Chapter 2

2

Instead of softening, Garrett frowned even deeper at my words.

"He's just a child throwing a tantrum. Are you really going to hold a grudge against your own six-year-old?"

I looked at Toby, whose small hands were clutching Beverly tightly.

His young face was filled with guarded hostility toward me, as if terrified I might snatch him away from Beverly at any second.

In my previous life, I never paid attention to Toby's preference for Beverly.

I naively thought that no matter what a child said, his real mother would always hold the most important place in his heart.

Only now did I understand that children don't hide their true feelings behind polite pretenses; what he said was the raw truth.

Beverly crouched down, pinched Toby's cheek lightly, and put on a mock-serious tone.

"Toby, you shouldn't be mad at your mom. She works very hard taking care of you."

Toby pouted with an aggrieved look, his voice filled with defiance.

"I'm not throwing a tantrum! I just want you with me, not Mom!"

Seeing the boy's teary eyes, Garrett glared at me with pure dissatisfaction.

"What kind of mother are you? You're an utter failure. You should spend more time focusing on your son."

Toby immediately chimed in. "Dad is right! Mom doesn't care about me at all!"

Hearing father and son echo each other in perfect harmony, my heart constricted, and a self-deprecating smile formed on my face.

Ever since Toby was born, I had raised him completely on my own and managed every single detail of his life.

When he was sick, I stayed by his bedside all night; on his birthdays, I baked his favorite cakes from scratch; when he was a picky eater and malnourished, I spent hours finding creative ways to cook his meals.

Every single memory proved just how much devotion and energy I had poured into raising him.

Yet in the end, in the eyes of this father and son, I was nothing more than a failed mother.

"Believe whatever you want," I said quietly.

I was leaving in fifteen days, and I had no interest in wasting my breath arguing with them.

"You―!"

Garrett was about to snap at my indifferent attitude, but Beverly gently grabbed his sleeve.

She looked at him with an apologetic expression.

"Garrett, it's all my fault. Please don't fight with Natalie because of me."

The rage on Garrett's face vanished in an instant, replaced by gentle warmth as he comforted her.

"It has nothing to do with you. You helped take care of Toby, and I should be thanking you."

Toby threw his arms around Beverly's waist.

"Aunt Beverly, I told the truth! My teacher said kids shouldn't lie. Mom is bad, and you are the best person in the whole world!"

Garrett shot me one last frosty look before turning around to walk in the opposite direction.

"Beverly, Toby and I will walk you home first."

Toby held both of their hands excitedly.

"Yay, let's go!"

I stood frozen in place, watching the three retreating figures as bitterness washed over me.

This was the husband and child I had dedicated my entire past life to.

Since they hated my presence so much, I would willingly let go this time.

Once their figures vanished in the distance, I turned my bike around and rode toward the civil registry office.

"Hello, officer," I said to the clerk. "I would like to file for divorce."