Chapter 5

Mom nodded instinctively. "I will."

"That's settled, then! As long as there's food to eat, I'd be happy to follow ya!" I threw my arms around her and rubbed against her cold neck.

"Mom, don't stay here and let people bully you anymore. My heart aches so much for you. They're so cruel, always bullying you."

Mom suddenly burst into tears, then pulled me tightly into her arms.

"Alright, I'll take you away."

Her scorching hot tears ran down my neck as she cried.

That night, it was like a new beginning for Mom. I, too, received a new name—Sally Dawson.

…

The next morning at breakfast, the atmosphere at the dining table felt suffocating. Xander demanded that Mom apologize to Serena.

Mom raised her head and kept her gaze calm as she looked at Xander at the head of the table and said, "Xander, let's get a divorce.".

The air seemed to instantly freeze, and Xander snapped his head up. "What did you say?"

"I said, let's get a divorce."

Mom didn't speak loudly, but her words were exceptionally clear.

Xander sneered. "Jessica, has your thinking been ruined by that kid? Right now, you're a useless woman who can't even bear children!

"You have no job and no source of income—how will you survive if you leave me and the McNeils? What, are you going to take that wild brat and starve in the Southern cold?"

He paused, and his tone seemed to soften slightly.

"I know. I've done you wrong regarding our child. But what's done is done. What more do you want from me? Don't you bear any responsibility at all for our daughter's death?

"Jessica, be realistic. I'm the only one still willing to support you and that adopted wild brat of yours, to give you both food to eat. After all, deep down, I still love you."

I straightened up my small frame, pointed at Xander, and fired back, "Stop blabbering on! What do you love about Mom, huh? You love her so much that she ends up crying every day?

"That you make her eat weeds every day, listen to people call her infertile, watch people pour boiling soup on her, and still demand she apologize? Is that what you call love?

"That's what I call being a bastard. People work jobs and at least get paid by their bosses, but you don't even give her money.

"Look at you, strutting around like you're so great, but you're only pulling in a few thousand bucks every day! And what, you're gonna support us? Bah! Without you, Mom would live better!"

Xander's face turned ashen with rage from my words. "Fine! Alright! Jessica, you want a divorce? Alright! I'll grant you one!

"But think carefully! Once we're divorced, this wild child's adoption papers will immediately be void! What right do you, a woman with no job or income, have to adopt a child?

"City Hall won't even stamp your papers! Let's see how you'll raise her!" He then signed the divorce papers and slammed them harshly in front of Jessica.

The little courage Mom had finally gathered wavered instantly under the threat of the adoption getting canceled, and she didn't dare sign the papers anymore. My gaze was firm as I held her hand.

"Mom, don't be afraid! I'll always be standing behind you. You have to save yourself first. Only then can you save me, and everyone else you want to protect."

She looked at me, nodded firmly, and signed her own name.

…

The divorce process went more smoothly than we expected. Mom and I rented a small place outside, and our very first meal was a pot of stew. But before we could enjoy the happiness for long, she got a call from the orphanage.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Dawson. We just received a notice and verified your current situation. Unfortunately, you no longer meet the conditions for adoption. Please return Kiddo as soon as possible—"