Chapter 2

"Mom."

I opened my eyes. Milly stood beside me, wearing a rough, homemade pink princess dress, holding a little cake she'd made herself. "Can I give this to my brother?"

I had been reborn.

Reborn three months ago, on Jack's birthday.

Milly held the little cake out to me. Her fingertips were red and swollen with burns from the heat, but her face showed pure satisfaction.

All because George was coming home for Jack's birthday, and she would finally get to see George.

But her own birthday. No one cared about that.

I stroked Milly's head, feeling both joy and heartache.

Joy that I'd been reborn and could properly protect my daughter.

Heartache that Milly was so young yet already so cautious, trying so hard to please everyone, but still couldn't earn even a bit of George's attention.

Since we couldn't get it by asking, we should just stop wanting it.

"Wow!"

Jack's delighted voice from outside pulled me back from my thoughts.

He walked into the villa wearing a high-end leather jacket, dragging Sarah along with one hand, followed by George, who wore arelaxed expression.

"Sarah, is this airplane model really for me?"

"Of course." Sarah, wearing a matching outfit with him, patted his head with a smile. "Do you like it?"

"I love it." Jack fiddled with the airplane model while muttering, "Sarah really knows how to pick gifts. Not like Grace, who only knows how to give toy paintbrushes and stuff. So childish!"

He spoke while glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

Sarah snorted and consoled him gently, "Jack, you need to be understanding with Grace. She stays home all day and never goes out. Toy paintbrushes are the best gifts she can think of for you."

Her soft, gentle words struck right at Jack's vanity.

He rolled his eyes hard at Grace. "All she does every day is busy herself at home with nothing. Not like you, Sarah, you're beautiful, and you're a pilot. No wonder my dad likes you."

He threw himself into Sarah's arms, hugging her waist and looking up at her sweetly.

Sarah glanced at Grace and wrapped her arms around Jack, saying softly, "Jack, Grace can't help with other things, so doesn't she have to stay home and take care of you all? She can do little things like cooking and laundry well enough. You shouldn't talk like that. It'll hurt her feelings."

Jack became even more disdainful. "Sarah, you're beautiful and kind-hearted, and you're still speaking up for her. Not only does Dad like you, but I like you too. I wish you could be my mom."

"Fine." I laughed coldly and interrupted him. "Since you like Sarah so much, let her be your mom from now on."

Sarah froze, looking at me in shock.

I looked back at her calmly, feeling a sense of satisfaction at her surprised expression.

I asked with a light laugh, "Miss Wilson, you wouldn't refuse, would you?"

"Mrs. Smith." Sarah lowered her head, her fingers curling tightly, her eyes instantly turning red. "Jack was just joking. If you're upset, I'll apologize for him."

With that, she started to bow in apology.

George stepped forward, supporting her shoulder and positioning himself in front of her, looking at me coldly. "How old are you? Are you really taking a child's joke seriously?"

Jack also followed suit, standing beside them to protect Sarah, glaring at me with wide eyes. "I was the one who wanted to call Sarah mom. Don't make her apologize."

One big and one small, like knights standing in front of Sarah, as if they were the real family.

"Jack," Milly peeked out from behind me. Though scared, she still gathered the courage to defend me. "Mom didn't say anything. Sarah was the one who wanted to apologize."

See, even Milly understood what was happening, but this father and son pretended not to.

A flash of embarrassment crossed Sarah's face, but she quickly recovered. "George, maybe I should just leave. Don't let me cause unhappiness in your family."

Jack grabbed her wrist. "Sarah, it's my birthday today. I want you to stay with me. Don't go."

The implication was clear. Someone else should be the one to leave.

I snorted, turned around, picked up Milly, and walked out.

"Where are you going?" George blocked my way, asking coldly.

I didn't answer, sidestepped around him, and walked straight to the door.

When the door opened, two bodyguards in black standing outside blocked me. "Mrs. Smith, please go back."

I turned my head and saw Jack holding Sarah's hand in the living room, with George standing nearby with an inscrutable expression, showing no intention of speaking up.

I turned back and snapped, "Move aside."

I tried to force my way through.

The two men actually pulled out guns, the dark muzzles pointing at Milly.

I turned and held Milly, using my back to shield her from their line of fire. "Are you crazy? Pointing guns at Milly?"

"Sorry, Mrs. Smith," the bodyguard apologized verbally, but didn't lower his weapon at all. "Mr. Smith ordered that this is Miss Wilson's first time celebrating Jack's birthday since returning to the country. Until the birthday party ends, no one can leave. Please don't make this difficult for us."

Milly, in my arms, shrank in fear, nestling against me, saying in a tearful voice, "Mom, let's not leave. Dad will be unhappy."

Her frightened voice cut into my heart like knives.

My daughter, even at a time like this, only thought about pleasing George.

I turned to look at George.

His expression was unchanged, his handsome face showing no emotion. "You heard them. Even the child is more sensible than you."

He was so calm, as if the person being held at gunpoint wasn't his daughter at all!

I should have woken up long ago, should have understood long ago that in this environment, Milly and I would never find true happiness.

I didn't want to endure this anymore!

"So as long as it's before the Smith family birthday party ends, no one can leave?" I asked.

George lifted the corner of his mouth slightly in response.

"Fine." I nodded and stepped closer to George. "Then I want a divorce."

George raised an eyebrow slightly, looking down at me darkly.

"After the divorce, I won't be part of the Smith family, so I won't have to stay here for the birthday party, right?"

"Mrs. Smith," Sarah said with concern, "Divorce isn't a small matter. Don't say things rashly just because you're angry."

She nudged George with her shoulder. "George, you should comfort Mrs. Smith. Don't really get divorced over this little thing. She's a woman. Where else could she go if she leaves you?"

The mockery in Sarah's eyes was hard to suppress.

George pressed his tongue against his cheek and laughed coldly. "Fine, let's get divorced then. If you've got what it takes, don't ever come back."

With that, he turned and walked upstairs with large strides, not looking back.

Seeing this, the bodyguards at the door lowered their guns and stepped aside.

I picked up Milly and pushed past them, walking out.

The villa door slammed shut heavily.

Through the door, George sneered coldly, "She'll come back on her own in less than twenty-four hours."