A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 413

Yvan stared at the photograph in his hand, suddenly finding himself speechless. The three people captured in the frame stirred an unexpected urge to cry within him.

After blowing out the candles and making a wish, Logan, his cheeks flushed with excitement, declared he wanted to cut the cake himself. The first slice he cut was for Matilda, and then, surprisingly, he cut another piece and placed it in front of Yvan.

Yvan was stunned, not expecting Logan to include him. The piece of cake seemed too small, hardly enough to contain all his regrets and apologies towards them.

Later, when Matilda said she needed to use the restroom, Carl called for the maid to accompany her, and had someone fetch the gift Yvan had prepared.

Only then did Logan realize that what had come before was nothing; the main event was just beginning.

A server wheeled over a cart loaded with gifts. Logan covered his mouth, nearly bursting into tears at the sight.

The gifts were neatly arranged by category, covering every kind of childhood toy a boy could want from the age of one to five. There were even diapers, a complete set of Transformers toys, various racing car sets, and drones—everything a young boy could dream of.

Yvan said, “I missed so many years of your life, and this is the first birthday I'm celebrating with you. So, I prepared a gift for every birthday I missed, hoping to make it up to you…”

Logan looked at Yvan, seeing a man who seemed to have changed completely.

The Yvan of the past was aloof and distant, but now, he seemed human, approachable, just like one of them.

He was lowering himself, trying to please, and Logan found it… surprising.

Yet amid the surprise, Logan turned to look at Yvan, put down his fork, and simply said, “Thank you.”

Yvan felt a distance suddenly form between them, his own coldness and detachment seemingly outmatched by his son's. The word "thank you" had never felt so distant.

Logan refused everything, rendering Yvan's attempts at reconciliation futile.

Then, Logan turned back. Carl, holding the crown, watched them leave. Only after some distance did Logan stop, look back at Yvan, and softly say—

“You keep saying you arrived late in my life, Mr. Boyd…”

—“But if you really wanted to make amends, you shouldn't have been late at all.”

Those few words were like arrows to the heart.

Yvan stood frozen, a statue, as all his fervor was extinguished in an instant. Logan's words left him utterly defeated.