I posted an update online: "The incident ended safely. My ex - husband took Ethan and promised to fund his studies abroad. Thank you all for your concern."
It sparked a veritable storm of reactions:
"A deadbeat dad's back, promising to fund studies abroad? That reeks of something fishy."

I replied, "Probably. He runs a company and bought a lakeside house last year."
Netizens turned into amateur detectives, digging up Henry's shady dealings:
"This is the guy who skips out on contractor payments!"
"My uncle worked on one of his construction sites - six months of labor, and not a single cent in pay."
"We supplied materials for his projects - two years have passed, and we still haven't been paid."
"What a shameless capitalist, owing millions and yet buying luxury homes. Karma's definitely coming for him."

The outrage grew and escalated rapidly.
Workers started picketing his construction sites, demanding their unpaid wages.
Suppliers parked their trucks, halting all construction work until they were paid.
Cornered in a site office, Henry, in a state of panic, fell from the second floor and broke his leg.

The crowd scattered in a hurry.
Several hours later, he finally made it to the hospital. The doctors warned that his severe displacement required immediate surgery; otherwise, he might never fully recover.
Olivia, who was pregnant, arrived and the first thing she asked about was the cost.
Seeing Henry in agonizing pain, she accused the hospital of being greedy, claiming that her relative's fracture had only needed a cast.
The doctors reiterated the risks of not having surgery. Then Ethan arrived, as he still needed his dad to make his dreams of studying abroad come true.
Olivia demanded a cast, while Ethan insisted on surgery.
But the question of who would pay hung in the air, met with silence.
Ethan called me, but I was on a flight with my phone switched off.
They argued amongst themselves and eventually settled for a cast due to the lack of funds.
Before Henry had even fully recovered, Ethan's exam results came in.
I was celebrating my promotion to director when he called me, sobbing. "Mom, I bombed the exams - only 300 points. I won't get into college. Dad's bedridden. What am I supposed to do?"
I shrugged nonchalantly. "No school? Then go get a job. Hard work leads to a good life."
"You're abandoning me? You don't care about my future?"
I scoffed. "Have you ever worked for your future? If it's just about freeloading, you'll get nowhere."
"You say parents owe their kids forever. Is that the same as you leeching off us? Are you a parasite?"
He snapped back, "You can't compare to Dad. He showed me the world - wearing designer clothes, riding in luxury cars. It's a kind of pride you'll never understand. He promised to send me abroad. It's all your fault - you should have given him the house. You're so selfish!"
What a stubborn fool.
I'd point him in the right direction, but it was up to him to walk the path.