Chapter 3

The next day.

When I got back to the villa, no one was home.

As I finished packing and was about to leave, I heard Jack's joyful shout from downstairs, "Sarah, wait for me! I'm going to change into my coolest outfit, and we'll head out right away."

Although I'd decided to separate from George, Jack was a child I'd raised with my own hands. I couldn't help but push open the door and lean against the frame to look out.

Sarah was leaning by the door, indulgently reminding him, "Slow down. The amusement park won't close for a long time."

Jack didn't slow down at all, running upstairs with thumping steps. "No way! You and Dad finally agreed to take me. I can't waste a single minute."

After he rushed into his room, Sarah noticed the keychain on the table and deliberately raised her voice, "George, looks like you were right yesterday. Grace really did come back in less than twenty-four hours."

George glanced at it. The pink keychain still had a photo of him and me on it.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't even really a photo of us together. I'd taken it secretly while he was asleep.

In the photo, he was sleeping soundly, and I was smiling happily. There was no interaction at all.

But I loved it anyway and kept it on my keychain, unable to bear taking it off.

He'd mocked me plenty of times for being pathetic, keeping a photo where he wasn't even facing the camera.

But the thing was, this was the only photo we had together.

While they were talking, Jack had already changed and run back downstairs.

He was wearing the globally-released racing suit I'd waited in line for over ten hours to buy him. He rushed between the two of them, holding George's hand with one hand and Sarah's with the other. "Dad, Sarah, let's go."

Sarah bent down and pinched his cheeks, giving them a little squeeze. "Are you happy about going to the amusement park?"

Jack bounced around like a little rabbit. "Happy! I'm even happier that I get to go with Dad and Sarah."

Sarah glanced at the slightly open door on the second floor. From far away, our eyes met, and she smiled faintly. "Why is that?"

Jack replied, "Because Dad and Sarah are my favorite people."

"Plus, I don't like staying home. When I'm home, that woman bosses me around about everything. And Milly, just because she was born a few days before me, she thinks she can tell me what to do. It's no fun at all."

"Sarah, can you be with me every day like this from now on?"

"No," George answered before Sarah could. "Sarah is very busy. Next time she comes back from abroad and doesn't leave, then she can spend time with you more often."

Counting the time, Sarah's next return from abroad would be exactly three months from now.

No wonder in my past life, right after George's birthday party, they couldn't wait to sleep together.

So she wasn't planning to leave again.

Jack's dim eyes instantly lit up. He grabbed Sarah's arm and jumped up and down. "Great! Then I want to be with Sarah every day from now on."

Sarah tapped his forehead lightly. The three of them chatted and laughed, looking just like a family as they left together.

"Mom." Milly grabbed my sleeve and tugged twice. "I was just worried about my brother."

She'd heard what Jack said and was anxious and flustered, her eyes red and puffy, about to cry.

Milly had known from a young age that George liked Jack but didn't like her.

So she always tried her best to look after Jack, willing to get hurt herself rather than let Jack be in danger.

I knew Milly hoped that by doing this, George would notice her.

Even if George couldn't love her more, being able to protect the person Dad liked was a kind of success for Milly.

My heart ached. I stroked the top of Milly's head and forced a smile. "Milly, would you be willing to leave the Smith family with Mom?"

Milly pressed her lips together. A layer of moisture formed in her big eyes, her brow furrowed tight, and her cheeks trembled uncontrollably.

"Mom, is it because Milly isn't good enough that Dad doesn't like me, and that's why we have to leave?"

Even though Milly tried hard to hold it back, her voice still carried a tearful tone and trembled badly.

My chest felt tight, and my body was trembling slightly, too.

I crouched down and pulled Milly into my arms, gently patting her back to comfort her. "You've already done so well."

"Mom hopes that from now on, you won't have to hold yourself back or accommodate others. Mom hopes you can be yourself happily. That's why I want you to leave."

Milly buried her face in my neck, and her cold tears quickly soaked my shoulder.

After a long while, Milly finally straightened up, wiped the tears from her face, and nodded at me with red eyes. "Wherever Mom goes, I'll go."

Then she turned and ran into the bedroom, coming out with the stuffed bunny from her bed. "Mom, can I bring it with us?"

George had brought this stuffed bunny home when she was three years old.

She loved it dearly.

In my past life, even until the moment she died, she was still holding this stuffed bunny.

My nose stung. I held back tears and nodded in agreement.

After we both packed our things, I handed a document to the maid and told her to have George sign it as soon as possible. Then I left with Milly.

Before getting married, I'd saved up some money, enough for Milly and me to rent a small apartment for now.

That evening, after bathing Milly, I sat by the bed telling her a bedtime story.

The phone suddenly rang.

It was the maid from the Smith family calling.

George must have signed the papers already.

I answered the call. Before I could say anything, the maid asked urgently, "Mrs. Smith, young master Jack ate something and broke out in little red spots all over. He's itching terribly and keeps asking for the little cake you make."

Before she finished speaking, I heard Jack crying and making a fuss on the other end. "Bring me my little cake! I want my little cake!"

Jack was allergic to mangoes and refused to take allergy medicine.

In the past, whenever he itched badly and cried non-stop, I would make him a little cake with the anti-allergy medicine mixed in.

After eating it, he would calm down quickly.

But this time...

"If he's not feeling well, take him to the hospital," I said coldly and impatiently. "I'm not a doctor."

Without waiting for a response, I hung up.

Milly looked at me worriedly. "Mom, can we really not care about my brother?"

I patted her little head reassuringly. "Of course we can. From now on, Mom will only take care of Milly."

As for Jack, since he was Sarah's son, Sarah could take care of him.

That's what I thought, but some people wouldn't let me have my way.

Less than two seconds after I hung up, the phone rang again.

This time, George called personally.

"Jack isn't feeling well. Come home right now."

He was ordering me.

I laughed coldly and shot back, "As I said, if he's not feeling well, take him to Doctor White."

"Grace." George's tone was icy. "My patience is limited. Come back right now, and I won't hold what happened before against you."

I cut him off. "George, you don't need to hold it against me. We'll be divorced soon. I'm never going back to the Smith family. As for your son Jack, his biological mother, Sarah, is very capable. I'm sure she can solve all the problems."

On the other end of the phone, Sarah asked anxiously and loudly, "George, I've tried everything, but Jack is still really uncomfortable. Where is Grace?"

George's usually calm tone also became urgent. "Grace, no matter where you are, within half an hour, I want you to... Hello!"

I hung up, tucked Milly in, and curled up in bed with her.

From now on, I would only take care of Milly. As for Jack, he had nothing to do with me.