Oliver leaned back, arms crossed, a smug grin playing on his lips. "So tell me, what's so special about your precious Ms. Langley?"

Liam's jaw tightened, his small hands balling into fists. "Ms. Langley buys me all the best snacks!"

Oliver nodded knowingly. "Right, until you're curled up with a stomachache."

"She cooks for me," Liam shot back.

A laugh escaped Oliver. "You mean like that seafood stew that nearly landed you in the hospital?"

Liam's cheeks flushed. "Ms. Langley plays the piano—"

Oliver cut him off with a dismissive wave. "Please. She's nothing compared to Amy."

Liam opened his mouth, scrambling for another argument. "Ms. Langley also... she also..."

Oliver smirked. "Ms. Langley also throws tantrums, blames everyone else, and takes what isn't hers. Truly one of a kind! But I should thank you. If your taste wasn't so terrible, my dad and I wouldn’t have gotten someone as amazing as Amy. Oh, and by the way—this weekend, we’re going to the amusement park with her. Want to come?" He paused, feigning regret. "Oh wait. You weren’t invited."

Oliver tilted his head, watching Liam’s face darken with every word. "Winning feels so good."

Liam lunged, fist raised, but Oliver didn’t flinch.

"Go ahead," he taunted. "Hit me. Then you’ll have to apologize to Amy again."

Liam hesitated, his breath coming fast.

"One apology is worth knocking you out," he muttered.

Oliver grinned. "Do it. A black eye will just make Amy fuss over me even more. You have no idea how sweet she is to me after you act up. Almost like... a real son."

Liam’s arm trembled, his resolve wavering.

Oliver had mastered the art of playing the victim. Every teacher at Royal Oaks Academy adored him. Even some of the girls had warned Liam to stop "bullying" Oliver.

But before Oliver arrived, he had been the favorite.

As Oliver turned to leave, Liam’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.

"You didn’t even drink that soup my mom made. You passed it around to the other kids."

Oliver paused, glancing back with a smirk. He pointed to a thermos nearby. "Oh, that? This herbal tea was made just for me by Amy."

He shrugged. "I asked her to make extra so I could share. But... none for you. Jealous?"

With that, Oliver sauntered off, leaving Liam seething as he joined the other kids clamoring for snacks.

The weekend arrived too quickly.

Liam lingered near the amusement park gates, scanning the crowd.

He couldn’t believe his mom would actually go with Oliver.

She had never taken him.

He remembered begging to go with both parents, but his dad always canceled last minute. His mom offered to take him alone, but without his dad, it didn’t feel right.

Then Victoria came along.

On his mom’s birthday, Victoria had whisked him and his dad away to the park, leaving his mom behind.

A pang of guilt twisted in his chest.

So this is how it feels?

Just then, three familiar figures stepped through the gates.