
Jeremy snatched her from my arms, grumbling as he walked out, "Ava, what nonsense are you saying? Look how scared Nina is!"