Can't Pay Me to Stay

Wendy's POV

My fingertips brushed against the paper my husband, Colin Fraser, had just signed.

"This is the last time," I said softly, looking at my five-year-old son, Simon Fraser.

Simon tilted his face up at me, his lips curled in a pout.

"You said the same thing when I was sick, and Dad bought you a handbag for taking care of me," he said.

He paused, then mimicked a voice I knew all too well and had grown to hate.

"Ava was right. Mom, people like you never change!"

A dull, prickling pain spread through my chest.

I had already made up my mind to leave before Colin walked through that door. However, I couldn't bring myself to let go of the child I'd brought into this world.

Even though Simon no longer loved me the way he used to, I still swallowed my physical and emotional pain and nagged him one last time.

"Simon, remember to dress warmly when it gets cold. You're allergic to mangoes, so don't sneak any. And always look both ways when you cross the street."

He impatiently shoved my hands away, his little brows furrowing.

"You're so annoying! Dad and the nanny can take care of all that!" he snapped.

When I fell silent, he seemed to grow bolder. He planted his tiny hands on his hips and glared at me.

"Mom, promise me!" he demanded. "Promise that today is the last time you'll ever cling to Dad. And promise you'll never use being my mom as an excuse to boss me around again."

I looked at him and forced a faint, weak smile.

"Of course. From now on, you can do whatever you want," I whispered. "I won't interfere with what you do anymore, and I won't cling to your dad, either."

A heavy silence fell over the hospital room.

Colin, who had been quietly standing by the door, finally spoke.

"Stop throwing a fit," he said, frowning.

His voice carried his usual impatience, along with a hint of suspicion.

"Watch your mouth in front of our son," he warned.

He always did this. Whenever I stopped acting like the meek, obedient wife he wanted, he dismissed it as nothing more than a tantrum or childish nonsense.

"I'm not throwing a fit," I said calmly, lifting my gaze to meet his eyes. "I'm simply giving our son what he wants."

Colin's frown deepened. He couldn't understand my calmness, and the feeling that things were slipping beyond his control made him uneasy.

"That's great!" Simon cheered, his joyful voice breaking the tense silence.

He wrapped both arms around Colin's leg.

"Dad! That means you can take Ava and me to the parent-child sports day today!" he said excitedly.

I froze for a second.

Colin had always been strict about boundaries.

In the past, he'd allowed Ava Levine to take Simon to amusement parks or movies. But when it came to events where a child's parents were clearly expected to attend, he'd never crossed that line.

That was how he showed respect for our marriage and my status as his wife.

Yet now, he glanced down at Simon's eager face before turning to my calm, unreadable expression. Any hesitation quickly faded.

"You just had a miscarriage. You need to rest," Colin said, his tone measured. "I'm taking Ava this time because I don't want to let Simon down."

He paused before adding, "Tell Ethan if there's anything you want to buy."

It was a rare attempt at comforting me. Then again, he'd taken the time to patiently explain himself to a tool he'd bought with money. That counted as an act of mercy, didn't it?

If not for the deal we'd made at the hospital seven years ago, someone from an ordinary background like mine would never have had a place in the Fraser family. Colin needed a child to comfort his grandfather, while I needed money to save my mother.

Over the years, Colin had been fairly satisfied with my obedient, sensible nature.

Whenever I showed even the slightest hint of hurt, money was the only compensation he ever offered, as if it could erase every wound.

"Okay," I murmured, lowering my eyes.

Colin watched me closely, his gaze dark and unreadable.

"Dad, hurry up!" Simon tugged impatiently at his hand.

Colin swallowed hard but said nothing. He took Simon's hand and turned to leave.

The door closed behind them, muffling their laughter as they met up with Ava outside.

I forced myself to my feet and slowly made my way to the window.

Down in the courtyard, Simon held Colin's hand in one of his and clutched Ava's tightly in the other. He bounced along happily as Ava beamed beside him.

Sunlight outlined their figures as they walked side by side. They looked just like a real family of three.