Chapter 2

When Nigel was born, Charlie was accompanying Megan.

He did not show up until I had almost recovered from childbirth a month later, and by then, Nigel was absolutely adorable. Only then did Charlie finally have some patience for him.

He smiled at me for the first time and said, "The baby looks like me."

I nodded with a smile and asked hopefully, "Then can you come home more often and spend time with us?"

Charlie looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "What, is the nanny not taking good care of you?"

The door opened, and Jamie, Charlie's childhood friend, walked in. He went over to Nigel and pinched his soft cheek, then smiled at Charlie and said, "Charlie, your wife is trying to use the baby to tie you down."

Charlie gave Jamie a light punch on the arm right in front of me. "What are you talking about? You know exactly who my love is. You think a baby can tie me down?"

Back then, I could feel the pain in my heart. I bit my lip, humiliated, as I looked at Charlie. However, all I could see was his disappearing figure as he walked away without hesitation.

Jamie stayed behind for a while.

He looked at me, as if he were doing me a favor on Charlie's behalf. "Ida, take good care of the baby. Then, there will still be a place for you in this family. Don't you even dare think about anything else. Charlie belongs to Megan."

That was the first time I learned the name "Megan".

But back then, I thought that since Charlie had been willing to marry me, he must have had at least some feelings for me. So, I shot back a glare without backing down. "If you like Megan that much, go fight for her. Is having a secret crush something worth feeling proud of?"

After that, I never saw Jamie again. However, Charlie also came by even more rarely. Still, little Nigel loved Charlie. Whenever he saw Charlie, he would follow him around and beg to be picked up. The father and son were very close, and I was the only one left out.

Then one day, Charlie took Nigel out alone. When they came home, Nigel was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Charlie told me to take good care of him before he left.

I went into Nigel's bedroom, wanting to kiss Nigel the way I always did, but when I lowered my head, I heard him muttering in his sleep. "I want Megan to be my mom. Dad and I will protect her."

A dull ache appeared in my heart, but my motherly instinct still made me hold Nigel gently. I patted him and comforted myself.

Children said things without thinking. No need to get so worked up about it. Grown-ups should not be mad at children for things like this.

But for some reason, more and more snacks began appearing at home.

Every time I came home from work, there would be a huge pile of snacks beside Nigel.

I asked the nanny where they had come from, and she lowered her head, saying Charlie had bought them all.

I was happy that he remembered our son, but I still walked over to Nigel and put away the unopened snacks, strictly limiting how much he could eat.

But Nigel's eyes reddened.

He reached out to snatch the snacks from my arms. When he could not, he started punching and kicking me. "Bad Mommy! Megan bought those snacks for me! Who are you to take them away?! I hate you! You don't love me at all! Why isn't Megan my mommy?"

My own son's accusation made my chest hurt so badly I could barely breathe. I instinctively tried to pull Nigel into my arms, but he kicked me with all his strength.

Then, he cried and ran toward the door, throwing himself into Megan's arms. She was standing there with even more snacks.

I froze in place and heard Nigel complain loudly to her. "Mom! When can you be my real mommy?! I hate her! I hate her!"