Alpha Kate

After Labor Day, on a Monday morning, Shannon Shi prepared to send her two children to the village elementary school. Over breakfast, she heard voices in the yard and stepped out of the living room to investigate.

"Xixi, you look so beautiful today, and that dress is just lovely," Darren Du, their neighbor, complimented Shannons daughter while stroking her white dress. "Xixi, you are the prettiest girl in our village!"

"Xixi!" Shannon rushed out, grabbing her daughters arm and pulling her behind her. She coldly asked, "Darren, what do you think youre doing?"

Darren chuckled, stood up, and lifted a backpack with a cartoon sheep character. "Look, I bought Xixi a new backpack. As her godfather, I cant let my goddaughter be treated poorly."

Shannon retorted, "Who said youre my daughters godfather?"

Darren smirked, "Shannon, Im sincere. I just want to protect her. You know, theres a lot of bullying in schools. As her godfather, no one would dare to lay a finger on her!"

"We cant afford such a privilege," Shannon said, leading her daughter to the electric bike and calling for her son to get ready for school.

Darrens face turned ugly, his eyes flickering with hatred as he left, carrying the backpack.

Once he was out of sight, Shannon sternly warned her daughter, "Xixi, never let anyone touch your dress again, do you understand?"

Xixi lowered her head and nodded, "Mom, I remember."

Darren, a fifty-year-old strong man, was not someone Shannon could deal with, so she focused on teaching her daughter.

However, fearing his constant scheming, Shannon worried about his return.

In the evening, when Shannon brought her children back home, she found an old woman standing at the gate鈥擠arrens mother, Wang Po Zi, known for her petty theft, gossiping, and poor reputation in the village.

Thinking her visit could not be good, Shannon still greeted her politely, inviting her inside.

"Shannon, look at how cute your two children are, like twins!" Wang Po Zi praised the children with a smile. "Xixi, why dont you speak to your grandmother?"

Xixi nodded and called her grandmother. Her son, not fond of Wang Po Zi, pouted and turned his head away.

After some small talk, Wang Po Zi revealed her true intention: "Shannon, this morning my second son came to see you, wanting to be Xixis godfather. Why didnt you agree?"

Shannon explained, "Maam, Xixi is eight years old and already has memories of her father. She wont accept anyone else as her father."

Wang Po Zis eyes widened dramatically, "Shannon, Ill be frank. Ive had your daughter and sons fortunes read, and theyre in danger. If Xixi recognizes my son as her godfather, it will ward off the disaster; otherwise, the consequences will be dire!"

Hearing this, Shannon became angry. Her husband had died in a car accident last year, and now Wang Po Zi was making such claims with ulterior motives.

"Maam, we dont fear misfortune if we havent done wrong. I appreciate your intentions," Shannon said, showing her out.

Wang Po Zis face fell, "Shannon, you should know that those who dont listen to me rarely end well."

Ignoring her, Shannon walked outside.

"Youll regret this!" Wang Po Zi threatened as she left, snatching a pack of tea from the coffee table and slipping it into her pocket.

Shannon slammed the door shut after her departure.

They were resorting to desperate measures to make her daughter recognize Darren as her godfather.

She would refuse them and see what they could do.

Two days later, villagers mentioned that Darren had gone to work in the city, and Shannon breathed a sigh of relief.

On Saturday, as Shannon prepared to take her children to town, Darren suddenly appeared, smoking a cigarette and acting with a flippancy unbecoming of his age.

Shocked that he was back, Shannon no longer felt the need to be polite. "Where do you think youre going?" he asked.

"Wherever I want," Shannon replied coldly.

Darren pulled out some photos, "Let the kids watch TV. Ill show you something about you and Xixi, something really good."

Her heart sank as she called her children into the living room and asked, "What could you possibly have?"

"Youll see," Darren smirked, handing her the photos.

Shannon took them and her eyes welled up with tears upon seeing photos of her and her daughter bathing.

Someone had been spying on them!

She glared at him, tore up the photos, and rushed to the bathroom to investigate. After half an hour, she discovered a hidden camera.

This had to be Darrens doing!

He had spread false news about going to work to lower her guard, then secretly installed a camera in their bathroom.

"Who would do such a despicable thing?" Shannon pretended to be outraged.

Darren feigned righteousness, "If I hadnt found these, who knows what would have happened to them?"

Shannon demanded, "Where did you get these photos?"

"I found them on the road. Luckily, it was me and not someone else who might have spread them around," Darren leered, "Shannon, your privacy is my privacy, after all, I am Xixis godfather, right?"

No matter what he said, he wanted Xixi to recognize him as her godfather. Shannon coldly replied, "Spread them if you want, I dont care anymore since my husband is dead. But dont think about being a godfather!"

Darrens face fell, then twisted into a sinister expression, "Shannon, are you refusing my offer?"

"I cant afford such a godfather for my daughter," Shannon turned away, her tone icy, "You have nieces; show them some care, and they wont forget you."

Darrens face contorted with malice as he stubbed out his cigarette and threatened, "Shannon, this is your choice!"

Shannon was afraid of his vengeful nature and decided to take her children to her mothers house instead of going to town.

Over the next month, after hearing that Darren had gone to work again, Shannon let her guard down slightly.

One Friday, as she was feeding her chickens, her phone rang.

"Shannon, your son is drowning in the river at the Mahe Bridge West, hurry!" Darrens voice came through the phone.

Terrified, Shannon rode her electric bike towards the Mahe Bridge.

The air was scorching, and the fields were filled with golden wheat stubble. There was no one in sight. She arrived at the bridge and saw a figure by two large willow trees along the river.

Upon reaching the willows, she saw a motorcycle, some clothes, and Darren in the river, but no sign of her son, Liangliang!

She abandoned her bike and cried, "Darren, where is my son?"

Darren lifted a thin figure from the water, "Here he is!"

It was Liangliang, gasping and crying, "Mom... save me..."

"Ah!" Shannon screamed, her heart tearing apart as she plunged into the river, crying out, "Liangliang! Liangliang..."

Darren suddenly pushed Liangliang underwater, his eyes vicious, "I dare you to come closer."

Shannon stopped, sobbing, "Darren, what are you doing? Please pull my son out!"

"Get back on the bank," Darren ordered.

Shannon, in a panic, swam to the riverbank, tearfully begging him to spare her son.

When she reached the shore, Darren pulled Liangliang out.

He had swallowed water and was red-faced, on the verge of suffocation.

After a full minute, he finally cried out.

Shannon, heartbroken, asked, "Darren, what do you want?"

Darrens face contorted with malice, "Damn it